I’ve been letter writing this week to protest the proposed state library funding cuts:

Dear Leaders of the Florida Legislature:

Please restore funding for State Aid to Public Libraries to the current $21.2 million. If state aid is eliminated, branches will close all over the state and library service in rural libraries will be decimated because of their reliance on state funding!

I reside in rural Wakulla. We only have one library in our county. On any given day, our library parking lot is packed with cars. Adults and children make ample use of our library resources. When new books arrive, the reserve waiting list is months long.

On school days, every computer in the library is utilized. Children who live in the area walk to the library to do their homework. I see students accessing library resources to write papers and to do research for their classes.

In Wakulla, the library is a community hub where residents can gather to watch films, participate in educational programs, and access vital community information.

The reduced access to library resources that would result from such a drastic budget cut would further widen the gap of disadvantage in many counties. Now, more than ever, the citizens of Florida need increased access to books, enrichment programs, and the Internet. Libraries provide literacy training and serve as access points for disseminating information essential to citizens.

The library community knows the state budget is seriously stressed but library funding has already been cut by over a third, from $33.4 million in 2001 to $21.2 million today. Local funding has been deeply cut in last the 3 years and more reductions are coming in 2010-11. Many libraries report cuts exceeding 30%.

This comes at a particularly bad time for Floridians who are turning to their public libraries for help during these challenging times:

Job seekers are getting help learning about and applying for jobs.
Floridians needing assistance applying for E-Government services and benefits are getting help from library staff, computers, and Internet service.
Families are relying on library books, cd’s and dvd’s to stretch household budgets.
Families continue to rely on libraries to help children learn to read and help parents and caregivers learn to be children’s first teachers.

Thank you for your time and your consideration of this important public issue,

R.S. Pienta

Here is the email response I received from the Speaker’s office:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding state library funding and the Florida state budget. I appreciate the opportunity to learn of your thoughts and concerns on this matter.

Florida faces a revenue shortfall of up to $3.2 billion. This is occurring at a time when many Floridians are struggling due to the recession and may not be able to afford tax increases. State revenues are less than the expected growth in government programs and services.

The Florida Legislature has difficult choices ahead as we move forward with the 2010 Session. We are carefully reviewing and prioritizing state funded programs, services and activities. Please be assured that our goal is to preserve necessary government services and focus on increasing efficiencies when possible. This is a very tough challenge in light of budget reductions already made in recent years.

Thank you again for writing to me. Please know that as the Legislature deliberates this important issue, I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind. If I may be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Larry Cretul

Speaker

Okay, Speaker Cretul, tell me which services are essential and which ones we will throw under the proverbial bus. With Senate Bill 6 and these proposed library cuts, it looks like Education and literacy will be sacrificed on the budget altar otherwise known as the 2010 Legislative Session.

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