New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s proposed budget includes a 74 percent reduction (!) to library funding in which includes a 50 percent cut in direct aid to libraries and the elimination of several statewide programs, including interlibrary loan
The cuts, which add up to $10.4 million, could also cost New Jersey access to $4.5 million in federal matching funds which, among other things, currently provides Internet access for roughly two-thirds of the state’s 306 public libraries.
That’s right: No Internet at the library.
The cuts, which add up to $10.4 million, could also cost New Jersey access to $4.5 million in federal matching funds which, among other things, currently provides Internet access for roughly two-thirds of the state’s 306 public libraries.
That’s right: No Internet at the library.
There’s also a bill proposed by Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-Warren) that would eliminate the minimum local funding requirement for public libraries — which could clear the way for drastic underfunding of some libraries.
Librarians and patrons alike are up in arms about the proposed cuts.
You can read more in an article by Brad Parks in the NJ.com web site at http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2010/04/budget_imperils_new_jerseys_li.html
