Buda Parks and Rec
by JACK JONES
You may have heard about the cuts that House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1 are proposing for many state services, including public, college and school libraries. Here’s what is proposed for elimination and what it possibly means to your Buda Public Library.
The proposed budget eliminates funding for the TexShare Databases, which are used by public libraries, universities and community colleges. These databases give people access to a wealth of information, including 14,290 full-text journals, 2,612 newspapers and newswires, 5,224 reference books, 420,519 primary source documents, and 28,281 electronic books. There are databases for all reading levels and covering a wide variety of topics. The State of Texas currently invests $4 million a year in this program, with an additional $3 million coming from federal funds and fees paid by the libraries. For every $1 that is invested in the TexShare Databases, $14 worth of subscriptions and resources are received. Without this state support, universities, colleges and public libraries could lose access to this information or have to pay more money for fewer resources. In addition, the K-12 database program for public schools is also proposed to be eliminated. Students may not be able to access this important information at school, home or at the library, if these proposals are enacted.
Another program slated for elimination is the Loan Star Libraries program, which supplies funds to public libraries. These funds have served as a way for public libraries to fill in gaps in funding and fulfill the public’s needs. One way the Buda Public Library has used these funds is to purchase new computers, which are used by students (both children and adults), job-seekers, people without Internet-access at home, and anyone else in our community who needs to use a computer. We’ve also used it to buy literacy materials and award-winning children’s and teens’ books, provide extra staff during the summer, expand alternative formats (like e-books and audio books) and much more. This program assists over 500 libraries in Texas.
Altogether, the proposed state budget includes a $29.9 million cut over the biennium for libraries. Additionally, libraries could lose another $8 million in federal funds if the state of Texas does not meet the funding threshold known as “maintenance of effort”. This funding goes toward the regional library systems, additional backing for TexShare Databases, Interlibrary loan services and statewide grants for educational programming such as the Digital Corps computer classes recently held at the Kyle Public Library.
What can you do? As a citizen, you have the right to express your opinions to your elected state officials. You can find their contact information by entering your address at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us or come by your local library for help obtaining this information. For more information regarding the proposed cuts, please contact the Buda Public Library at (512) 295-5899 or email [email protected].
