In the comments below, post a story about a value your library provides, how your library has been affected by budget cuts, or what your library means to you.
In the comments below, post a story about a value your library provides, how your library has been affected by budget cuts, or what your library means to you.
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#1 by Nann Blaine Hilyard on September 30, 2009 - 2:43 pm
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The annual per capita grant provides 30% of ZBPL’s materials budget. We gladly share our collection via interlibrary loan and reciprocal borrowing, so our share of the PCG goes far beyond our district borders. We applied for LSTA grants this year that would have provided innovative program for our target populations of youth and of those who are considering establishing home-based businesses. LSTA grants were eliminated to make up for PCG cuts. We value the services we receive from the state-funded North Suburban Library System: consulting and training for staff and trustees, and interlibrary delivery.
PCG, LSTA, and library systems are extremely important to our ability to provide library services for those Illinois citizens who live in Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor, and Zion.
#2 by kaye grabbe on September 30, 2009 - 3:18 pm
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Libraries in Illinois need library systems for lots of reasons, but for Lake Forest Library, we rely on North Suburban LibrarySystem to provide our very popular and heavily used interlibrary loan service. 29,400 items were borrowed by our residents or loaned to other libraries in FY2009. We could not begin to afford this service on our own. Our residents have come to expect access to resources all over our region and state. It is wonderful to be able to say to our residents, “we don’t have that book on the shelf, but we can get it for you from another library.”
#3 by Jeanné Lohfink on October 1, 2009 - 8:32 am
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At Beach Park School libraries, we strive to offer outstanding, unique programming in order to meet the diverse learning styles of our students. Over the past few years, we’ve particularly focused on the visual, auditory and kinesthetic learner by purchasing unique items through the LSTA grants offered through the Illinois State Library. Because of these grants other libraries can interlibrary loan Roman Armor, World War II uniforms, ethnic clothing from over 40 cultures, or Project Adventure and Brain Gym materials.
Our library this year had applied for more grants: one to support our teachers and learners by providing carts of books for our K – 3 classrooms that align with the curriculum; and one to deepen our community by providing training for teachers and librarians from three different school districts to promote a caring community. After all of the time and effort on applicants part to research and write and the state library’s part to evaluate, the money was diverted. Creativity and innovation will have to wait so the basics can be paid.
The Village of Beach Park does not have it’s own public library. To use their home public libraries, the students must be driven. We are often students’ only link to access to books, videos, databases, audio books. Many of our students no longer own cassette tape players in order to listen to books on tape that we have available and we do not have the resources to purchase the books in an electronic format so they can listen to books using the phones and MP3 players they carry around.
#4 by Jeanné Lohfink on October 1, 2009 - 8:43 am
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I am fortunate enough to be District Librarian for Beach Park School District as well recently elected to the North Suburban Library System board. In order for the libraries to be effective, we need the support that NSLS offers.
Our mission states: Beach Park Middle School Library develops responsible, reflective learners sparking their curiosity by connecting them with ideas in order to collaboratively, compassionately, and creatively solve problems in their community and beyond.
NSLS helps us reach that goal through various means:
*A workshop that gave us the time and support to create a mission statement.
* The ability for a van to pick up the Medieval costumes and share with a public library downstate.
* The trainings at a reasonable cost to bring national speakers in like Sally Walker to help us keep abreast of what is new and excellent because the budget dollars keep decreasing and we need to spend every one of them wisely.
* The cost-sharing of getting large groups together to purchase a grant database, so we can find supplemental income.
*The weekly electronic newsletters that allowed my school district to purchase used carts at a fraction of the price.
*The networking potential via the Communities of Practice so School Librarians can help one another solve problems.
NSLS is an integral part of libraries from the Wisconsin border, south past Lake Cook Road, from Lake Michigan west to Wauconda. The library system provides support to over 400 libraries. There is no more fat to cut. When we cut the essential services to the system, we potentially hurt all of those libraries.
#5 by Lisa on October 1, 2009 - 11:58 am
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I personally have been affected by budget cuts to Illinois libraries because they cost me my job. I was laid off in August of 2008, and remained unemployed until January of 2009. I have not been able to find another library job since mine was eliminated. I keep an eye on the Chicago CAREERS site to see if CPL posts anything, but in the time since I lost my job, I have only seen one position.
I know I am not alone in the world of jobless librarians; I can only imagine how the shortage in staffing will impact collections and the ability of libraries to serve their patrons in the years to come. I know for a fact that the library I worked in has had to cut service hours, services, and journal holdings, not to mention slow down on purchasing new materials or other kinds. My former job’s staff shrank from a healthy group of seven members to a struggling staff of three (one of which is borrowed from time to time from the archives) through layoffs, forced retirements, and general attrition.
It’s a sorry state of affairs.
#6 by Marilyn Ward on October 1, 2009 - 12:48 pm
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During a rough patch in childhood, when my parents were divorcing, and there was no extra money in the household, the old Reddick Library in Ottawa, IL, was my refuge and source of entertainment. I would spend hours there, sitting on the floor reading or browsing the selection for the perfect book in which to escape. Public libraries have been in my life ever since – I am now 71 years old and a library board member in the little town of Paw Paw, IL. I feel passionately committed to keeping public libraries available as a source of education and entertainment for children and adults alike.
#7 by Diane on October 2, 2009 - 9:26 am
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Grant money helps libraries offer important, innovative programming they might not otherwise afford. Glenview Public Library was put “on hold” for two such LSTA grants when the State took the funding source away. One grant proposal was for the Veterans Oral History Project, to collect audio- and video-recorded histories of America’s war veterans. We considered this a valuable project from an historical point of view so decided to pursue this venture on our own. Of course the grant money would have allowed us to pursue this on a grander scale.
#8 by Jeremy on October 7, 2009 - 10:44 am
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As the librarian at Argo Community High School in Summit, IL I know that my students and teachers enjoy very valuable services from our system membership, which is supported by federal and state funding. Because funding for state-wide delivery was preserved–at the expense of LSTA grants–I am still able to access materials state-wide. Nevertheless, it was disappointing to learn that LSTA grants would not be funded since I and many of my colleagues were looking forward to the prospects of a winning application. I am thankful for the programs that remain, but worried that fundamental services — not to mention more jobs — will cotinue to face threats. Illinois has strong libraries and we need to keep them that way.
#9 by Lou Ann Jacobs on October 12, 2009 - 10:44 am
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Illinois libraries have seen an increase in demand during this recession. Even school libraries have had parents come in to use resources such as computers to do job searches and find out about community resources. Students whose families used to buy books and DVDs are asking if these could be checked out for others in their family to use.
As a reader for the LBSS Endowment Fund grants, I got my eyes opened in regards to how many school libraries could not afford even one set of Monarch, Caudill, or Lincoln books. Others who could afford only one copy of each title encouraged their students to use their local public library or used interlibrary loan for addiitonal copies. Loss of funds to our public libraries and systems jeopardizes these services to our youth.
It was necessary for the state library to divert LSTA funds to continue needed statewide services for this fiscal year. Sadly, those funds will not now be available for library grants. Many schools have been recipient of federal grant funds in the past and now those will not be available for innovative programs.
We in Illinois are connected via our library sysems. They along with the state library are the link that aid our students in their achieving the state goals for learning as well as encouraging livelong learning.
I doubt that many of our legislators are aware of how all of us in the library community work together to give our students and patrons access to the vast resources in our libraries. These stories need to be told in every legislative district by as many library supporters as possible.
They need to hear from our patrons, teachers and students as well. Their stories are so needed during these trying times. I hope that my colleagues in the school libraries will be contacting their legislators and encouraging others to make those important contacts.
#10 by Kitty on October 13, 2009 - 9:55 am
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I want to share with you words from my favorite broadcaster the late, great Walter Cronkite.
he said
” whatever the cost of our libraries,
the price is chreap,
compared to that of an ignorant nation.”
How very true…especially now!!!
#11 by Kitty on October 13, 2009 - 9:56 am
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want to share with you words from my favorite broadcaster the late, great Walter Cronkite.
he said
” whatever the cost of our libraries,
the price is cheap,
compared to that of an ignorant nation.”
How very true…especially now!!!
#12 by Monica L. Smith on October 13, 2009 - 2:38 pm
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As the Librarian of a library established in the City of Cairo in 1884, finding the resources to enable us to keep our establishment open has become more and more of a hardship. This is the first time in the 125 year history of this facility, that we are contemplating reducing our hours. Our staff, which includes myself working over 40 hours and my assistant who works partime, some 24 hours per week, are proud of the Cairo Public Library and work hard to maintain this building and remain open to serve our public.
Our facility sits on two historic floors and is open for tours as well as the our library patrons. However, with the funding from the State of Illinois being cut in 1/2, our Library, sitting in one of the most poverty stricken areas in the entire state of Illinois, looks to find itself reducing services to our wonderful residents. Many times older adults and children come to our facility as a cooling center or a warming center, not only to take care of themselves, but to establish a relationship and a feel that someone cares about their wellbeing.
A library is much more than the mere bricks and mortar it is made of. It is the hub of a community. Please find the resources to maintain 100 percent funding to the libraries throughout the state and also the Shawnee Library System.
#13 by Claire Crawford on October 13, 2009 - 5:05 pm
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The Genseo Public Library has been trying for the last 20 years to save enough money to build a library. We need every dime we can get. We are desperately crowded. Please keep the Per Capita Grant, Construction Grants, and LSTA Grants! We utilize this for our materials budget! Thank you for listening and support the great libraries of Illinois!
Sincerely,
Claire Crawford
Library Director
Geneseo Public Library District
218 South State Street
Geneseo, IL 61254
#14 by Rienne Johnson on October 14, 2009 - 9:56 am
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I am the solo librarian at a small college/hospital library in the Quad Cities area. Although I am not a public library, I am open to the public. I often see many members of the public requesting health information for themselves or their families. Cuts at the public library will force an even larger decrease in service, cutting off many public library patrons, at a time when public libraries are needed the most – to assist with job searching, materials to train new skills, and at a time when health care is so uncertain, cut even more the availability of quality reference material (e.g. reliable health information) in our public libraries.
Also, I heavily utilize the resources of the Illinois State Library, and am a fully participating member of the Prairie Area Library System. These resources help me diversify my resources to better serve my hospital staff and administration, and support the general education needs of my students at the college, while being able to provide the high-quality medical resources necessary for their work.
Please consider continuing the support of the Illinois State Libraries at the same level. Any cuts not only impact the resources available to the people of the state of Illinois, but also impact the ability of the people of the state to utilize the resources they need for employment – whether attempting to obtain new employment after layoffs, or not having the information available to them from their local libraries to assist those who are employed (like my patrons) with doing the work they were hired to do. Imagine ruling on a court case with no case law available to you to set precedent, or diagnosing an uncommon cancer without reference texts to help support your diagnosis. Would you want that lawyer or physician?
Library cuts don’t only mean less paperback books in libraries. Library cuts mean a cut to the quality of life in our area. Please reinstate funding for the libraries in the State of Illinois.
#15 by debby miller on October 16, 2009 - 9:14 am
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As a public library trustee at the Schaumburg Township District Library and a past president of the North Suburban Library Systerm I am acutely aware of the significance of state funding to our users. If system funding is not restored I fear for the loss of systems in Illinois – those venerable institutions which allow their member libraries to band together to do that which individual libraries – of all kinds -cannot do themselves.
At our public library our patrons (which have been increasing dramatically in this economy) would suffer quite a bit were there no state funds, or system funding which began our world-famous business and economics collection and our Illinois Setting collection, both significantly received by our users.
I urge decision makers and lawmakers to consider the needs of their constituents who use our libraries.
#16 by Carole Stern on October 17, 2009 - 2:30 pm
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The Annawan Alba Township Library is a small library that always has had to struggle with financial issues. Even though we are small, I feel very good about how we serve our public. One of the main reasons we are able to do so is because of our library system(PALS). People are amazed that with ill they can have almost any item they want. In addition, our system provides us with education, guidance, and many other services we need. It is of great concern to us that systems are experiencing financial cuts. Naturally this will inevitably filter down to us.
Another concern is how our Per Capita Grants will be affected. Each year we rely on it to help stretch our salaried hours. As it goes down, it will be another problem for us.
We are having budget problems at our local level and hope we don’t have to cut hours.
The patrons affected the most will be those that need us the most. Many Annawan people have home computers, but the ones that don’t are also the ones who are looking for jobs, doing resumes, and homework assignments. The elderly also need our assistance in this way. It gives us satisfacion to offer books and computers to help.
Please be our advocate and the advocate of the people we serve. I hope you can pledge no further cuts in library funding. Please pledge to restore our funding once the economic climate changes.
Sincerely,
Carole Stern
Library Director
Annawan Alba Township Library
320 W. Front St.
Annwan, IL 61234
(309)935-6483
#17 by Janet Lynch Forde on December 2, 2009 - 2:48 pm
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We publicized the Save Illinois Libraries Campaign on our website, but we wanted to make sure all of our patrons had an opportunity to get involved. So we printed out the pledge, Jesse White’s statement of support for the campaign, and sign-up sheets and placed them on a table near the entrance.
If people seemed unsure, Reference staff explained what had happened to library budgets and what further cuts might impact.
We had 198 individuals sign the sign-up sheet in support of funding for libraries and we faxed 168 of those names to the Springfield offices of both Senator Don Harmon, and State Representative “Skip” Saviano.
A number of patrons have returned in the intervening weeks to report that Representative Saviano acknowledged their concerns and assured them of his support for libraries.
#18 by Mary Jo Matousek on January 20, 2010 - 8:02 am
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The State of Illinois needs to restore Funding. and remember one thing.
“Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will
get you through times of no libraries.”
#19 by Andy B on January 20, 2010 - 10:03 am
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THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BUDGET CUTS TO MUCH NEEDED COMUNITY DERPARTMENTS!!!!!!!
IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF COMPUTER GAMES, KIDS SHOULD BE ENCORAGED TO GET OUT AND AWAY FROM T.V. AND COMPUTER GAMES.
IL DNR NEEDS HELP TO SAVE OUR PARKS AND FISHING FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO ENJOY, MORE NOW THAN EVER BEFOR!!!!!!!!
PLEASE CONSIDER THE RESIDENTS OF ILLINOIS FUTURE GENERATION, THEY ARE YOUR TAX PAYERS OF TOMORROW, SO DON’T DEPRIVE THEM OF THESE RESOURSES!!!!!!
#20 by Elizabeth Letterly (Libby) on January 20, 2010 - 10:24 am
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I do not know what our school district’s three libraries would do without the support of our library system and the resources available through our system membership. Rolling Prairie supports its school libraries and, through our system membership, our students are able to access and use resources that would not be available or possible within our budget. For example, an elementary teacher this week was able to borrow and use a series of Junie B. Jones on CD to assist a young, struggling reader. Budgets only reach so far and libraries and their library systems are for everyone. Please save our library systems so they can continue to be there for our libraries.
#21 by Susan Hunt on January 20, 2010 - 10:46 am
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Carthage Public Lirary District had applied for an LSTA Grant, along with many other libraries in Illinois, and the Federal money was held by the Illinois State Library to insure the continued delivery service. We agree that the libraries of the state need the delivery service, but we also needed the equipment that the grant would have provided. Our library is busier than ever and our Internet stations are used all of the hours we are open. We have to receive the Per Capita Grant monies that come thru General Assembly to help fund our technology needs.
The Library Systems of Illinois are a very vital link between the libraries since they coordinate the delivery systems. They also teach all of us how to use the many databases that we need and help us fill out reports and grants. Their funding must be restored. The employees of the library systems work long hours and are very dedicated to their profession and they deserve their paychecks.
#22 by Ruth Miller on January 20, 2010 - 10:54 am
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When I began working at the Rosiclare Memorial Public Library in 1984, I relied heavily on the services of the Shawnee Library System. I had no library training, and the consultants walked me through filing a Per Capita grant, running a successful Summer Reading Program and other aspects of providing quality library services to the residents of Rosiclare, Illinois.
When I decided to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science/School Media at Murray State University, the consultants still assisted me in any way possible. One of my classmates was affiliated with the Kentucky Dept. of Libraries and Archives. I brought her to the Shawnee Library System headquarters to see our consultants in action, to learn more about how Illinois library systems provided for their member libraries. She was amazed! This was in the early 1990s.
During my tenure as director of the Harrisburg District Library, Shawnee Library System consultants and the executive director have assisted in a referendum to become a library district, in procuring a Live & Learn Construction grant for a new library, and in a second referendum to annex new territory to the library district. They encouraged me to complete my Master’s degree in Library and Information Science.
This is just my story, but as a pebble dropped into the pool, my story affects everyone who entered the Rosiclare library while I was there and all who enter the Harrisburg District Library now. Because of the services provided through the Shawnee Library System, I feel I am a better librarian.
#23 by G. Kevin Davis on January 20, 2010 - 11:01 am
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The Library Board and I here in N. Aurora are very concerned on the System funding issue. We rely upon the Dupage Lirbary System for the delivery of literally thousands of pieces of Library materials annually. Most importantly our current budget was cut by the Board and I by $20,000 (Our total budget is $1.3 million) due to the uncertainty of the State funding the Per Capita Grant. This money is used between supplementing our book budget, electronic resources, and the printing and mailing of our Library’s quarterly newsletter. Our funding due to the PTELL and local decline in housing starts will be flat or less that what we received this year. It is a challenging time for all libraries. We are at a “tipping point”.
#24 by Linda Montayne on January 20, 2010 - 11:39 am
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As a retired assistant librarian of my local library (Latzer Memorial Library) and also a past employee (18 years) of Lewis & Clark Library System I understand the need for libraries but as a person being able to check out books has been a life saver for me at times. All my life I have been an avid reader and being on a fixed income at this point in time having a library where I can go to and get books has been wonderful. If my library doesn’t have a book I get the one I want through interlibrary loan. Without the library systems this would not be possible. Please restore the funding so people like me can get their beloved books. There’s just something about reading a book versus getting information through electronic means.
#25 by Walter Reed on January 20, 2010 - 11:51 am
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For the past 5 years I have been engaged in serious research for a new book about an aspect of World War II and the Holocaust. It is simply incredible how useful our Wilmette Library has been to me in obtaining some very valuable but publicly unavailable books about this history, many in French and German. They were brought to my Wilmette Library from university and college libraries all over Illinois. They are an unexpected, little known, but priceless resource. I know that it’s great “political language” to promise “Jobs for Illinois” – but NOT by robbing cultural services from others, who may or may not have jobs. Cutting this service is unconscionable and downright ignorant. Believe me I have first-hand personal evidence!!!
#26 by Rachel H. on January 20, 2010 - 12:56 pm
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I have had my library card at the Dixon Public Library since I was four years old. I am now almost twenty. The librarians all know me and my sister by name; they were even invited to my recent wedding. I have been checking out books at this library for such a long time; I cannot IMAGINE my life without this library in my life! Children of America NEED libraries — we ALL NEED LIBRARIES! Our local library means so much to me; don’t take it away from future generations!
#27 by Dorothy Hultz on January 20, 2010 - 1:37 pm
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I have been leagly blind for the past ten years and the books I have been receiving from the Talking Book Center in East Peoria Illionis each week since 2006 make life worth living. Without the books I receive I would not be able to keep up with newest happenings. This program has been a most beneficial program for me. Please keep funding the public libriaries as they do a world of good for their patrons.
#28 by Caroline Dakin on January 20, 2010 - 2:09 pm
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As some others in our state, I am the only staff member in our library: director, librarian, janitor, clerk, etc., etc., etc. Occasionally, a volunteer spends a few hours to help, but there is no one one a regular basis. You probably have guessed that our library is small and is located in a small, economically deprived town in southernmost Illinois. Still it is most important to our community. Currently we are open only four days per week, six hours per day–and struggle financially at that. Without help from our System, we most likely could not continue to serve the community as we do. Their answering all types of questions, offering advice, training, moral support, and delivery service,–and all with a “smile”–provides more strength and aid than I could hope for otherwise. We rarely buy a book–relying heavily on donated material. By the way, I work only 24 hours per week at minimum wage; we do not waste funds. Yet, our budget relies heavily on the fiscal resources of Per Capita and Equalization grants. Of all the State budgetary cuts, surely cuts of funds to libraries and their Systems are the worst.
#29 by Marti Guarin on January 20, 2010 - 4:56 pm
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The Library Systems of Illinois, through program and resource sharing, education and consulting, greatly increase the effectiveness of library dollars. Libraries today have record patron counts and usage, and need the backup the systems provide as funding declines, to help libraries stretch every dollar so as to provide better patron service, to all age groups in all types of libaries.
#30 by Margaret S. Turner on January 20, 2010 - 9:38 pm
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Our small all volunteer library, Kinmundy Public Library, is a GREAT asset to our small rural town in the southern part of Illinois, population 900. Kinmundy doesn’t have a whole lot of other things going on other than our school system and summer ball. We provide great service to our town and schools and really need our per capita grant to continue. We are a great example of a LITTLE MONEY going a long way and providing ALOT of benefits to our community ….so PLEASE don’t cut what we have and the funds to our Library System that assists in what we accomplish.
#31 by Ann Lahr on January 21, 2010 - 6:28 am
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Chester Library has helped educate my family for over 100 years. People in small towns count on their libraries to help them become part of the world. Many do not have computers. Some have had to leave school at an early age. Many have taught themselves through the resources of a group of libraries they can access. These are vital to the education of our people. We cannot afford to stop this system.
#32 by Virginia Rosenbaum on January 21, 2010 - 11:00 am
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I added this to the form letter, in a new and separate paragraph after “Without the support of Systems, libraries would be hard pressed to provide these services. ”
{We MUST support our libraries, or Illinois will become less competitive with regard to jobs and investment. In this time of economic stress, we should NOT be hacking at the foundations we need to rebuild prosperity.}
There’s probably a mental-health component to this particular cut, too, by increasing the feeling of being cut adrift among the unemployed and the stressed.
#33 by Jennifer Will on January 21, 2010 - 12:19 pm
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As a high school/jr. high English teacher in a small rural school, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the lack of materials I have to work with. I do not have many novels in my classroom, and I often rely on library loans to get those novels. I believe that reading is one of the most important gifts we can give to students. We need to keep the libraries going in order to provide literature that is relevant and valuable.
#34 by angela walton on January 21, 2010 - 12:33 pm
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i want yall to continue to fund libraries because it is usful for the town to have access to the libraries so kids can have acces to the books for school work and adult have advantages to the library from the computers to the copy machine so keep libaries going
#35 by Renee Anderson on January 22, 2010 - 3:02 pm
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Staff at libraries are doing so much these days – with less. It is heartwarming to learn how libraries are stepping up to serve job seekers in this difficult economy. From library career centers to job clubs and programs, to help with resumes, libraries are bringing new skills and opportunities to those impacted by tough times. Yet libraries and library systems are facing uncertain times regarding funding. It is at these critical times in history that our public libraries are needed more than ever.
#36 by Lesley Williams on January 23, 2010 - 12:10 pm
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I posted this to my Facebook page, and have sent versions to various local blogs and newspapers…
Save ALL Illinois Libraries
I know all of you are dealing with local budget challenges, and of course if you live in Evanston, the dilemma involving the branch libraries has been on your mind. Yet I wanted to draw your attention to a little known issue which could radically change the quality of library service in Illinois.
When the Illinois General Assembly cut 50% of general revenue grants in the FY 2010 budget, it eliminated all funding for the Illinois library systems. If the state of Illinois does not restore full funding in the next budget, we could lose our delivery service, much of our continuing education, and our group purchasing power.
What would that mean? Have you ever placed a hold on a book at your home library, and gotten a copy from Northbrook or Niles? Ever returned a book you checked out at Wilmette to Skokie or Evanston? Not any more you won’t. System funds pay for delivery service, and individual libraries wouldn’t be able to afford this service. This means that instead of the breadth and depth you currently enjoy from hundreds of libraries across the region, you would be pretty much limited to what you could find in your local library.
You’ve heard about how libraries benefit the business community. Some of our most useful online business resources: our Lexis-Nexis subscription, online business planning handbooks, and our demographics database, were purchased through systemwide group agreements. We were able to cut better deals for the public because we were a system, and because we had system staff to do the coordinating and negotiating. Ditto our online children’s reference collection and encyclopedias.
The North Suburban Library System has a terrific training program. Over the last 12 years, I’ve taken free classes in business reference, legal reference, teen literature, storytelling, website design, and document preservation. There’s no way EPL could have afforded to send me to all those classes, but if I hadn’t gone I would be providing far fewer services to Evanston residents.
And bear in mind, Evanston is a fairly well-off community (despite recent events). Think of all those rural, impoverished communities across the state, that get almost all their materials and services through systems.
So, what can you do? Go to http://www.saveillinoislibraries. com/ and send a letter to the governor and the state comptroller. Contact your legislators, (Julie Hamos and Jan Schakowsky are already on the list of legislators committed to supporting library funding). And talk it up! There’s an election coming up: where do the candidates stand on library funding?
I know there are a lot of articulate, energetic people out there committed to the values of education and literacy. Please join us to ensure that all Illinois communities have full library service.
#37 by Shirley Lucille Brown on January 24, 2010 - 9:12 am
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I am a retired school teacher. I retired earlier than I wanted due to numerous heaIth problems. This service has saved my sanity, if not my life. Being unable to sleep, having books to help the long uncomfortable nights pass.
The state hasn’t been paying the money it grabbed from our pension fund so I fear that my small pension is going to disappear too. This state takes care of its Chicago teachers(evening using some of our money to make them fully funded), while we poorer teachers have continually had over 9% of our income where the state can help itself. The little people are always forgotten, aren’t they. Please don’t take this away too. All social services are cut. How about those salaries, nice insurance and all the benefits that career legislators. Why can’t they sacrifice some in these times too? Sincerely Shirley L Brown
#38 by Pam on January 27, 2010 - 11:19 am
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I worked for the Dundee Township Public Library for a year and a half, and the Algonquin Area Public Library for nearly 18 years. I witness the growth of these communities between 1980 and 2005, and the increased use of libraries. I cannot express strongly enough the vital importance of public libraries and all their available resources. I live in Salem, OR now and the library is run by the city. With budget limitations they rely on over 35 volunteer workers and they let the the administrative librarian go last year. It’s not a happy situation. Illinois libraries have had a reputation for being among the best in the nation. Let’s maintain that status.
#39 by Dezarae on February 6, 2010 - 7:58 pm
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I live in Stonefort IL and my son and i visit the carrier mills and Harrisburg Library at least 4 time a week and there are always alot of people there. Lets keep the Librarys open and shut something else down that is hurting our children not helping them
#40 by Barbara on February 7, 2010 - 11:21 am
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The founding fathers would be appalled at Illinois. I live in the outside the limits of Edwardsville and pay over $7000 a year in property taxes. I am not allowed access to ANY local library because I am not in the city limits. Why should libraries be frre for some and not for all taxpayers?