While schools and municipalities are reeling from the impact after massive state budget cuts, area libraries may soon be contending with less revenue of their own.
Gretchen Couraud, executive director of the Michigan Library Association, said the recently adopted state budget that would cut library funding from $10 million to $6 million could be catastrophic statewide. A reduction of this magnitude, said Couraud, could threaten the entire statewide resource sharing and inter-library loan system.
‘Granholm said the cuts to the library were just too deep,? she said. ‘The impact will put at risk many aspects of the library system as we know it. Even the internet access available at libraries could be put at risk. It’s catastrophic.?
Paula Gauthier, Brandon Township Library director, said the new state budget will erode some of the funding the Library Network receives that serves 65 libraries across Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Livingston and St. Clair counties.
The Library Network offers assistance with: shared technology services; interlibrary loans; catalogs and databases; book and material acquisitions; and training opportunities for member libraries. In addition, TLN uses state funds and dues from its member libraries to offer resources to libraries that they could not attain or afford on their own. The cooperative efforts enable smaller community libraries to provide more services to their patrons.
‘Right now 66 percent of the funding the Brandon Township Library receives from the state goes to the TLN,? said Gauthier. ‘The balance, 33 percent or about $9,000, comes directly to the township library.?
Gauthier said that library staff has been reduced already from about 33 to 23, in addition to other cuts.
‘We are going to be seeking donations and some volunteers for the library. Services, from public computers to programs for the community to new materials coming into the library, are on the line right now. We need the support of the community.?