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Kathy Carter sent the following e-mail to Peggy Rudd and agreed to have it posted on CTLS-L. ************* Ms. Rudd, I received an e-mail from the CTLS office today outlining Barbara Gubbin's proposal for funding databases for FY04-FY05. I have been quietly listening to the budget struggles and up to this point have been very pleased with the way the TSL has been handling the crisis. But Ms. Gubbin's suggestion for funding the databases by "retaining at the State Library system funds otherwise designated for collection development and Loan Star grant funds so that the State Library can license these databases for the benefit of all Texans through their public and college libraries" is a very poor option especially for the many, many small public libraries across Texas who depend on their CD allocations to purchase materials for their libraries. The only materials budget some libraries have is their CD money. The Loan State Libraries program has felt like a godsend to many of us and many of us have had to struggle with local issues to be able to qualify for the program. But we did so that th e extra money would again help us to put materials on the shelves to serve our ever growing patronage. Our library is city funded and facing cuts just as most all libraries are (no matter where their funding comes from). We have computers available to the public purchased with TIF money. We use the databases and make sure our patrons know about them too but we do not use them on the same level as the urban and university libraries do, simply because we do not have staff whose sole responsibility is to learn to use the databases and teach that to our patrons. We do not have technology coordinators as schools do. If TIF goes away or is no longer available to public libraries I'm not sure how we will be able to offer all the computers and connections that we have now. If we can't do that then we won't have access to the databases anyway and if CD money and direct aid goes away we won't be able to put new materials on our shelves either. Please realize what direct aid and CD money means to small public libraries. As Barbara said "in hard times we have to set priorities for library services" and using the money that supports so many libraries to pay for multiple databases that serve mainly college and university libraries is not right. I believe that we should continue to purchase some databases, especially those that will be of the most use to the most libraries of all types. I'm not really sure why the TSL used so much TIF money to purchase so many databases when everyone knew TIF was only set-up as a ten year program in the first place. There was never any guarantee even if we were in prosperous times that TIF would be extended. It seems to me that we have a situation where each type of library will be fighting each other for what they need instead of all of us being supported by TSL on a more level playing field as we have been in the past. It is indeed a sad day for libraries in Texas when we consider doing away with programs that have benefited so many for so long so that we can offer a massive program that possibly should not have been undertaken in the first place. I'm afraid those of us with the greatest needs in the smallest places with the littlest voices will never be heard. And all Texans will suffer for it. Thank you, Kathy Carter, Director Fayette Public Library La Grange, TX 78945 --------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Include in body: unsubscribe ctls-l For information on CTLS-L please visit: http://www.ctls.net/document/ctls-l.htm
