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It has been a busy legislative session! We know that the TexShare membership have many questions and concerns regarding the future of TexShare services. Appended to this email is an FAQ that I hope answers most of your questions. For your convenience, the FAQ is posted to the TexShare Web site as well (http://www.texshare.edu/generalinfo/about/fy03budget.html) TSLAC has also provided enhanced information on its budget submission at its Web site. For more detail on the TSLAC budget building blocks, go to http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/budgetinfo.html. Please contact me if you have any questions or require additional information. Beverley Shirley, Division Director Library Resource Sharing Texas State Library and Archives Commission (512) 463-5433 FAX (512) 936-2306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] TexShare Budget FAQ FY03 Questions 1) Will TexShare services be cut this year? While all Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) services will feel the impact of lower funding levels in indirect ways, TSLAC has made the required FY03 general revenue cuts without directly impacting TexShare services. The current set of TexShare databases is secure through June 30, 2003. 2) How does the freeze on FY03 TIF grants affect TexShare services? Because TIF grant funding is used to purchase subscriptions to the TexShare databases, there will be less money in FY 03 to spend on subscriptions for the period July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004. The current set of TexShare databases is in place through June 30, 2003. There is money in the TSLAC budget to allow us to subscribe to a reduced set of databases to run July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. We hope to retain the database service at about 70% of its current level. There is a chance that some of the FY03 TIF grant money will come to us, allowing for a continuation of most databases. However we must plan for the possibility that TIF grants will remain frozen past the date our subscriptions come up for renewal. 3) How will TSLAC determine which databases to continue? The Electronic Information Working Group met last month to discuss process for de-selecting databases. This working group has dedicated many hours of time and a considerable amount of knowledge and talent to the TexShare database service. We asked TexShare member libraries to complete a survey indicating which databases are most important to them (http://www.texshare.edu/survey.cfm). In making the final recommendation, the group will consider: * Survey results * Statistics on database use * Title lists, full text coverage and overlap * Vendor reliability * Best value 1) How can I be involved in the decision-making process? If your library has completed a database survey, you have already had a major impact on the decision-making process. Also, you may send your comments to the Electronic Information Working Group members. The roster, including email addresses, is at http://www.texshare.edu/programs/electronic/electronic2003.html. Library Resource Sharing (LRS) staff are always anxious to hear from you and will share your comments with the Electronic Information Working Group. Send your comments to LRS staff at [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2) When will I know which databases will be continued? The Electronic Information Working Group will make preliminary recommendations to the TexShare Advisory Board at their April 25, 2003, meeting. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission must approve contracts at their May 19, 2003, meeting. 3) How have this year's cuts affected other Texas State Library and Archives Commission programs? While all TSLAC services will feel the impact of lower funding levels in indirect ways, some direct services will be affected. The biggest impact on library resource sharing is that the Library of Texas Resource Discovery Service will be a little slower out the starting gate than we had planned. We had dedicated significant funding to provide libraries with the resources to make their cataloging software compliant with the requirements of the Resource Discovery Service. We will still work with libraries toward compliance, but the funding for doing so is at a much lower level, so it will take a little more time to bring libraries into the compliance. For more information on the FY03 TSLAC budget cuts, refer to the TSLAC Web site at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/budgetinfo.html#2003. FY04-05 Questions 1) How will TexShare services be affected by the FY04-05 budget cuts? TSLAC, along with other state agencies, was asked to reduce its FY04-05 budget request for general revenue by 12.6%. In addition to cuts in general revenue, we were directed by the Legislative Budget Board to cut by 50% all programs funded by the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund. This 50% reduction, along with the uncertainty of future TIF grants, will critically affect the TexShare database program. For this reason, we are submitting an exceptional item request of $4.6 million each year of the biennium to help restore this crucial program. The FY04-05 budget cuts affect TexShare most critically in these ways: * Many of the TexShare Web site support activities that UT Austin provides through our strategic partnership will be brought in-house. Other outside contracts will be brought in-house also. * The subsidy for the courier service will decrease. This year, libraries pay $1130 for courier services, and TSLAC subsidizes $1620 per library. We do not know what next year's courier costs will be. However, if courier pricing remains stable and if our appropriation is in line with our budget request, next year libraries would pay $1940 for the service with TSLAC subsidizing $810. * Unless TIF grant funding becomes available, TexTreasures grants will not be awarded in FY04-05. Because we may see a release of TIF grant funding, we are still accepting applications for FY04 TexTreasures grants. * The money available for database funding has been decreased because of the uncertainty of TIF funding. While TSLAC has moved funding into the databases from other budget line items, there is not enough money in the budget to replace the amount previously funded through TIF. * Fees for access to TexShare databases will be reinstated. We are forming a TexShare Task Force on Fees. This task force will examine the issue of fees for TexShare members and make recommendations regarding a fee structure. 1) When will I know what my Courier costs will be? The contract for courier services is up for bid this year (http://esbd.tbpc.state.tx.us/1380/bid_show.cfm?bidid=46211). We will award the contract after the bids have been evaluated and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission approves a contract. We will try to work through this process quickly; however purchasing rules prohibit us from releasing any information on costs until a contract is finalized. We have tentatively set the courier subsidy at $810 per library, but we will not be able to determine the actual level of subsidy that TSLAC can provide until a budget is finally set by the Legislature this summer. 2) When will I know if TexTreasures grants will be awarded? Award of TexTreasures grants is dependent upon the availability of adequate funding for the database service. We will not know whether TexTreasures grants can be awarded until the legislature has made a determination regarding the future of TIF funding. 3) Should I turn in an application for a TexTreasures grant? If you have a project you would like to see funded by TexTreasures, please complete a grant package and submit it by the March 28, 2003, deadline. All grant packages will be reviewed and scored. If funding is available, grants will be awarded. 4) When will I know what databases will be continued? The Electronic Information Working Group will start looking at the TexShare database selections for FY04 as soon as the Legislature has determined our FY04 budget. We will post information on their progress toward selecting the FY04 databases to the TexShare discussion lists. We anticipate that the Electronic Information Working Group will follow the same time line as in the past, and that contracts for the FY04 database service will be taken to the Library and Archives Commission for approval at the April 2004 meeting. 5) How will fees for database services be determined? The TexShare Advisory Board has asked Director and Librarian Peggy Rudd, in consultation with Eva Poole, chair of the TexShare Advisory Board and Beverley Shirley, director of Library Resource Sharing, to appoint a task force on fees. All TexShare constituencies will be represented on the task force. Information available to the task force members as they develop their recommendation will include: * Database pricing * TSLAC appropriations and budget information * Results of a random, stratified survey of TexShare member libraries on the issue of fees * TexShare mission and vision * Local funding issues * Practical and administrative issues regarding fees collection 1) When will I know what my database fees will be? We will keep TexShare members informed regarding the activity and recommendations of the Task Force on Fees through the TexShare electronic discussion lists. A final determination of fee level will be dependent upon the level of funding appropriated for FY04-05 by the legislature. 2) How can I be involved in the decision-making process? Be sure you belong to one of the TexShare electronic discussion lists. Instructions for signing up are at http://www.texshare.edu/memberinfo/contact/mailinglists/index.html. You can contact members of the TexShare Advisory Board with your concerns. The roster, with contact information, is at http://www.texshare.edu/memberinfo/advisoryboard/advisory2002.html. Also, contact members of TexShare working groups. See http://www.texshare.edu/memberinfo/workinggroups.html to link to rosters and contact information. We would like to hear from you at [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3) How will other TSLAC programs be affected by the budget cuts? FY04-05 cuts will be felt deeply across all TSLAC programs, most especially the grants programs. For more detail regarding the budget cuts, visit the TSLAC Web site at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/budgetinfo.html#2004. Other Questions 1) What is the future of resource sharing in Texas? Texans should be optimistic about the future of Texas libraries. Librarians from all different backgrounds have come together to improve library service in Texas. They give up regional thinking without abandoning the regional needs of their users. With dedication like this, there is, indeed, a bright future for resource sharing in Texas despite economic bad times. --------------------------------------------- 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
