The CTLS Board of Directors has presented a resolution to the TSLAC Commissioners asking that $4 million of state general revenue be requested as an Exceptional Item in the FY 2010-2011 budget. Deanna Frazee, Director of the Killeen Public Library had some questions about how this request may impact two of the programs that Killeen Public has come to rely on. With her permission we are printing her original letter and Peggy Gibson's response to her questions so that there can be an open dialog on this very important issue. We will also post these letters and responses on the CTLS web page so that you can read them at your leisure.
Dear Ms. Gibson, I am in receipt of the packet that was mailed out regarding the CTLS Board of Directors' recent resolution regarding State funding. After reading it, I find that I still have questions. First, have any of the other regional systems made a similar request of the TSLAC Commissioners? So far, everything I have seen regarding the appropriation of State funds for the systems has only mentioned that CTLS is making this request. What is the stance of the other systems' boards? A bigger concern is that if this request is granted, it may cause cuts in truly vital programs such as TexShare and Talking Books. Frankly, the value of TexShare and Talking Books to our patrons far outweighs the value of any CTLS training or consulting. CTLS seems to concentrate on providing training and services that are appropriate for the small libraries in our region-a noble effort-but it would be more troubling to me to find that TexShare had to drop databases than it would be to learn that CTLS had to cut a significant portion of its training. After all, if a community truly wants a quality library, then they need to be willing to expend some monies to provide for the library's training needs. If TSLAC deeply cuts TexShare, none of us can easily fund such a huge amount ourselves, and CTLS would not be able to step in and pay it for us either. Please understand that I am not against the request if it does not threaten TexShare, Talking Books or other vital TSLAC services. My concern is that CTLS' request may pose a threat to those services which my community most needs. Thank you for your time. Deanna Frazee Director of Library Services Killeen City Library System Dear Deanna, I have placed our answers to each of your questions directly below your question, thinking this will make it easier to track. I appreciate your response and hope my answers and comments will help you decide to support our position. 1. Have any of the other regional systems made a similar request of the TSLAC Commissioners? What is the stance of the other systems' boards? Pat Tuohy, at the Board's request, contacted all the systems regarding this issue to see what action, if any, they plan to take. Several systems have taken or are contemplating action on this issue. The NETLS Advisory Council considered this resolution on May 13 and the Chair sent a letter on May 16 to Lay Representatives in their system informing them of the resolution and asking that they take action. The HALS system Advisory Council and Planning Committee meets this week to consider this resolution. The NTRLS Board will meet on May 22 and the resolution will be brought forward for consideration and adoption. The AALS Advisory Council has called a special meeting on May 29th to discuss and possibly adopt the resolution. Pat still hopes to hear from Corpus Christi (STLS), Abilene (BCLS), Lubbock (WTLS), Amarillo (TPLS) and El Paso (TTPLS) as to where they stand. 2. A bigger concern is that if this request is granted, it may cause cuts in truly vital programs such as TexShare and Talking Books. I share your view that those are vital services to constituents and do not wish to see them reduced or cut out of the budget. Since those activities have historically been included in the State Library's Base Budget, there is a small likelihood that that will happen, but, as we know -anything is possible. The Resolution passed by the CTLS Board of Directors on April 14th specifically asks that the Commission add this request to the "wish list" of items to be funded in FY 2010 & 2011. This request does not replace or displace any of the items already in the TSL Base Budget for FY 2008 & FY 2009. Each agency prepares a Base Budget and an Exceptional Items budget in the summer of even numbered years. The TexShare and Talking Books programs have been core items in the Commission's Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) for several biennia. While I cannot speak for the State Library, it does not seem to be logical or likely that the agency would discontinue funding for those services in the Base Budget. Exceptional items are just what the name implies - those activities that are outside of the currently funded activities of the state agency. Placement on the Exceptional Items request list does not guarantee that the item will be funded. As you may recall, the State Library had two significant requests on the Exceptional Items list during the 2007 Legislative Session. The Commission requested $21 million to supplement the building expansion project for the Lorenzo de Zavala Building and $11 million to expand the Loan Star Libraries program for public libraries. The LSL program was increase by $1 million but the $21 million request was not funded by the Legislature. It is a long shot that the Legislature will fund any item on the Exceptional Items list, but if you don't ask for money, you will never get it. 3. CTLS seems to concentrate on providing training and services that are appropriate for the small libraries in our region-a noble effort-but it would be more troubling to me to find that TexShare had to drop databases than it would be to learn that CTLS had to cut a significant portion of its training. The System is now expected to do much more than just continuing education and consulting for public libraries. In fact, the State Library has instructed the systems to include the needs of school, community college, and university libraries in its service mandate. Systems must focus exclusively on specific LSTA priority populations and services and at the same time expand the number of libraries in its base constituency. Organizing collaborative projects for literacy and automation projects between multi-type libraries is an example of the services that systems should now offer to libraries. While the number of libraries increases, the type of assistance that can be given to any type of library is becoming increasingly restricted. General library administration, problem patron issues, board and volunteer development, and personnel management are just a few of the topics which cannot be addressed in continuing education programs for any type of library. Consulting with libraries on building or renovation projects has been specifically prohibited by an IMLS memo. The CTLS Library Bargain Hunter program has also been declared an unallowable program by State Library staff and must be discontinued in FY 2009. The unique needs of libraries in every region of the state are ignored when only federal money is used to fund the ten systems. Public libraries, indeed all types of libraries in Texas, have much broader needs than those covered by the LSTA priorities. Those needs cannot be met because of the limitations imposed with the federal funds. State funding is needed to allow the Texas library systems to serve Texas libraries. Deanna, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to respond to my letter. I hope I have answered your concerns and helped you understand where the Board stands on this issue. Please contact me after you receive this letter if you have any more questions. I am happy to work to get any answers you need. Sincerely, Peggy Gibson
