Impact of state budget on library service in Delaware County

The State Legislature has proposed a budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 that reduces funding to libraries by 38% and eliminates many state-wide services. In response to this proposed budget, DCLS has begun planning a series of service reductions in response to these cuts. Delaware county libraries will see a reduction of almost $2 million in direct funds, grants and other services.

If the services listed below are important to you, your family and your community, please contact your state representative and senator and urge them to support libraries at the current appropriation.

Find your legislator.

Service Cuts:

Elimination of having books sent to your local library: Currently on the DCLS catalog you can click the Request button and have a book or other item from any library in the county sent to your local library. With the new budget, DCLS will not be able to fund the three delivery vans that move 600,000 items a year among libraries. You will need to pick up the book at the owning library.

Major databases eliminated: The state funded POWER Library forms the core resources of the DCLS virtual library. EBSCOHost, a database of magazine articles, is among the resources that will end. To see a list of databases that will end, go to the DCLS POWER Library +

Support for Summer Reading eliminated: Studies show that students can lose up to one grade level in reading comprehension over the summer. Participation in a library summer reading program can stop the “summer slide.” With the budget cuts, DCLS will no longer be able to provide the prizes, promotion and programs that make summer reading fun and enjoyable for children.

Best seller program eliminated: DCLS leases 3,000 best sellers each year, reducing wait time for popular books. This program will end.

Downloadable audiobooks reduced: DCLS will not purchase any additional materials for this collection.

Interlibrary Loan eliminated: The state budget funds the staff, technology and delivery service that enables county residents to borrow books from all over the country. This service will be eliminated.

Using other libraries and use by non-residents eliminated: State funds reimburse libraries for providing service to people from outside Delaware County and for our residents to use other libraries in the state. The state also subsidizes a delivery service among libraries. Both of these programs will be eliminated under SB 850. If Delaware County residents want to use libraries in other counties they will have to pay for a card there and return the book to that library.