Message from Glenn Miller

PaLA Members. As you know, Governor Corbett's 2011-12 budget proposal largely sustains library funding at current levels. The Public Library Subsidy would remain at $53.5 million; the Library Access program and Services for the Visually Impaired would be level-funded, and State Library operations trimmed by 1.9%. Considering that the next state budget is some $4 billion out of balance, and that next year’s budget will include deep cuts in many worthwhile state services, the Governor’s proposal to preserve current funding levels for library services is welcome news. Now and in coming weeks, it will be important for library advocates to speak up in support of the library portion of the Governor’s budget proposal in this difficult budget climate. The budget will need to be approved by the legislature, so changes can still be made. PaLA asks that you send, • An email to your State Senator and State Representative to ask that they support the library funding levels recommended in Governor Corbett’s budget, and • An email to Governor Tom Corbett to thank him for recognizing the importance of libraries and for preserving library funding and services in his proposed budget. Here’s a link to more information and a sample email for your State Senator and State Representative: http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=38282501 Here’s a link to more information and a sample email for Governor Corbett: http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=38286501 Feel free to personalize the sample emails by adding stories about the great work carried out at your library. Either way, please send your messages as soon as possible. Why? Because the legislature is conducting budget hearing right now and over the next few weeks. This shapes up to be a tough and controversial budget and, as such, the legislature will take a hard look at any changes to the budget that Governor Corbett proposed. We need to insure that, whatever else happens, the library portion of the budget remains as the Governor has proposed. Thanks for your great support of libraries and for taking action now. We’ll keep you posted with further updates as the budget moves ahead. Glenn