From the Director's Desk

June 25, 2009

Beverly J. Obert, Executive Director

Illinois State Budget and Libraries

 The news is full of reports about the economy of the country and, for us in Illinois, the Illinois State Budget. The General Assembly left Springfield after passing what has been called the “50% budget”. As a result the various departments of State government have been preparing their staff and those who use their services for impending cuts in services should the Governor and the General Assembly not come back to Springfield and work out a solution to this budget crisis.

How does this affect your library and the services you receive from the Illinois Library Systems and the Illinois State Library? At this time there is not a clear picture; however, the Illinois Library Systems' web site lists funding information taken from the known bills that contain funds for Illinois library programs and Library Systems. Note: Library Systems receive approximately half of their funds from the General Revenue Funds and half from Live & Learn Funds. Here is the link to that information http://www.ilsdo.org/downloads/ILBudget2010.pdf  As additional information is obtained this site will be updated.

What can you do?

• First don’t panic. This is a situation that is quite fluid with new information coming out daily.

• Second. Keep abreast of the reports out of Springfield, read the papers, go online and look at the official webpage for Illinois or check out the web page of your Representative or Senator. If you are not sure if they have a page, just Google their name. Learn what you can about the budget and how it will affect you and your family.

• Third. Contact your Illinois Representative and Senator and tell them your story of how this budget crisis will affect your life, your family, and even your library. We elected these public officials and it is our right and duty to tell them what we as citizens expect of them.

Rolling Prairie Library System
A Library for Librarians
Helping Libraries Serve Illinois Citizens