President Obama delivered a budget proposal to Congress on Monday that would cut federal library funding by 9.5 percent.
Obama is requesting $242.6 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is down from $265.9 million in FY11 (or $282.2 million if $16.3 million in earmarks is included). The Library Services and Technology Act, which IMLS administers, is budgeted for $193.2 million, down from $213.5 million.
Louisiana's share of LSTA funding came to $2,634,925 for FY2010. The State Library uses this money to help local public libraries with internet connectivity, public online database access, inter-library loan services, and several other things including literacy programs such as the summer reading program.
It's disappointing to see Obama's budget proposal ask public library users to sacrifice this way, particularly on the heels of his despicable decision to continue the Bush tax cuts for millionaires at the end of the last Congress.
But then it isn't surprising to see Obama open negotiations by making huge egregious sacrifices before compromising that stance later on. Nor is it surprising to see Republicans take a... somewhat different tact.
All IMLS, LSTA Funding in Jeopardy
A bill that is coming up for a vote this week in the House of Representatives* calls for the elimination of all Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding, including Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding, for the remainder of FY2011.
The good news here is the President and Congressional Republicans both agree on something. They hate public libraries. The only quibble now is just how much they hate them. We're fast on the way to a bi-partisan compromise where "both sides" win. And, of course, libraries lose but that's never the point.
*Amendment 35 to the budget continuing resolution was introduced by Rep. Scott Garrett (R–N.J.)
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