State of the State Library2015

Linda ThibodeauAlaska State Librarian

Great News: Let’s celebrate the Craig Public Library

What does the State Library do?All kinds of things! We work for….

• Libraries• Library patrons• Researchers• People without libraries• State government

Grants For Libraries • Public Library Assistance (PLA)

• SOA funded• $6500 per year per location• Local match• Other requirements to be a public library

• Interlibrary Cooperation • Competitive• Special and group projects• SOA and federal funding

• SchoolBAG grants for school broadband• $5 million in FY 15• Brings schools up to 10 mbps

• And more….

Education for Librariansto better serve patrons

• Webinars, seminars, workshops, conference presentations, online resources, handbooks, library science materials

• Site visits, direct consultation, phone help• E-rate application assistance• Basic, advanced and continuing education

grants, scholarships• Summer Reading Program • Internet Circle of Safety

Early Literacy for Preschoolers

• Materials for library literacy centers – books, furniture, manipulatives

• Ready to Read Resource Center loans materials to child care centers and individuals statewide

• Part time early literacy specialist is planned

• Program ideas and assistance

For Library Patrons

More for Patrons• Alaska newspapers on microfilm, 1866 –• Talking Books for the blind and physically

handicapped• Special collections• Online exhibits

• Student resources

For State Government• Reference services, research and circulating

collection for state government and public• State depository program for publications• Collects and preserves Alaskana: books,

state documents, journals, business records, photographs, maps

• And more….

OWL for All Alaskans• 67 public libraries with broadband

support• 100 libraries in videoconferencing

network• All SOA funded now

And then there is SLAM

fully funded (thanks, 2014 legislature)on schedule and on budget

opens spring 2016And...proposed new name for SLAM

Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff State Library, Archives and Museums Building

• First Librarian and Curator, 1919—1940• Opened the organization’s first museum and library• Traveled Alaska, added hundreds of documents and thousands of objects to collections• Exemplifies LAM’s integration, outreach, service and educational focus• Russian Orthodox priest• Serious research approach to history and ethnology• Descendent of Alutiiq people and Russian explorers• Married a Kiks.adi Tlingit woman from Sitka, has living descendants• A passionate and energetic force for his church, and the library and

museum

No OWL for Alaskans• $761,000 is recommended to $0• 67 public libraries without broadband support• no videoconferencing

• Vulnerable Alaskans

No Live Homework Help

• $132,800 recommended to $0

Other Recommended Cuts to Division of Libraries, Archives &

Museums

• Cut all OWL funding: $761,800 – rationale: this is not part of the mission of EED and is a local responsibility

• Cut all Live Homework Help funding: $138,200 – rationale: no quantifiable effect for the program

• Cut all SchoolBAG funding: $5 million – rationale: districts have only had this for a year and haven’t gotten used to it; local responsibility

• Reduce Archives component by 15% undesignated general fund (UGF) plus 2.5% personnel funds for a total of $191,000

• Reduce Museums component by 15% UGF plus 2.5% personnel funds for a total of $286,700

• Reduce Libraries component by 2.5% personnel for $77,100Total recommended cuts: $6,554,900 from original LAM total budget for FY 16 of 13,734,200.

47.7% recommended reduction

The budget process is not over yet…

Act Now!If your library patrons benefit from the work of

the State Library, Archives, Museums…..Tell lawmakers what you think • Write a letter or email: http://akleg.gov/ • Send a Public Opinion Message (POM) at

www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/• Call in from your LIO and testify at a budget

hearing: http://akleg.gov/lios.php