Believe it or not, your local librarian wants you to make a lot of noise.
New Jersey State Librarian Norma E. Blake is worried about the future of libraries in the state, and is urging residents to pick up the phone and call their representatives.
Norma E. Blake said she believes “losing all programs that serve local libraries, New Jersey also loses $4.5 million of annual Library Services and Technology act money.”
Some of the issues at stake include the interlibrary loan system, which will cease on June 30, 2010. If you want a special book that the Montclair Public Library may not have, you won’t have the ability to order.
Statewide summer reading will not continue after the summer of 2010 in state libraries.
Currently, libraries use regional library services such as group purchasing discounts and continuing education for staff.
“The things you would miss would include ordering books from other libraries because there would be no delivery service,” warned April Judge, the director the West Caldwell Public Library,” “I don’t know what BCCLS is going to do if that goes away.
We would lose many data bases that the state library provides.”
Even more frightening is the idea that libraries could also lose their funding as it stands now, where state law provides for 1/3 of a million of the taxable ratables in a town must go to the library. If this law is struck down, a municipality would not have to give this money to their library.
“If that goes away, municipalities could give any amount they wanted,” said Judge.
Want to find out legal information at the library? As of June 30, 2010 libraries will lose technical assistance in areas such as library law, preservation, youth services, pilot programs and e-rate. And, according to Blake, libraries will also “lose the State Library’s grant writers who secured grants”.
As of July1, 2010, libraries will lose half of per capita state aid. Staff cuts and reductions in hours may occur.
On July1, 2010, there is a proposed merger with Rutgers University, as proposed by Governor Chris Christie.
“Our library will lose a state voice for libraries on library issues and legislation if the State Library is governed by Rutgers University,” she noted. “Under Rutgers, the State Library would be a low priority as the university libraries and would have no ability to advocate for all types of libraries.”
In Montclair, call State Tom Giblin at 973-779-3125, Nia Gill at 973-509-0388 and Sheila Oliver at 973-395-1166.
In the Caldwells, contact:
27th District
Senate:
Richard James Codey (D)
449 Mount Pleasant Ave.
West Orange 07052
973/731-6770
973/731-0647 (fax)
sencodey@njleg.org
Assembly:
Mila Jasey (D)
15 Village Plaza, Suite 1B
South Orange 07079
973/762-1886
aswjasey@njleg.org
Assembly:
John F. McKeon (D)
4 Sloan St., Suite D&E,
South Orange 07079
973/275-1113
973/275-1480 (fax)
asmmckeon@njleg.o
