by Alice Calabrese-Berry and Kathy Roegge, MLS

This year the Illinois Library Association Conference (http://www.ila.org/events/conference.htm) was held in Peoria.  Along with sessions on library issues, networking and exhibits, the Save Illinois Libraries Campaign was launched.  The campaign began on October 8 and continues through October 23.  The goal of the campaign is to encourage librarians, trustees and patrons to seek out their legislators telling them the importance libraries have in their communities.

Legislators are also being asked to sign on to the “promise”.  The promise says “Recognizing the importance of libraries and library systems to our communities and to the livelihood of the citizens of the state of Illinois, I (lawmaker) will work to oppose any additional cuts to library per capita grants in FY10.  Furthermore, I will work to fully fund library per capita grants when additional state funding becomes available in the future.” 

During the conference an exhibit booth was set up where attendees were invited to go to the CapWiz home page at http://capwiz.com/ala/il/state/main/?state=IL and send an already prepared message to legislators.  Thanks go to Kathy McSwain from Chicago Ridge Public Library (http://chicagoridge.lib.il.us/) and the other volunteers who manned the booth during the conference encouraging visitors to sign on.

After the conference libraries and system staff continue to push the message out about the campaign.  Below is an article that will be distributed to the local press by Alice Calbrese-Berry, executive director at MLS.

Save Illinois Libraries!

Libraries today are busier than ever.  Nationwide, more people applied for library cards last year than at any time since 1990 when these statistics were first collected.  Libraries in the southern and western suburbs of Chicago, all part of the Metropolitan Library System, are no different.  We have seen library use soar. Why is this happening?  The draw is free internet access, entertainment for all ages, education and for checking out books, DVD’s, CD’s and whatever else the library has available--for free. Libraries are also essential if you’re in the job market.  The job seeker is removed from the distractions of home and family to a quieter place to consider the next job or career move.

Through our regional System-Wide Automated Network (SWAN), last year’s circulation hit an all time high: 11 million items.  Check it out at http://swan.mls.lib.il.us   
In hard times, ironically, when library use increases, funding for libraries typically decreases.  In Illinois, public libraries are primarily funded by local property taxes.  Based on fair market value, tax receipts typically lag about two years behind the economic events that caused the downturn.  Funding for public libraries is going to decline.

As it adjourned this summer, the Illinois General Assembly cut 50% of all state grants from the general revenue funds including per capita grants for public and school libraries and to regional library systems, like the Metropolitan Library System.  I’m sure many of you have seen our delivery trucks throughout your communities as they deliver books and DVD’s to the 80 libraries participating in SWAN.  Last year, the dramatic increase of delivery of materials reached 7.5 million items.  This serious funding blow could have been the death knells to these services because a majority of the funding comes from an area and per capita grant from the State of Illinois. 

So who made the difference?   Secretary of State Jesse White, who is also our State Librarian.  The grant program for libraries is managed through his office at the Illinois State Library.  Secretary White moved quickly to reallocate a portion of the federal money that was to have been used for a juried grants program and the 50% cut was reduced by half.  As a result, libraries are able to continue serving the people who need our services the most in the current economic downturn.  However, this last-minute reprieve from Secretary White is not a sustainable solution.  The Illinois General Assembly must restore our lost funding.

That’s why library users and advocates across the state are banding together to send this important message to the Illinois General Assembly.  They will ask them to promise to restore funding at the earliest time possible emphasizing that lost funding negatively affects the communities they have been elected to serve. 

Do you think libraries are important?  Step up and tell your legislator.  Visit this website and make your voice heard: www.saveillinoislibraries.com.

Oh, and by the way, the next time you see one of our delivery trucks…honk.  Let the drivers know you care about libraries.

There is still time for libraries, their staff and patrons to contact state legislators about fully funding Illinois Libraries.  Visit the Save Illinois Libraries website or CapWiz to send your message.  Encourage legislators to sign the promise.  Let them know how important libraries are to our State's future success.

For more information contact Alice Calabrese-Berry at calabresea@mls.lib.il.us or Kathy Roegge at roeggek@mls.lib.il.us

Published October 21, 2009 in vol. 3, iss. 20 [View]