NJ Libraries Eliminated From State Budget

[Kire]

Gov. Christie's budget calls for a 74% decrease in funding for statewide library services. This cut includes the elimination of all statewide library programs and services. This will affect all types of libraries in New Jersey. Once state funding is eliminated, NJ will lose $4.5 million in federal funding. What does this mean to NJ residents? Once state and federal funding are lost the impact will be felt by all residents:

*Access to electronic databases such as RefUSA and EBSCO will cease

*Statewide interlibrary loan and delivery of library materials will cease

*Libraries will lose 50% of state aid at a time when demand for services is increasing dramatically

*More than half of public libraries will lose access to the Internet

*Many libraries will lose email service

*Many libraries will lose their websites or access to them

*The Talking Book and Braille Center (known as the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped) will close

*Group contracts which bring down the cost of other electronic resources purchased by libraries will cease

At the same time the state is eliminating funding for library programs. Assemblyman John DiMaio has introduced A2555 which eliminates the minimum local funding requirement for municipal public libraries.

This assault on libraries must be stopped! Here is what you need to know:

http://www.ilovenjlibraries.org/

[bookman]

1. Shameful

But Republicans have alway been against people being educated.

The top targets for Christie....schools and libraries.

[amyrose2712]

2. What a douche.

Sorry I just can't help but say it.

[bluhoodie]

3. Maybe he expects libraries to go back to bake sales

and movie nights in order to raise funds.

Pathetic.    :puke:

"Books? You got books! Plenty of books just sitting on those shelves! Why pay for any more? Besides, nobody reads books anymore; it's all on the internet. -- Go watch TV and play your videogames!"

[TommyO]

4. The governor's payroll budget goes up

Shared sacrifice my pasty white ass! He's just another lying Republican who takes from the poor and gives to his rich cronies.

[Glassunion]

5. Can someone help me out?

I'm trying to find info on these cuts from a site other than blogs.

I poured over the state budget proposal and could not find what the OP is claiming. I was going to have my mom, who still lives in NJ sign the petition, however I am having difficulty getting concrete numbers in the budget that correspond to the numbers in the OP.

[Jersey Devil]

6. It's all over the news

Under Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed $29.3 billion budget for fiscal 2011, the state’s libraries would lose 74 percent of their funding with a cut from $14 million to $3.6 million. The loss of state funds also would cost at least $4.5 million in federal matching funds.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/hundreds_of_nj_libraries_prote.html

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100506/UPDATES01/100506025/Morris+librarians+head+to+Trenton+to+protest+Christie+s+budget+cuts

[Glassunion]

7. Thank you so very much.

Mom will be getting her letter out today.

Again, thanks for the response. All I was getting when googling was returns for blogs and iReports.