[Michlib-l] Proposed IMLS/LSTA Cuts

Thu Mar 30 08:12:10 EDT 2017

Recently, the White House released its proposed budget outlining major cuts and the complete elimination of programs supporting library services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been identified as an agency the administration has targeted for elimination. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered by IMLS, provides critically important funding for our nation's libraries. LSTA's Grants to States is the largest grant program run by IMLS. These appropriations are distributed directly to each state and territory through a population-based formula. Each state can identify the most appropriate use of these funds for library services and activities to meet their state's diverse needs. The return on investment for this program is substantial and is enhanced by each state's matching contributions. Many of the innovations taking place in America's libraries today are a direct result of this program and the funding it provides.
As you know, total elimination of IMLS as proposed in the President's budget would have a devastating impact on library service across Michigan. The Library of Michigan directed LSTA funds touch every community across the state. For instance, LSTA funds pay for all costs associated with MeLCat the statewide resource sharing program providing nearly one million loans to library patrons per year as well as the majority of the Michigan eLibrary's (MeL) 40 databases and eBook content. Both programs have become irreplaceable for libraries and schools of all types and sizes. Other cuts would include:

  *   Public libraries would not receive summer reading materials that provide programming assistance for children's literacy.
  *   Library related data collected by the Library of Michigan availability would be minimal.
  *   Consulting and support for public libraries to file for e-rate would be curtailed or end.
  *   State Library support for WebJunction library staff training would end.
  *   Grants to support innovative initiatives in areas would no longer exist and possible new sub-grant programs would not be created.
  *   Leadership programs such as the Harwood community innovator program would be eliminated.
  *   Providing future funds to support a Michigan service hub for the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and increase the number of digital records from Michigan libraries, archives and historical societies added to DPLA would be significantly reduced or terminated.
  *   Support for Ploud technology for small and rural libraries would be curtailed or eliminated.
  *   Materials and training supporting the early literacy efforts with Every Child Ready to Read would cease.
  *   The statewide membership to United for Libraries providing resources and training for library trustees would be canceled.
  *   Sponsorship funds for continuing education to support events provided by MLA, FOML, MCLS and MI-ALA would be eliminated.
  *   Continuing education events such as the Rural and Small Libraries Conference and others would end or be dramatically curtailed.
  *   Funds to support the Michigan Activity Pass would be eliminated.
  *   The Michigan Reads! program targeting emerging readers statewide would need to be curtailed or eliminated.
The loss of federal funds also could create a loss of incentive for state appropriations, as our federal allocation depends upon a maintenance of effort in state appropriations.
Each year the Library of Michigan receives approximately $4.3 million of LSTA funds from IMLS.  If these LSTA dollars no longer were available in Michigan, the negative impact would be far-reaching.  Attached to this message is the "Overview of LSTA Funds in Michigan" document that spells out in more detail how LSTA funds are used in Michigan. If you would like information about the amount of LSTA grant funding your library has received in recent years, please contact Shannon White (whites29 at michigan.gov<mailto:whites29 at michigan.gov>) or Karren Reish (reishk at michigan.gov<mailto:reishk at michigan.gov>) at the Library of Michigan.
As a federal government agency, IMLS cannot engage in any form of advocacy. However, as the budget moves through the legislative process, they will continue to actively educate about the important role of IMLS and LSTA in serving our nation's communities.  I encourage you to sign up through the ALA Action Center<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcqrcengage.com%2Fala%2Fhome&data=01%7C01%7Cbboon1%40kent.edu%7Cb5a925047dbf49cab49708d46d5e440e%7Ce5a06f4a1ec44d018f73e7dd15f26134%7C1&sdata=Fn3wFDD%2FQavQlSg5YOeaQ9VnfP3JFjRiC7o9Ydr36rs%3D&reserved=0> to receive advocacy alerts, background information, and talking points about this important issue. Ongoing funding and policy updates from the ALA Washington Office also are available at the District Dispatch<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.districtdispatch.org%2F&data=01%7C01%7Cbboon1%40kent.edu%7Cb5a925047dbf49cab49708d46d5e440e%7Ce5a06f4a1ec44d018f73e7dd15f26134%7C1&sdata=euYhkSldwhLcFCKyz%2BbLuPK81NfoBiqjREMuhU8Hurs%3D&reserved=0> blog.
Sincerely,

Randy
_______________________________________________________________
Randy Riley
State Librarian
Library of Michigan
702 West Kalamazoo Street
P.O. Box 30007
Lansing, MI  4909-7507
(517) 373-5860
rileyr1 at michigan.gov<mailto:rileyr1 at michigan.gov>
_______________________________________________________________________________

Overview of LSTA Funds in Michigan

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides funds through the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) grants to states program. The Michigan Department of Education, Library of Michigan, uses the funds to improve library services to residents and increase the capacity of Michigan libraries to serve their users. The state LSTA Five-Year Plan and reports are online at www.michigan.gov/lsta<http://www.michigan.gov/lsta>.

How are LSTA funds used?

Michigan uses LSTA funds primarily for statewide programs that benefit public, school, academic and special libraries users and Michigan residents directly. The federal FY 2015 allotment was $4,350,678. The premier LSTA funded program is the Michigan eLibrary (MeL), a virtual library available at anytime, anywhere to all Michigan residents through their local library or www.mel.org<http://www.mel.org/>.

The LSTA funds provide a majority of or total support for the Michigan eLibrary, MeL, early literacy programs, continuing education programs and overall LSTA program evaluation. From year to year, the primary funding for these programs is LSTA funding, at the approximate percentages.

?  Michigan eLibrary (MeL) - 70% of costs are LSTA

?  Technology programs - 100% of costs are LSTA

?  Early literacy programs - 82% of costs are LSTA

?  Continuing education - 92% of costs are LSTA

Michigan eLibrary (MeL)

?  Databases - Hundreds of thousands of subscription magazine and newspaper articles, reference book articles, images, eBooks, historical documents, and other full-text materials are available through the resources provided by LSTA funds in MeL.  Content ranges from PreK-12 levels to professional and research levels in science, medicine, education, technology, humanities, arts, social sciences, law and genealogy.  Additional state funds also support significant business and early literacy resources.

?  MeLCat - The statewide library catalog and resource-sharing network. Users can search the catalog from www.MeL.org/melcat<http://www.mel.org/> or directly from their participating local library catalog. Michigan residents are using MeLCat to easily identify and request convenient, quick and free delivery of materials from other participating Michigan libraries to their own library for pick up. Nearly 1,000,000 items were loaned in 2016.

?  eBooks - A collection of thousands of non-fiction and reference electronic books for academics and professionals. Topics include science, computers, business, education and humanities among others.

?  Gateways - A balanced collection of quality subscription eResources and librarian selected Internet sites that are Michigan-related or especially useful to Michigan residents.  MeL's Business Gateway, which is newly redesigned, supports economic development and small businesses. Gateways also support children, teens and teachers and point to job, health, legal, literacy, historical and government information.

?  Tests, Tutorials & Workforce Development Resources - A comprehensive, interactive resource, LearnATest with occupational, licensing and academic practice tests and tutorials for K-16 and job seekers, from the GED to the GRE.

Early Literacy

The Library of Michigan uses LSTA funds to support early literacy resources for library staff, educators and caregivers. Programs funded with LSTA dollars include:

?  Collaborative Summer Library Program - Access by Michigan public libraries to high-quality, resource-filled summer reading manuals saves libraries both staff time and money for annual programming to help prevent the summer reading slide. In 2016, estimated participation was over 200,000 people.

?  Michigan Reads! - The program focuses on the role of adults in sharing reading experiences with children from birth through school age to support young children's developing literacy skills.  The program has a wide focus, including public libraries, all schools with a K-2 classroom, Head Start programs and Great Start Readiness programs. Approximately 600,000 students and young children in Michigan are reached each year.

?  Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) - A national research based program to train librarians on how to engage parents and caregivers in the elements of early literacy. The program focuses on teaching library staff to use these basics in children's program and assist parents in learning to provide the same support to their children at home. More than 3/4 of Michigan's public libraries received training materials and 417 library staff attended training.

Technology

?  Ploud - Michigan participates in a nation-wide collaborative to provide high quality, easy to use web sites for public libraries, giving their communities online access to statewide resources. At the end of state FY 2016 the project served 97 small and rural communities.

?  E-rate training and support - Michigan libraries have training and assistance for E-rate, the federal program that provides for reduced cost Internet and telecommunications connectivity. In 2016, the training assisted libraries in requesting $4,000,000, a 27% increase over the previous year.

?  Counting Opinions - Michigan libraries use this software to provide statistical information to the Library of Michigan and it then provides libraries the ability to develop reports on their services compare their services and costs to other community libraries and make informed planning decisions.

Continuing Education for Librarians and Trustees

LSTA funds sponsored workshops and training and online continuing education resources for librarians and trustees throughout the state, giving library staff the opportunity to learn new techniques and methods to reach underserved residents and improve services to their communities.

?  WebJunction - Online training and materials on a wide range of library issues and services.

?  Continuing Education Stipends - Funds for members of the Michigan library community to attend workshops and conferences.

?  United for Libraries - Online training and materials for public library trustees.

?  Friends of Michigan Libraries - Support for public library trustee training workshops.

?  Michigan Library Association - Support for public and academic library training workshops.

?  Michigan Association for Academic Libraries - Support for annual conference.

?  Small and Rural Libraries Conference - Flagship library conference in the state for rural libraries.

?  Collaborative Fall Program - Annual workshop on a range of current issues.

?  Harwood Community Engagement Project - Training for libraries of all types to engage with their communities.

?  Youth Services Workshops (STEM, Teen Services) - Annual workshop for teen and or children's librarians on current issues in youth programming.

?  PLA Measuring Outcomes Training - Workshops on learning to evaluate library programs and provide that qualitative information to their community.

How does Michigan receive LSTA funds?

Congress funds the Library Services & Technology Act. To receive LSTA funds, the State of Michigan must both match the federal funds and maintain a level of effort through state or private funds. States must meet the matching requirement to receive the allotment. Maintenance of effort is determined by a three-year average of state funds. These funds must be spent to support the purposes of the LSTA Act. In Michigan, that funding is primarily State Aid to Public Libraries.

What is the impact on library users in Michigan?

LSTA funding has a profound impact on improving outcomes in Michigan for students, professionals and lifelong learners as the comments the Library of Michigan receives attest to.

"I wanted to thank you for your webinar, "Early Literacy Tips For Storytimes - Preschoolers" I am a new Library Board Member...Your webinar was well produced, entertaining and very informative. Your rich content and expert presentation skills allowed me insights I would otherwise not have enjoyed. I will be sharing it with others."

"I greatly appreciate how MeL allows library patrons such as myself to gain access to other collections across the state.  MeL allows me to access, through my local library ... older books (economics, fiction, etc.) which would be otherwise unavailable.  What a great way for libraries to maximize the use of their collections!"

"Friends - I am now working on my doctorate at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, while living in ...  Without MeLCat, this would not be possible.  How can I begin to express my appreciation for the availability of resources and wisdom that would otherwise be unattainable?"

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