Public library funding

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Public libraries, long supported by various government entities, have seen a decline in monetary support for several decades, due to various influences.

Cases in point are the libraries in Salinas, California and Buffalo, New York, but there are many other long-standing public libraries now having to find new sources of income to keep them operating.

• In California, the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 removed the property tax as a source of funding for libraries, school programs, and other public services. This action provided tax relief for homeowners on one hand, but forced severe budget cuts to the services they enjoyed.

• The cost of creating, maintaining, and upgrading electronic hardware, networks, and resources has put a strain on many library budgets.

• The cost of printed matter such as books and magazines has risen over time, while funding has remained static or declined.

[edit] External links

• Library funding statistics, news, and issues from the American Library Association
• Public library statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics