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TESTIMONY
OF PATRICIA A. TUMULTY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE
March 24, 2004
I am Patricia Tumulty, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Library
Association. I am speaking today directly on behalf of the 1600 members of
our Association and the 1500 members of the New Jersey Library Trustee Association.
But more importantly, I am also speaking on behalf of the millions of residents
of New Jersey who rely upon local libraries as their centers for access to
library and information services.
I am speaking on behalf of the budget request for library programs administered
by the New Jersey State Library. Since 1995, the State Library has been affiliated
with Thomas Edison State College. That affiliation was made permanent with
the passage of legislation in July 2001. Many of the information services
supported by this budget and provided by the State Library are available
to every school, public and academic library through the statewide interlibrary
loan program, the 24x7 Virtual Library and the new State Library information
portal which will be unveiled this spring. The provision of information resources
on a statewide basis is a model of cooperation among various institutions
and provides for cost containment at the local level. More importantly, it
provides an equalized playing field for all residents to have access to the
information resources that they need. In a world where some people think
all information can be found using “google”, the reality is that
the residents of New Jersey are utilizing their libraries in record numbers.
Over 40 million visits last year- the most visited venue in New Jersey. From
family literacy programs, to computer classes for senior citizens, to art
exhibits, libraries are vibrant community centers. In addition, there are
millions of uses of library materials through our Virtual Library system.
FY 2005 BUDGET
I would like to address three issues today – restoration of funding
for the New Jersey State Library; the development of a science and technology
initiative and the continuation of the library construction program. New
Jersey’s economy is emerging from several very difficult years when
many state programs were asked to curtail needed services to the public.
This year the budget projections are more optimistic restoring many of the
cuts made in previous budgets and providing new levels of funding for many
programs but, unfortunately, not library services. We again face a very difficult
budget. Last year, the State Library’s budget suffered a $670,000 cut
with the elimination of two important programs- the Library Development Aid
program and the Emergency Aid program. There has not been a restoration of
this funding in this budget. In fact, what we feared last year is coming
to pass. This will become another permanent cut in state funding for libraries.
The State Library’s operating budget is less than it was 20 years
ago. They have stopped purchasing books this year because of lack of funding.
That is extremely difficult to accept a State Library unable to purchase
books or other materials for six months. It is extremely hard to believe
that state funding for library programs in the FY2005 budget is lower than
it was in the FY90 budget. This dramatizes the permanent nature of library
funding cuts. This simply can not continue. No other program in state government
as suffered such permanent, debilitating cuts. It is imperative that funding
be restored. The State Library’s request for an operating budget increase
of $1 million needs to be funded.
TECHKNOWLEDGEE INITIATIVE
It is widely recognized that the future growth of our national and worldwide
economy will be based on the information society. The question is, “Will
New Jersey be able to compete?” The New Jersey library community has
a comprehensive vision to provide the information resources necessary for
leadership in the information age. The program is the TECHKNOWLEDGEE INITIATIVE.
The goal is to provide entrepreneurs, small business owners, researchers
and students with information tools for the 21st Century through web access
to Science, Technology, Medical and Business Databases. This initiative clearly
supports Governor McGreevey’s proposals to transform New Jersey into
the premier technology state. New Jersey’s economic development will
be strengthened and expanded by creating a science and technology information
infrastructure. The projected cost of the project is $6,000,000.
Selected electronic resources would be accessible to New Jersey residents
- from libraries, home, school or office, anywhere and anytime they have
Internet access. Librarians would provide professional assistance and ongoing
support and training. The proposal, therefore, has comprehensive and far
reaching benefits for students and faculty at every institution of higher
education ( county colleges, independent or state colleges, and independent
or state universities); advanced placement students through selected high
schools; small businesses, incubators and entrepreneurs; government leaders;
and the general public through Regional Economic Resource Centers at four
selected public libraries and the State Library/Thomas Edison State College.
A technology state must have resources to support the information based
economy. You can not find these resources doing a yahoo search. The TECHKNOWLEDGEE
INITIATIVE will:
· Provide access to cutting edge online resources in the areas of
science, technology, computers, business and medicine.
·
Expand opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses through innovation
·
Target job creation through knowledge based economic growth
·
Foster academic excellence for students in institutions of higher education
and advanced placement high school students.
TECHKNOWLEDGEE INITIATIVE will strengthen and enhance key New Jersey programs
to promote and support small businesses, emerging incubators and start-up
companies particularly in the areas of science, medicine, business and
biotechnology as Governor McGreevey recently outlined to the high-tech
community. What we see missing from those initiatives are the information
resources to make that possible. World class scientists, researches and
entrepreneurs must have access to the latest research information. Our
proposal will provide the information infrastructure to make those proposals
successful.
CONSTRUCTION BOND ACT
This budget again provides funding to support the debt services on the first
round of the Construction Bond Act. That Act, passed in 1999, has provided
a renaissance in library building throughout the state. Sixty-eight projects
were funded under the first grant program. There is still a great need for
assistance with library construction. Under the first round of grants there
were no projects from many of our urban centers such as Paterson, Passaic,
Trenton, Camden or Jersey City although these communities have tremendous
needs. We believe that another library construction grant program could be
used as a catalyst for urban development in these cities. The State Library
has a list of over sixty communities who are interested in a second round
of construction funding. Currently several bills are pending. We believe
this is desperately needed and this legislation must be funded.
FY 2005
This is a very critical budget for the residents of New Jersey. Cuts in
funding for library programs made last year have not been restored. This
is causing a severe hardship on the services of the New Jersey State Library.
Funding must be restored.
This budget is also about opportunity and growth. The library community,
through its TECHKNOWLEDGEE INITIATIVE, has developed a proposal to provide
the needed information infrastructure for New Jersey to become a leader in
technology. This proposal is imperative to that success and must be included
in this budget.
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