Fy2009 Budget Hearing Summary 

FY2009 Budget Hearing
October 4, 2007
Worcester Public Library

Executive Summary

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners held a hearing on its FY2009 budget request to the Patrick/Murray Administration from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Worcester Public Library. Approximately 100 people attended the hearing and 30 people spoke. Written testimony was requested of all speakers. A total of 183 persons submitted written comments by the deadline of October 8, 2007.

The written testimony is presented in two sections. The first section features a limited number of presentations that cover the key issues and give an especially good sense of the tenor of the comments. The second section includes all other comments received. Both are arranged alphabetically.

Most of the comments came from users of library services (95), with the next greatest number from representatives of public libraries (47). Other groups represented were academic libraries, school libraries, special libraries, administrators, network staff, regional staff and library association presidents.

A tally of comments by state budget line item shows the following:

The testifiers made the following points:

• The budget cap of 1.5 percent is inadequate to meet current user needs and should be increased.
• The MBLC’s preliminary legislative agenda for FY2009 that requests a 30 percent increase is imperative to restore essential and valued services.
• There is great frustration that both Cherry Sheet accounts (9401 and 9501) have languished while other Cherry Sheet accounts have increased 12 percent since FY2001. This will be a focal point in this year’s budget process.
• Public libraries and the state programs that support them should be a high priority for the administration; they are basic infrastructure like roads and bridges.
• Users of libraries of all types (public, academic, school and special) benefit from these programs.
• Services provided by the regional library systems are critical to user services in libraries throughout the Commonwealth. The erosion of these services since the 24 percent budget cut of FY2003, and with the ever increasing cost of delivery service reduces the services local library can offer.
• Services supported under account 7000-9506 provide users access to the holdings of the Commonwealth’s libraries and to licensed electronic content available in every library and to anyone with a library card. These services provide equity of access to library resources for all residents of Massachusetts.
• Blind and physically disabled residents view the services of the talking book libraries as a lifeline that keeps them in touch with the world.
• Staff, services and leadership provided by the MBLC are highly valued. This includes not only the state funded line items but the construction and federal Library Services and Technology Act programs.
• Speakers uniformly praised the Patrick/Murray Administration for opening up the budget process and listening to what people say about library programs.