NJ Libraries at Risk
New Jersey Urban Libraries at Risk
To All The Library Supporters Who Made Your Voices Heard
Thank you, you did it!
$4.299 Million was restored in the New Jersey Budget for library programs!
Whether you were someone who:
* filled out one of the over 80,000 orange library support postcards,
* sent one of over 60,000 emails to legislators and the governor about supporting the library,
* sent a letter to a legislator or the governor,
* phoned a legislator's office,
* or, did all of the above,
your voice made a difference. The staffs of all the New Jersey libraries genuinely appreciate your efforts.
Delivery of materials between libraries will continue for this budget year. Also, access to the EBSCO databases that many residents and student rely on will continue.
Another Attack on Library Services
Proposed legislation A2555 will ELIMINATE minimum funding for libraries and will result in fewer books, fewer hours and fewer services and will cause some libraries to close. Local library funding targeted in A2555 typically represents less than 3% of local property taxes.
Tell your legislators to OPPOSE A2555, and support funding for municipal libraries as a dedicated tax. County Libraries and Open Space are currently funded with dedicated taxes. Read more about a dedicated library tax: http://savemynjlibrary.org/content/support-dedicated-funding-public-libraries.
UPDATE: Good News! S2068 has passed in the Senate, 40-0. S2068 would allow for the creation of the dedicated tax for public and joint libraries. On June 28, 2010, S2068 was referred to the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee. S2068 is supported by the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
