Advocacy Day

Today I spent the day at the state capitol lobbying for library funds.  The biggest point we wanted to address was that library funds were disproportionately cut compared to municipal funds and school budgets.  Library funds have been cut five times in the last three years bringing library aid down to pre1994 levels.  With the state budget cuts, over $3 million in federal LSTA funds will also be lost.  Library usage is increasing faster than population isncreased in the last five years.  Many patrons are using library resources to find and apply for jobs and keep current with technology, acquiring computer skills that will assist with job placement.   The two senators and five asemblymen that we talked to were sympathetic to our points and assured us they would plead our case to the best of their ability but many cuts would have to be made and everyone wants their funding to stay the same or increase. 

When we weren't talking with state senators and assemblymen, we were discussing our libraries.  I explained how I was frustrated by our strange turnout at winter break events last week and was assured that it was normal.  Maybe families were gone the beginning of the week, or gaming choices were more appealing to the children.  Story Hour need to build up a following and that takes time also.   Since my previous experience has been in school libraries, I am still learning the different ways they both operate.  When I prepared lessons, I knew specifically who would be coming and what I was teaching.  At the library, planned activities could have two children or twenty attend.  Book displays are changed much more frequently in the public library since we are addressing a wider population.  In the children's section, I will be creating a display for Dr. Seuss, Women's History Month, trains, Perseverance, Spring, and Mardi Gras.   Women's History month will be displayed throughout the library with displays by the biographies, on the windowsills and also a poster by the front desk.  I do miss making bulletin boards since we do not have any area big enough to create a display on.