IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO HELP SAVE FUNDING FOR CHARLESTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
On behalf of CCPL I am asking all of you to speak out for the library. If these vetoes hold, it could jeapordize the Foundation Center Collection and access to the Foundation Directory Online. Lawmakers need to understand how much the library impacts the entire community. Thank you in advance for your support.
Gov. Sanford’s vetoes Wednesday include two line items that cut nearly $6 million in State funds for libraries and jeopardize the receipt of an additional $2.7 million in Federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology) funds. Effectively, if these vetoes stand, public libraries in South Carolina will receive ZERO dollars from the state.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION:
It’s imperative residents contact their House of Representatives legislators immediately to let them know how vital libraries are to their community and ask that the Budget Vetoes 31 and 92 be overturned. The State House is expected to vote on this issue Tuesday, June 15, so calls/letters/emails should be sent before Tuesday.
To find contact information for your Charleston County legislator, visit http://www.scstatehouse.gov/countydelegationinfo/cnty10.htm and look under "South Carolina House Delegation".
Here is the Message:
Cutting funds to public libraries will kill the economy. Public libraries provide crucial educational and employment assistance and if this funding goes away so does our ability to educate and prepare students and the unemployed for the workforce.
Aid to Public Libraries is funding that supports direct public services. Federal Stimulus is used at the discretion of the County Library Boards to bridge gaps in technology, programs and the collection.
More Background on the issue:
South Carolina libraries are already being forced to cut hours, cut staff, cut purchases for materials and shut buildings to deal with the existing financial crisis. These further cuts could be devastating and, ultimately, hurt the state’s most desperate residents – those who are turning to libraries for educational and employment help because they’ve been laid off, displaced, furloughed or in need of assistance. Since the economic crisis began, South Carolina’s libraries have faced record-breaking, double-digit increases in the demand for services. In many communities, libraries are often the only resource for residents needing help with job searches, resume writing, skills training, career assessments, etc. Libraries also are often the only place where people can get free access to computers to search and apply for jobs. Many employers now require applications be filled out online.
In Charleston County, the loss of state funds will drastically impact the library’s ability to keep its’ collection current and buy needed materials, such as books, DVDs, CDs, etc.
For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Bledsoe
Acting Executive Director
Charleston County Public Library
68 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
bledsoec@ccpl.org 843-805-6813
Gov. Sanford’s vetoes Wednesday include two line items that cut nearly $6 million in State funds for libraries and jeopardize the receipt of an additional $2.7 million in Federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology) funds. Effectively, if these vetoes stand, public libraries in South Carolina will receive ZERO dollars from the state.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION:
It’s imperative residents contact their House of Representatives legislators immediately to let them know how vital libraries are to their community and ask that the Budget Vetoes 31 and 92 be overturned. The State House is expected to vote on this issue Tuesday, June 15, so calls/letters/emails should be sent before Tuesday.
To find contact information for your Charleston County legislator, visit http://www.scstatehouse.gov/countydelegationinfo/cnty10.htm and look under "South Carolina House Delegation".
Here is the Message:
Cutting funds to public libraries will kill the economy. Public libraries provide crucial educational and employment assistance and if this funding goes away so does our ability to educate and prepare students and the unemployed for the workforce.
Aid to Public Libraries is funding that supports direct public services. Federal Stimulus is used at the discretion of the County Library Boards to bridge gaps in technology, programs and the collection.
More Background on the issue:
South Carolina libraries are already being forced to cut hours, cut staff, cut purchases for materials and shut buildings to deal with the existing financial crisis. These further cuts could be devastating and, ultimately, hurt the state’s most desperate residents – those who are turning to libraries for educational and employment help because they’ve been laid off, displaced, furloughed or in need of assistance. Since the economic crisis began, South Carolina’s libraries have faced record-breaking, double-digit increases in the demand for services. In many communities, libraries are often the only resource for residents needing help with job searches, resume writing, skills training, career assessments, etc. Libraries also are often the only place where people can get free access to computers to search and apply for jobs. Many employers now require applications be filled out online.
In Charleston County, the loss of state funds will drastically impact the library’s ability to keep its’ collection current and buy needed materials, such as books, DVDs, CDs, etc.
For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Bledsoe
Acting Executive Director
Charleston County Public Library
68 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
bledsoec@ccpl.org 843-805-6813
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