New Jersey Library Priority

SAFEGUARDING AND PRESERVING LIBRARY SERVICE IN OUR DISTRESSED ECONOMIC AREAS DURING THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, WHERE PER CAPITA SPENDING IS FAR BELOW STATE OR NATIONAL AVERAGES FOR THOSE WHO MOST NEED AND USE LIBRARIES TO IMPROVE AND EMPOWER THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IS A PRIORITY.

New Jersey's distressed economic areas have been hardest hit in this recession and the effects on Libraries and residents have been devastating. Hours and services have been slashed and numerous library branches have closed.  Eleven branches have closed to date, including all four branches in Trenton, three branches in Camden City, both branches in Bayonne and two branches in Newark.  Furthermore, eight libraries in communities with an unemployment rate greater than 11% in 2010 including Milford, Newark, Woodbury and Dover, sustained funding declines greater than 12% since FY2007.

Distressed economic areas in New Jersey do not have the ratable base to provide sustainable library services at the minimum funding levels. Library service in our population centers must be preserved during this downturn through transitional funding.

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THE STATE PER CAPITA AID PROGRAM IS UNDERFUNDED BY 62%, THEREFORE WE ARE SEEKING FULL FUNDING OF $9.7 MILLION PER N.J.S.A. 18A:74-3.

The Per Capita State Aid Program is direct aid to every local library. Funding of $9.7 million would restore the program to full funding as specified in N.J.S.A. 18A:74-3, which would provide $1.11 per person of state funding for library service in New Jersey.  The current funding is $3,676,000, or approximately $0.42 per person. To fulfill the commitment to the state per capita aid program we seek an additional $5.9 million.

State aid to school districts was over $10 billion in FY2012, which included an increase of $804 million in the last year.   As a major educational component in the community, public libraries serve the entire community, including serving as a key resource for homeschoolers, many charter schools, senior citizens and the unemployed.

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Losing Libraries
Losing Democracy

* Everyday 300,000 Americans get job seeking help at their public library.

* 2.8 million times every month business owners and employees use resources at their public library to support their small businesses.

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