Sad chapter ahead for libraries?

By DEVIN HEILMAN

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Even though Idaho's libraries are flourishing in popularity and use, their financial futures are on shaky ground.

The tentative funding cuts in President Donald Trump's “America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again” weighed heavily on the minds of those who attended the Idaho Board of Library Commissioners meeting Friday, during National Library Week, at the Coeur d’Alene Library.

"If the proposed eliminations occur it will clearly affect a lot of state agencies, but it will impact our mission and everything that we do,” said deputy state librarian Stephanie Bailey-White. "It’s pretty dire.”

Idaho state librarian Ann Joslin said new information in the budget blueprint for fiscal year 2018 calls for eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services and all of its funding. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the country's museums and libraries.

"About 30 percent of our appropriation is these federal funds," Joslin said. “If that happens, we are not going to be the only ones looking for more state funds. There will be a lot of competition for that.”

The commissioners discussed how to use what resources they do have and how to prepare for the worst-case scenario of losing all federal funds. Joslin said Gov. Butch Otter has addressed this issue with agency directors, cautioning them "not to expect state funds to replace federal funds."

"Of course, that was before the budget blueprint came out, so whether he changes his mind on that remains to be seen," Joslin said. "There are certainly some people who are saying this budget blueprint was dead on arrival, but right now it’s all just conjecture and opinions."

According to research in the April edition of the University of Idaho's "Idaho at A Glance," Idaho library use is at an all-time high. In fiscal year 2015, more than 8.6 million visits were made to Idaho libraries. In 2014, Idaho libraries had the fifth-highest per capita circulation of children's materials and attendance at children's programs in the nation. Young adult program attendance has increased 43 percent through the past five years and adult program attendance increased by 35 percent.

“I think we’re hearing less of, 'Why do we need libraries when we have the Internet?'" Joslin said. "We seem to be understanding more that there’s more to life than Googling."

And yet libraries, especially school libraries, are hurting for support and could suffer more if stripped of federal funds.

"School libraries are the ones that are in the worst shape because they’re so inadequately funded, particularly elementary schools," Joslin said. "Our whole Read to Me program focuses on getting more books to more kids, particularly at that critical age when they’re developing their reading skills. There are an awful lot of Idaho kids who don’t have books at home. It’s very sad."

Despite the potential financial woes, Idaho's libraries are remaining strong. Joslin praised Idaho's library workers for their efforts and commitment to their duties.

"There are a lot of very creative, dedicated people working in Idaho libraries," she said. "They don’t do it because of the money, they do it because they’re really committed and enthusiastic.”

The commissioners also discussed library programming, appropriate anti-discrimination verbiage, how to manage cybersecurity needs and other issues the state's libraries are facing.

“I think the future for Idaho libraries, if we set aside the federal funding issue... I think it’s more optimistic than ever," Joslin said. "They’re getting more visibility. They’re expanding their concept of what library service is, for example, to include makerspaces. The response in those communities has been very positive bringing people into the library who haven’t been there before."