State Library Response to City and Public Library Budget Cuts

The State Library recognizes that many of Iowa's public libraries face budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003. We are taking three actions to assist libraries with these fiscal challenges.

1. We will implement a one-year moratorium on reporting progress toward meeting standards, and on new standards applications, effective July 1, 2003. During this moratorium period, public libraries will plan their response to continued budget challenges, and the State Library will develop the 4th edition of the public library standards. I want to emphasize that our Standards and Accreditation Program continues, and that the standards remain in effect during the moratorium period. Further information about this is included in a letter which was mailed at the end of last week to all Iowa public library directors.
2. A sample news release for libraries affected by budget cuts has been prepared by the State Library and Library Service Areas. This news release is available under "script" at the "Telling the Library Story Took Kit" section of the State Library's web page: www.silo.lib.ia.us.  
3. The Library Service Areas and State Library are developing a survey to assess the impact of budget cuts on public libraries and public library staffing and services in Iowa. This survey will be distributed electronically later this month, and we urge everyone to respond. We will need to hear from all of Iowa's public libraries in order to be able to tell the full story of the effects of budget cuts to cities.

Mary Wegner
State Librarian
mary.wegner@lib.state.ia.us