Illinois’s Regional Library Systems Gasping for Air
By Michael Kelley
The article discusses a different side to the growing problem libraries are facing right now, funding. In the case of the article it is not necessarily the lack of funding that is the issue right now, but rather getting the money already promised. The state of Illinois has yet to give the library system the majority of its funding for this fiscal year. The article stated that the fiscal year ended in July and yet the state hasn’t paid up. This is due to a clause that permits late payments until December. The libraries say the problem with this is that without the money they cannot continue programs dependent on the state funding. Some of the programs mentioned were delivery of interlibrary loans and audible reading programs for people who can’t read themselves for whatever reason.
I think things like this are ridiculous. You never see any politician suffer because of lack of funds. The state wouldn’t feel too happy if a citizen decided to wait until December to pay taxes instead of April, they would be punished. Yet businesses and common people suffer because we can’t cut a governor or senators budget so they cut ours. The article spoke of lay-offs in one library that went from 48 employees to 8. That is ridiculous. Not only did 40 people become unemployed but imagine how overworked the remaining 8 are. Maybe if funding was paid on time those 40 people could have kept their jobs, paid taxes, and then there would be more money to dish out. The workforce brings the state money. Without them the state loses money causing others loss of funding. More workers equal more money which brings more funding. Anyone see a circular pattern?
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