
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 18, 1995                   TAG: 9501180045
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SPENCER WATTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FUNDS FOR LIBRARIES AREN'T WASTEFUL

GOV. Allen's proposed budget continues an unfortunate tradition established by his predecessor: diminished state aid for public libraries. His budget maintains funding reductions of the past several years and includes a 23 percent, $3 million cut in funding. It reverses the General Assembly's effort to restore state aid, and provides only 50 percent of the funds defined by the state code's funding formula for public libraries.

State aid is important to your local libraries. For Roanoke County's libraries, 80 percent of our book funds are derived from state aid. Funding is used to buy books, magazines, newspapers, microfilms, database access and reference materials - items our citizens need to meet their reading, educational and informational needs.

Allen's budget provides 30 percent less buying power than we had in 1990. Because we've struggled with this reduction over the past several years, our heavily used collections have taken a beating, and we've been unable to buy many new items. Many of our books are held together with tape and hope, and neither will survive another year of budgetary neglect.

There are many arguments in favor of providing strong funding for libraries, but two deserve special attention.

In a period when an information-based global economy is rapidly developing, our libraries should be building strong, diverse collections. Adequately supported libraries are needed for an era in which lifelong learning has become crucial in an increasingly competitive world.

State aid for libraries isn't an inefficient or wasteful program. We use 100 percent of our state aid to buy items for the public. This is a very effective program that results in a direct benefit for the public. Cuts in this program don't introduce new efficiencies; they result in fewer books and less information for the public.

I hope everyone concerned about the future and development of our public libraries will urge their legislators to restore state aid and to work for full funding.

Spencer Watts is director of the Roanoke County Public Library.

by CNB