[LIBRARYDIR] Great budget news

[Jeanne Leader]

This is beyond good news. Congratulations!

Jeanne

Jeanne Leader
EvCC Dean of Arts & Learning Resources
425.388.9502       2000 Tower   Everett WA 98201

At EvCC, we're always reading something interesting.
Check it out by clicking here <http://www.everettcc.edu/evccreads>.


On Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 4:20 PM, Simmons, Rand <rand.simmons at sos.wa.gov>
wrote:

>  Dear Dears and Library Directors,
>
>
>
> After 13 years of famine I am happy to report great budget news for the
> Washington State Library. Thank you for supporting the Washington State
> Library. From my blog post today:
> http://blogs.sos.wa.gov/library/index.php/2015/07/we-have-a-budget-2015-2017/.
>
>
> Monday, June 29 the Legislature approved a compromise 2015-2017 Operating
> Budget. The Governor Inslee signed it Tuesday, June 30, the final day of
> the fiscal year.  This action avoided a government shutdown on Wednesday,
> July 1. Secretary of State Kim Wyman wrote, “This means no shutdown, no
> unpaid furloughs and no service interruptions.  I’m happy for the citizens
> of Washington and for all of our amazing OSOS staff! “
>
> The budget news for the State Library is FANTASTIC!  The Legislature
> approved HB 2195, the proposed $1 recording fee increase that funds the
> Heritage Account to support State Library operations.  Not only does the
> increase provide the money to backfill the projected $2.4 million shortfall
> in revenue, it also creates a much more *permanent solution to the
> problem of facing continued shortfalls in future biennia –* an ongoing,
> more stable funding source.
>
> Wyman noted that the legislators seemed to like the Library 21 notion of
> expanding access to collections and information in new and tech-based ways.
>
> The Legislature also provided $1.5 million to continue the Microsoft IT
> Academy, the online technology training provide through Washington
> libraries at no cost to the people of Washington.  Wyman observed “It is a
> real Library 21 success story in bringing digital literacy to more
> library-users through free online IT course work that can provide needed
> skills for job placement and advancement.”
>
> State Librarian Rand Simmons stated, “We believe much of the Microsoft IT
> Academy funding can be included in the required “maintenance of effort”
> needed to receive full federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
> funding. This will help repair the damage done by reductions in state
> funding for the Library.”  LSTA dollars support programs and services the
> library offers to local community libraries.
>
> Having made this her top legislative priority, Secretary Wyman was
> actively engaged in the budget process, met with legislators, and worked
> with House and Senate leaders during final budget negotiations to generate
> support for HB 2195. Deputy Secretary of State Greg Lane observed, “Without
> her personal involvement, our success simply would not have happened.”
>
> Lane praised the efforts of State Library supporters which combined with
> Secretary Wyman’s strategy brought about success. The State Library begins
> the 2015-2017 biennium with funding level to that of the 2013-2015
> appropriation. It’s a good thing.
>
> Rand Simmons, Ph.D., State Librarian
>
> Library Division | Office of the Secretary of State
>
> (360) 570-5585 desk phone | (360) 792-0256 cell *new* | (360) 586-7575 fax
>
> rand.simmons at sos.wa.gov <rsimmons at secstate.wa.gov>
>
>
>
> *Washington State Library: Empowering 21st Century Washington*
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> LIBRARYDIR mailing list
> LIBRARYDIR at lists.ctc.edu
> http://lists.ctc.edu/mailman/listinfo/librarydir_lists.ctc.edu
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/librarydir_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20150701/9402e11d/attachment.html>