Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge signed into law June 22 the second installment of a two-year funding plan that supports poorer libraries in the state. “With this new investment we’re building on our unprecedented commitment to reading and libraries,” Ridge said. “These changes in how libraries get their funds will help ensure local libraries get more support from their counties.”
Senate Bill 936 implements $62.3 million in direct state aid from the 2000–2001 state budget to Pennsylvania public libraries—an increase of $15 million, or nearly 32%—and modifies the state-aid distribution formula to allow libraries to participate in county and district planning to better coordinate services at the county level.
Ridge’s library budget also earmarks $18 million to strengthen the Access Pennsylvania database (the state’s school-library catalog), $25 million for the second year of the state’s “Read to Succeed” program, and $18 million to expand adult and family literacy programs.
Posted June 26, 2000.