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Arkansas Libraries May Lose State FundingArkansas Department of Education Director Ray Simon has recommended eliminating the State Aid to Public Libraries program in FY 2003–04. If approved by the board of education at its June 9 meeting, the funding would cease July 1. Last year Gov. Mike Huckabee proposed cutting state aid to libraries, but later compromised with the legislature to approve a reduced level of funding. Arkansas State Librarian Jack Mulkey told American Libraries that he notified directors soon after learning of the proposed cuts in late May. Mulkey said librarians would likely protest the cut through letters and e-mail, and that he expected many would attend the June 9 meeting to show support. But, he said, “We’re all experiencing large cuts this year, so it’ll be harder to argue the case.” State revenue shortfalls have resulted in reductions of $31 million in proposed expenditures from the public-school fund since February 18, the Ashley County Ledger reported May 28. Ashley County Librarian Henrietta Thompson said the library will receive only about $8,000 of the $13,000 she had budgeted for the year, down from nearly $22,000 last year. “We can function on what we get,” she said, “but we can’t ever do anything more than we are doing now. We will never be able to make any progress if we keep losing funds.” Posted June 3, 2002. |
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