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Funding Levels Impact Library Services Nationwide

Read Stories Submitted to ALA

Many libraries across the country are facing deep cuts to their budgets and are being forced to reduce staff, operating hours, materials budgets, or programming for the communities they serve. Tell us how your library is handling a rough fiscal situation or how your library is responding by raising funds to deal with the situation. We hope your stories will help ALA share the human side of state and local budget decisions, and help us inform legislators that libraries need to be a priority.

  • School library media centers spend less than half the cost of one library book—about $7 per child.
  • Americans spend about $25.25 a year for public libraries—far less than the cost of an average hardcover book.
  • College libraries receive less than three cents of every dollar spent on higher education. (Read moreQuotable Facts about America's Libraries .)

Click on the state links below to read stories submitted from the field. Don’t see your library or community listed? Share your story and submit feedback to ALA.

Information collected in this database is anecdotal. ALA does not verify comments submitted and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Some stories may be abbreviated for space constraints.

Resources & Links
For more information, contact ALA Public Information Office at fundingdata@ala.org.