“Federal Library Funding Cut in Proposed Budget,” ALA Washington Office Director Emily Sheketoff wrote March 4 in the District Dispatch blog. Here is her statement detailing where libraries stand in the White House budget:
Today, President Barack Obama released his budget request for the 2015 fiscal year. The proposed budget for the Library Services and Technology Act falls $2 million short from the $180.9 million enacted by the U.S. Congress for the 2014 fiscal year. The big hit came to the state program, with slight increases to the set aside for Native Americans and Hawaiians and the National Leadership grants. View a chart on the budget cuts
On a conference call with stakeholders, Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Susan Hildreth discussed the Laura Bush 21st Century grants programs, saying that her agency is working on a National Continuing Education Platform so library employees can continue their education around new services and technologies.
On a disappointing note, the president did not include any resources for school libraries.
