Nebraska Library Commission 2003–2005 Biennium Budget Set
No one should envy the job of Nebraska’s governor or Nebraska’s forty-nine state senators, especially this year. Faced with a $759 million fiscal shortfall, the Governor and the Legislature took different approaches. Governor Johanns based the biennium state budget largely on spending reductions. The Legislature developed a budget based on a combination of spending reductions and revenue increases. By the end of May, a new biennium budget was enacted. Governor Johanns’ budget proposal called for 10% state fund reductions for most state agencies, including the Library Commission.
Initially, the Legislature’s appropriations committee agreed with the Governor’s recommendation for the Library Commission. Later, following budget hearings, the appropriations committee restored $89,148 in state funds for the Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service. Even with the funds restored, the Library Commission’s operating budget was reduced by $134,535. A combination of personnel, library materials, publishing, equipment, and travel budget reductions will be made to reflect the reduced state appropriation. The Commission’s state aid program to libraries was reduced by 10%, $139,215. The state aid fund reductions will be addressed with across-the-board cuts in the state aid grants for public libraries, regional library system funding, interlibrary loan compensation, training grants, children and youth service grants, and online database subscriptions.
Rod Wagner
The Nebraska Library Commission will sponsor two Children’s Library Services Videoconferences: Young Adult Services @your library™ Part 1—Resources on August 22 and Part 2—Teens Want Graphic Novels and So Do You on October 10. Both sessions will take place from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. cdt, at sites in Ainsworth, Columbus, Hastings, Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha, Scottsbluff, North Platte, Norfolk, and Wayne.
In August Sally Snyder, Acting Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, and several public librarians will present resource ideas gathered at the Iowa workshop, What’s NEW in Young Adult Literature and How to Use It in Your Program
.
In October Susan Steider, Lincoln City Libraries, and other youth services librarians will present a brief history of Graphic Novels (the comic book-type, not the other “graphic” novels), a discussion of why they appeal to teens, and a list of suggested titles.
For more information, see the Library Commission Web site, <nlc.nebraska.gov/libdev/ce/libdevtraining.html> or contact Jacque Crocker, 402-471-4037, 800-307-2665, e-mail: Jacque Crocker. CE Credits: 3.
For the next fourteen months Library Commission staff will review our efforts to provide resources to help local libraries improve library services to children and young adults. This review will include a consideration of online resources, training, and other services to address the needs of library staff serving these customers. During this period the Commission will not produce video or online book reviews. We will provide resources on the Commission Web site to assist local library staff (e.g., Books In Print with Reviews, etc.). The Commission will involve Nebraska librarians in the review and provide updates on the review via the Childlib-L mailing list, Commission newsletters, and home page Announcements. For questions, contact Sally Snyder, Acting Coordinator for Children and Young Adult Services, 402-471-4003, 800-307-2665, e-mail: Sally Snyder.
Summer 2003 • Vol. 10 No. 3
NCompass is a quarterly publication of the
Nebraska Library Commission, The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Suite 120,
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023. Phone: 402-471-2045 or 800-307-2665 (in Nebraska
only). Fax: 402-471-2083. Home Page: <nlc.nebraska.gov>
ISSN: 1075-9719
.
Director: Rod Wagner
Editor: Mary Jo Ryan
Design and Production: Valerie Dayton
Staff: Jacqueline Crocker, Mary Geibel, Janet Greser
Nebraska Library Commissioners: Wally Seiler, Chair, Alliance,
term expires 2004; Richard Jussel, Kearney, term expires 2004;
Velma Sims-Shipley, Fremont, term expires 2004; Kristen Rogge,
Johnson, term expires 2005, Patrick Gross, Wayne, term expires
2006. Commission meetings are held the second Friday of every other month,
or as scheduled by public action of the board.
This publication was supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provision of the Library Services and Technology Act.
