Library director makes budget plea to legislators

Whitman Library director Kristie Kirkpatrick visited with legislators from the 9th District in Olympia last Friday to discuss Gov. Gregoire’s proposed budget for 2010. The budget proposal contains steep cuts to the Washington State Library that would impact many of the programs and services now offered by Whitman County Library, Kirkpatrick claims.

Kirkpatrick said the proposed cut of 15 percent to the state library translates to an actual decrease of 30 percent because it is retroactive to July of 2009.

These are the grant funds that Whitman County Library often uses to provide materials, programs and services. Kirkpatrick asked the legislators to support restoring $987,000 to Washington State Library’s budget in order to preserve federal funds that last year amounted to $3,328,627.

Locally, the federal funds have supported everything from summer reading kick-off programs and the library’s van to major technology upgrades and staff positions. In the early 1990s, when Whitman County Library was in dire straits, consultants and federal funding administered by Washington State Library helped turn the district around, Kirkpatrick noted.

In the last year, federal funds to Whitman County Library have supported special children’s programs delivered to county elementary schools and a number of student support and educational programs delivered to junior and high school students.

In addition, federal subsidies will allow the library to begin offering audio book downloads from the website as early as March.

Washington State Library is a division of the Secretary of State’s Office.

http://www.sos.wa.gov /library,

Friends of Washington State Library website: http://www.wslfriends.org

Legislators: www .leg.wa.gov