2010-0172
INTRODUCED BY: DENNIS NUSS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VII
CAROLYN K. SCHEXNAYDRE, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION A
WENDY BENEDETTO, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT III
MARCUS M. LAMBERT, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
RESOLUTION NO. 5745
Title
A "Resolution of Concern" regarding the shifting of public services from Federal and State agencies to public libraries with no compensation for the added space, staff, technology, and training needed for libraries to meet the needs of Federal and State agency clients.
Body
WHEREAS, Louisiana's public libraries have a long and proud heritage of service in providing information, education, and recreation to all; and,
WHEREAS, Federal Government agencies such as Internal Revenue Services, Census Bureau, and Health and Human Services are shifting responsibilities to local libraries to provide online client access points; and,
WHEREAS, State agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Revenue, Department of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Division of Motor Vehicles, and Department of Social Services are recommending public libraries as client access points for agency services; and,
WHEREAS, no compensation has been offered to public libraries to help meet the demand for additional space, additional computers, Internet access, additional bandwidth, additional training, or additional staff to help meet the needs of Federal and State agency clients; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana has repeatedly reduced the budget of the State Library of Louisiana, resulting in public libraries shouldering additional costs for administrative and staff training, Internet access, and research databases; and,
WHEREAS, this shift in the delivery of Federal and State government services to local public libraries is changing the traditional model of public library service and forcing the burden of providing Federal and State services upon the local taxpayers through support of their local libraries; and,
WHEREAS, libraries do not have the space, staff, technological resources, or specialized training to deliver these services in addition to the traditional library services that are expected by local taxpayers.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL, do hereby registers their concerns and respectfully requests that Federal and State government agencies refrain from shifting their responsibilities for serving their clients to public libraries until such time as they can also provide additional library funding to cover the costs of additional staff, space, training, computers, printers and supplies, Internet access and increased bandwidth to help libraries provide these additional services.
AND, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the budget of the State Library of Louisiana be restored by $2,946,634 for the fiscal year 2010-2011 in order to adequately provide for the needs of State government as well as the continued provision of services to the people of the State through their public libraries.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Governor Bobby Jindal, State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Michael J. Michot, State Senate Finance Committee Secretary Jessica Young Miller, Louisiana House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairman James R. Fannin, Louisiana House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Secretary Melissa Silva, and State Librarian/Assistant Secretary Rebecca Hamilton.
Vote
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: SCHEXNAYDRE, AUTHEMENT, RAYMOND, TASTET, BENEDETTO, HOGAN, COCHRAN, NUSS
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: LAMBERT
And the resolution was declared adopted this 17th day of May , 2010 become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
Revised Library Resolution of Concern.doc
CHAIRMAN:__________________________________________
SECRETARY:_________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_____________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:______________
PARISH PRESIDENT:__________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:___________________________________
AT:_______________ RECD BY: _________________________