MYTHS about LIBRARY FUNDING.....
and the FACTS to set the RECORD STRAIGHT

MYTH NUMBER 1
Libraries got rich under Tom Ridge.
FACT When improvements began in 1999, Pennsylvania's libraries ranked 40TH IN THE NATION in overall funding, SLIGHTLY AHEAD of North Carolina and Georgia, and SLIGHTLY BEHIND Oklahoma and Louisiana. Funding received during the Ridge years ONLY STARTED TO MAKE UP for decades of under-funding and neglect. So what's Pennsylvania's latest ranking? 33RD IN THE COUNTRY.
33rd hardly qualifies as "rich."

MYTH NUMBER 2
The legislature appropriated more money for libraries only as a favor to Mrs. Ridge.
FACT An exhaustive investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer in June of 1997 found Pennsylvania's libraries to be "DISTRESSED." While Mrs. Ridge was a strong advocate, the evidence of a statewide crisis in libraries was overwhelming. The Governor and the General Assembly acted responsibly to
confront a crisis that had been ignored for far too long.

MYTH NUMBER 3
Libraries should have realized that those increases were only temporary and should have saved the money for a rainy day.
FACT The increases were NEVER intended to be temporary since only a sustained commitment would produce much-needed improvements in hours, books, computers, and staffing. What's more, state laws were changed to REQUIRE that the money be spent on better services. Saving the money (which was
against the law) only would have served to perpetuate Pennsylvania's shameful legacy of poor library service.

MYTH NUMBER 4
Even after a 50% budget cut, libraries are still better funded than 5 years ago.
FACT If funds are not restored, libraries, in fact, will be FURTHER BEHIND than they were when they were declared to be "DISTRESSED in 1997." Over five years, the state's investment in libraries grew from $32 million to $75 million. Now, this reckless 50% cut leaves only $37.5 million to support library services this year. Since the inflation rate in the cost of library materials ALONE runs at 10% on average, in real dollars, libraries will be WORSE OFF.

MYTH NUMBER 5
Libraries need to be more creative in raising private money to survive.
FACT Libraries already raise private money more aggressively than almost any other institution. In Pennsylvania last year, $43 million was raised, ranking our state 11th NATIONALLY.

MYTH NUMBER 6
The Internet will make libraries obsolete.
FACT On the contrary, the Internet explosion has drawn more people INTO LIBRARIES for access to computers, training and common-sense help to sort through the overwhelming mountain of information---good and bad---available on the 'Net.

MYTH NUMBER 7
State government spends more on libraries than local government.
FACT Even at $75 million, the state share of library funding was dwarfed by the $164 million invested by local governments last year. Sadly, the 50% state cut also slashes the matching incentives for stronger local support creating the classic lose-lose situation.

MYTH NUMBER 8
A library is a charitable frill, not an essential community service.
FACT Families with children learning to read, students working on homework assignments, a cancer victim searching for treatment information, an unemployed worker updating a resume, a small business owner tracking market trends, an elderly citizen borrowing large print books, and a commuter seeking books on tape would strongly disagree that libraries are frills.

MYTH NUMBER 9
Libraries do not play a large role in education.
FACT Pennsylvania's libraries provide essential resources and services to hundreds of thousands of K-12 students every year. The public library provides critical reading programs and resources for MANY THOUSANDS MORE PRE-SCHOOLERS. The public library summer reading program served ONE-QUARTER MILLION children last year, children whose reading skills were maintained between school years as a result. Schools depend on WELL-STOCKED and OPEN public libraries to provide resources not available in schools.

MYTH NUMBER 10
Libraries can just tighten their belts and make do.
FACT Libraries already run on lean budgets, AND ALWAYS HAVE. A 50% cut is not belt-tightening. It is strangulation, and libraries WILL have to close and services WILL have to be cut.

MYTH NUMBER 11
Times are tough and we just can't afford to fully fund libraries until the economy improves.
FACT When times are tough, library funding is MORE critical because libraries should be OPEN MORE, NOT LESS. At last year's level of $75 million, the state's investment in library services amounted to only $6 PER PERSON, PER YEAR. At $75 million, state spending on libraries accounted for ONLY ONE-THIRD OF ONE-PERCENT of the ENTIRE state budget. Less than ONE PENNY PER DAY, PER PERSON, would FULLY restore library funding in this fiscal year.

MYTH NUMBER 12
All that money really made no difference to the average Pennsylvanian.
FACT Since 1998, here is the taxpayers' return on their increased library investment: Visits to libraries, UP more than two million times; average hours open, UP 12%; total circulation, UP 12%; support from local government, UP 20%; new books and technology, UP 39%; weekend hours, UP 46%; and number of computers available for the public, UP 90%.
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