Above: Kids collaborating in Lunch on the Library, a program of the California State Library. Photograph courtesy of the California State Library.
California Humanities acknowledges the vital contribution of public libraries to the state of California in offering important providers to their communities, from entry to books and knowledge and the web to being a protected haven for youngsters offering after-school homework assist. Continued funding in our public libraries and the humanities is important for a thriving democracy.
Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom introduced his Could Revision proposal for the 2024-25 State Funds which included a mixture of pauses, reductions, and spending cuts. With a $27.6 billion greenback deficit within the present yr, there have been main cuts in funding for applications and state companies associated to the work California Humanities does in public libraries with the California State Library and different cultural organizations all through the state. Related cuts had been seen within the arts, as we famous earlier this week.
Governor Newsom’s Could Revision proposed eliminating $5.5 million in funding for Lunch on the Library, a discount which is able to result in public libraries all through the state dropping their participation on this vital enrichment program. Operated by the State Library and California’s public libraries, Lunch on the Library serves 1000’s of youngsters and youths in California who want a nutritious meal through the summer time months. Whereas California Humanities commends state leaders for rejecting the Could Revision proposal to eradicate the Lunch on the Library this week, we nonetheless encourage sturdy funding for this vital program.
Moreover, the Governor can be proposing a 50% discount within the California Library Providers Act (CLSA). The Act, which has been in existence for the reason that early Seventies, was based on the rules of fairness, by requiring that public libraries interact in a cooperative and collaborative method of sharing assets inside every of the 9 geographic areas of the state. The proposed lower to the CLSA will disproportionately impression small and rural libraries that depend on consortium-level help for bodily and digital supplies entry.
“Whereas California Humanities understands that the state is dealing with a really difficult Funds deficit in 2024-25, we acknowledge that applications such because the Lunch on the Library are important to native communities and lowering funding to the CLSA is devastating,” stated President and CEO Rick Noguchi. “As a companion of the State Library and lots of of California’s public libraries, California Humanities encourages legislators and the Governor to proceed these important providers with sturdy funding.”
