[Njabs-talk] Help Save Our Library's Funding

[Mary Jo Partyka]

Hi, Quintina,

Thank you for sending this message out.

Mary Jo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Quintina M. Singleton" <qmsingleton at comcast.net>
To: "New Jersey Association of Blind Students" <njabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 11:43 AM
Subject: [Njabs-talk] Help Save Our Library's Funding


>
> Dear Students,
>
> Please read the following message.  Your support is much needed.
>
> Tina
>
> Libraries across New Jersey are in trouble and
>
> the Library for the Blind could be adversely affected if state funding is 
> reduced.
>
> Our Library's funding is through the federal government but if the state 
> library
>
> funds decrease, they may have to use some of our federal money to continue 
> their
>
> programs. Please use the sample letter provided below, and either call or 
> write the Governor's office before
>
> March 12, 2009 when he does his State of the State address.
>
> For use when writing to the Governor
>
> Office of the Governor
>
> PO Box 001
>
> Trenton, NJ 08625-0001
>
> Dear Governor Corzine:
>
> Libraries in New Jersey
>
> are facing huge problems. Branches are being forced to close, hours and 
> staff are
>
> being reduced, and book
>
> And materials budgets are being force to close. The funding base of 
> libraries is
>
> under attack.  All of these actions hurt the residents of New
>
> Jersey who use libraries.
>
> You know that during times of economic stress, it is even more important 
> to keep
>
> libraries open.
>
> In a recent NJ Survey sample of 88 large and small public libraries, 84% 
> showed lending
>
> increases in the last three months
>
> off 2008 over 2007. 60% had increases in library visits while 58% 
> experienced increases
>
> in computer usage.
>
> 48% of the libraries increased library card registrations and 24% had 
> increased program
>
> registrations.  At the same time, 28% of those same sample libraries 
> reported decreases
>
> in their
>
> Operating budgets.
>
> In this very difficult budget year, I am asking you not to cut funds for
>
> New Jersey libraries.
>
> I use the Library for the Blind and Handicapped and really need all their 
> services.
>
> Please do not make any cuts to library service in NJ.
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
> Signature and name of group if writing for a group
>
> Additonal statistics if you want to use:  Computers in NJ libraries are 
> used over
>
> 200,000 times weekly
>
> 46 million people visited NJ libraries last year
>
> For further information or questions please contact: Tina Keresztury
>
> Associate State Librarian
>
> NJ State Library
>
> 609-278-2640 ext. 134
>
> fax- 609-278-2652
>
> tkeresztury at njstatelib.org
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