ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Washington Hotline

Carol C. Henderson

Clinton budget andn HEA Library programs

The Clinton Administration’s FY 1994 budget request of April 8, 1993, would elimi- nate all Higher Education Act library programs ($18.4 mil- lion). The rationale unfortu- nately repeats tired old Bush and Reagan Administration rhetoric which claims librar- ies can use their own or their institution’s budgets to share resources beyond their own campuses or localities, and claims there is no demonstrated need for train- ing of library personnel.

The largest Library Services and Construction Act program for improvement of public library services would be increased by 14 percent or almost $12 million. However, the increase in one important LSCA program is more than offset by the proposed elimination of other

The recent reauthoriza- tion of the HEA library pro- grams tied them in to the Clinton/Gore emphasis on electronic networking; many Internet/NREN pro- jects at libraries are already being supported by these programs. The II-A technol- ogy program alone cur- rently has 260 applications pending for $35 million worth of assistance, but only $3.8 million in fund- ing.

The II-B library education program was just expanded in FY92 to support doctoral candidates to alleviate faculty shortages, and to develop youth services and science reference librarians—emphases badly needed and geared specifically to the education goals. Zero funds would leave many doctoral candidates stranded with no funds to continue their programs.

LSCA titles for construction/renovation, foreign language materials, and library literacy programs. The LSCA total would drop by $14 million or almost 11 percent. Of the 24 programs proposed for elimination in the Department of Education budget, about one-fourth are library programs—a heavier hit than any other area of the budget.

The Clinton technology initiative recommends pilot projects to connect schools, libraries, and hospitals to networks like the Internet. This initiative assumes that already connected college and research libraries will share resources electronically with schools and public libraries. HEA library programs are needed to help these libraries put their resources on the network for access beyond their own campuses.

Strong Congressional Support Shown

Library Legislative Day participants on April 20 helped library champion Representative Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) solicit cosigners on a letter Kildee spearheaded to support restoration of

HEA and LSCA programs proposed for elimination to FY93 levels of funding. At this writing, Kildee’s office was putting the letter in final form with signatures of 76 House members. The letter was addressed to Chairman William Natcher (D-Ky.) of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over library program funding. Academic and research librarians who have not yet contacted their legislators to urge restoration of the zeroed out library programs could still do so. ■

Carol C. Henderson is deputy executive director of ALA ’s Washington Office; bitnet:cch@alawash.org