Bush FY03 Budget Promises Modest Increase for Libraries

The presidential budget for FY03 was released February 4, funding library services at $181.7 million, a seeming increase of more than $13 million over the FY02 figure. However, the increase is much more modest, since that $13 million includes $10 million previously announced to fund the new initiative to recruit 21st Century Librarians (see Late Bulletins, LJ 2/1/02, p. 15).

Basic library services for FY02 were funded at $168 million, which was virtually the same as in the previous year. Congressional negotiators did add nearly $30 million in set-asides for specific projects, most to museums and universities rather than libraries. The administration notes that the new budget "does not continue narrow, special-interest projects" that were designated by Congress for funding in 2002.

For FY03, the Bush budget proposes $151.4 million in state grants, up $2.4 million over FY02. "We are very pleased to get this," said Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) spokeswoman Mamie Bittner, noting that agencies not involved in security-related issues have expected tight budgets.

The budget also proposes an increase of $1 million in funds for IMLS administration, a 20 percent rise. This does not fund new positions but responds to legislation proposed by the President, which would require all federal agencies to assume the full costs associated with employee pension and health benefits.

Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association's (ALA) Washington Office, said of the budget, "This is just Bush's suggestion—it won't be less than that. Now it's up to us to get more."

Sheketoff said library advocates are also gearing up for the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act, which includes the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). For the past five years, LSTA has been authorized at $150 million, and while federal library budgets have been larger than that, there's no automatic correlation between the authorization figure and the ultimate budget. ALA has been lobbying for a much larger reauthorization figure of $500 million. "It puts a place on the map, that Congress has voted that this program should have this amount of money," she said.

A hearing on the issue was to be held February 14 before the House Education and the Workforce Committee-Subcommittee on Select Education. The witnesses were to include IMLS Director Robert Martin. The act expires September 30 and will be reauthorized for five years. Sheketoff said that because the House is moving quickly on the issue, it could go to the House floor for a vote in April. It is not expected that the Republican-controlled House will support the $500 million figure, but ALA expects the Democrat-controlled Senate to come closer.