National Library Funding Increases, But Less Than Goal

-- Library Journal, 11/29/2004

Congressional funding for library programs for FY05, which began in October, will be $207,760,000, an increase of $9.5 million over FY04, but that was $12.7M below the president's request and $15.8M less than what the Senate approved. Congress funded $162M in State Grants administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS); that is $4.4M above the previous year, but $8.4M below the administration's request. The best supported program was Librarians for the 21st Century, which supports education, recruiting, and staffing projects, which will get the president's request of $23M, a $3M increase. Native American Library Services will get $3.5M, $300,000 above the previous year but $175,000 less than the president's request. The National Leadership Grants program will get $12.4M, $1.1M above last year but $4.1M below the president's request. However, all figures in the Omnibus Appropriations bill are subject to a .83% cut that was placed on all non-defense and non-homeland security spending. The American Library Association (ALA) noted that some increases arrived despite tough economic times, but ALA expressed disappointment that Congress did not meet the president's requested levels.