In St. Paul, MN, Friends Group Lobbies Statewide for Local Government Aid
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 3/20/2009
- Friends lobby statewide
- Unprecedented effort
- “Stock the Stacks” supports books
In what leaders call an unprecedented effort, the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, MN, one of the nation’s most influential and effective Friends groups, has taken its focus statewide to join in a campa
ign to fight cuts in Local Government Aid (LGA), a statewide fund that bolsters local property taxes to ensure that cities have sufficient police and fire protection, parks and recreation programs, libraries, and more.
Lost LGA could result in a 14% ($2 million) cut to St. Paul PL's 2009 budget, closure of one branch library, cuts to hours in all libraries, and a $400,000 cut to the book and materials budget—leaving a hole that the Friends warn might never be refilled.
“We have a $6 billion state deficit,” Friends president Peter Pearson told LJ. “The proposal to cut LGA is only $60 million, one percent, but that one percent is going to literally impact every single person who lives in a city.” He estimated that the cut would affect four million out of Minnesota’s five million people.
The Friends’ web site offers talking points and other advice on lobbying legislators, linking to the Thank LGA web site for information.
In another component of the Friends’ “Stock the Stacks” campaign, The Friends are collecting funds to help the library purchase materials.
