Librarians and supporters from around Connecticut couldn't be hushed at the state capitol as they pleaded with lawmakers Wednesday to keep their budget intact.
Gov. Dannel Malloy's budget cuts funding to libraries by more than $1 million.
The cuts would eliminate funding for the Connecticard Program, which allows residents with library cards from any library to take out and return books and other media to any other library in the state.
"Since about 1976, we’ve been able to take and use our library cards at any one of the 165 libraries in our state, and the Connecticard Program associated with it gets those books returned to us without a cost to the owning library," said Matthew Poland, CEO of the Hartford Public Library.
Poland said if the program were to lose all its state funding, local libraries would have to figure out a way to keep it going, which could be expensive.
"A new way at this point would put the burden of the cost on individual library systems," he cautioned.
About 150 librarians and their supporters crammed into a committee room in the Legislative Office Building. Some lawmakers participated, and State Sen. Tedd Kennedy Jr., a Democrat from Branford, even riled up the crowd, yelling and hollering about what makes libraries so important.
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"Libraries are the cement and fabric of our communities!" he shouted to rousing applause.
He and others, including State Rep. Gail LaVielle, a Republican from Norwalk, pledged to the get the funds restored in the budget.
Those who were there to educate members of the General Assembly on the roles of libraries reminded them that libraries are not just places for research and taking out books and DVDs.
"Some of the things we have provided have been the expensive job now database that helps Connecticut residents get online resume help, GED test preparation, interview coaching. All that would not be affordable for many libraries," said Jennifer Keohane, executive director of the Connecticut Library Consortium.
Budget chairs have refused to rule out cuts to libraries and other public services. They say all options to trim the budget are on the table.
