What next?

Every week (sometimes day) I fight sending an email or tweet regarding the situation Illinois is in. I am only one person, so I just let it go. Sometimes I send or post something anyway. I wish I had a solution to offer, but I think we are in too deep at this point for a simple solution.

Below are the contents from two emails I received this week. It really only covers the situation that library systems are in, but it could be about any state agency.

If you would have told me three years ago that I would have to make some of the decisions that I have had to make in the past year, I think I would have passed. I did not have to agree to be a library system trustee for three years.

So looking at the emails below, I wonder what my last two meetings will bring.



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The Executive Director reported at the May 17 MLS Board meeting on the ILSDO meeting held at the Lincoln Trail Library System last Thursday, May 12. that the Il. State Library Director, attended the meeting to report on the status of state funding. Anne's message included:

# No financial relief is in sight. The state's 6-month reimbursement delays will grow longer and likely continue for the next three - four years.
# System board should approve a fully funded FY2011 budget at the May 2010 meeting and submit it to ISL as part of the area and percapita grant.
# Preserve the state's strong resource sharing tradition by continuing Delivery and the work of the LLSAP's.
# System consolidation has to happen. It would be best if system boards did this together, however, if consolidation does not occur ISL will proceed to reduce the number to one or two.
# Work toward a single statewide library services organization with a single Delivery services and a combined statewide LLSAP.

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For most of this year I have reported on the steadily growing crisis facing Illinois libraries and Illinois Library Systems. At first the problem was the 16.5% budget reduction at the start of this fiscal year, now the situation has deteriorated. Shawnee and the rest of the systems have not received the remaining funds due for FY 2010. So far we all have received only about 57% of our funds for this year. The remaining 43% may not come until sometime in the middle of FY 2011 (December or later). This creates extreme cash flow problems as operating reserves are being rapidly depleted. We have been told that delays in payment of any appropriations are expected to grow longer for the next 3 to 4 years. No financial relief is in sight. The General Assembly has yet to pass a budget for FY 2011.

The only solution at this point is to focus on maintaining delivery and the LLSAP (SILNET). The Shawnee is faced with extremely difficult decisions. All of the systems must focus on maintaining those services and consolidating and merging operations in the coming year. It is unlikely that any of the systems will provide continuing education or consulting services. It would be my hope that if enough systems can come together some basic level of consulting could be retained

By now I expect that many of you are beginning to hear the news concern actions taken by NSLS, ALS, LCLS and others to maintain delivery and the LLSAPs/automation systems. I believe the total number of positions lost so far are approximately 50. For additional information I have included links to those system web sites below.

http://www.lcls.org/

http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/

http://www.nsls.info/

http://news.palsnet.info/author/michael-piper/pals-board-agrees-next-steps

This is extremely sad news that is impacting Illinois residents who use libraries and the lives of those who have dedicated their careers to maintaining the services provided by the Illinois Library Systems.