Author Kim Wright to visit Del Webb Library @ Indian Land tonight!

June 22, 7 p.m.

Please come. Even if you haven't read the book.

Here's a letter from Pickens County Library Director to her Rep

Representative David R. Hiott

418B Blatt Building

Columbia, SC 29201

Dear Representative Hiott,

My name is Allison Anderson and I am the Director of the Pickens County Library System. PCLS provides library service to approximately 117,000 Pickens County residents who, in the current stressed economy, need our services more than ever.  During the past year an average of 1,357 patrons visit our library system each day!  These patrons rely on our ability to provide crucial educational and employment assistance. 

In his June 9^th, 2010 budgetary letter to the SC House of Representatives, Governor Sanford vetoed Aid to Public Libraries (item #31) and Federal Stimulus Funds for Public Libraries (item # 92).  If this 6.5 million dollars in funding disappears so does South Carolina’s public libraries’ ability to provide vital library service when it is needed most.  In Pickens County, Aid to Public Libraries provides over half of our materials budget for the collection and for workforce training programs.  The Federal Stimulus portion of the funding allows public libraries to bridge the gaps in technology, programs and services.  In addition, without the funding Governor Sanford vetoed in items #31 and #92, South Carolina public libraries may lose an additional $2.7 million dollars in Federal LSTA funds.

I am appealing to you as a Representative for Pickens County to support public libraries and the residents of Pickens County by voting to override the Governor Sanford’s veto of items # 31 and #92 on Tuesday, June 15^th.  Your support is needed and appreciated! 

Sincerely,

Allison Anderson, Director

Pickens County Library System

Copy. Paste. Email.

TO:       Representative Deborah Long

FROM:  You

DATE:   June 11, 2010

Please give urgent consideration to overturning the governor’s vetoes that would severely curtail library services to the people of our state.

Veto #31 would mean the loss of $80,983 for books and children’s services in Lancaster County.  We have already had our local funding reduced and this cut would deal a devastating blow.

Veto #92 is Federal Stimulus Funds also designated for books.

In order to shift funds from other areas to buy books, there will be impacts on staff, operating hours and computer maintenance.

We all have a stake in helping children maintain their reading skills throughout the year.  I’m sure you have witnessed the large numbers our programs attract at the Del Webb library.

Assistance for out-of-work adults has become a huge priority for public libraries in this economy. They need libraries to continue their learning and  look for jobs.

And yet our book and technology resources are about to be wiped out.

Thank you for the difficult job you do and thank you for any help you can give us.

deborahlong@schouse.org

jmn@schouse.org

mulvaneym@scstatehouse.net

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

The Governor's vetoes (Veto 31 and 92) will be considered by the House

on Tuesday, June 15.  If the House does not override the vetoes then the

Senate will not even consider them. So, at this time, we must focus

exclusively on the House, and we must be relentless.  If we do not "win"

on Tuesday then over $6.5 million in State funds (including stimulus) is

GONE, and we jeopardize losing $2.7 million in Federal LSTA funds. 

Here are the details:

Veto # 31 on page 14 of the Governor's memo is Aid to Public Libraries -

$4,653,933

This will mean for us the loss of $80,983 designated mainly for books. State Aid has already been reduced from $138,000 in 2008 and we have been hanging in there. But this will be a killer.

Veto #92 on page 28 of the Governor's memo is Federal Stimulus Funds -

$1,172,758 (.29/capita)

This amount for us is $17,791, all for books.

Here is the Message:

Eliminating these funds to public libraries will be devastating to our users.  How can we operate without books? Public libraries provide crucial educational and employment assistance and if this funding goes away so does our ability to educate and prepare

students and the unemployed for the workforce. 

Here is the Contact Information:

HOUSE

    Deborah A. Long [R]

    Optometrist

    Dist. No. 45 - Lancaster & York Cos.

(H)	1115 John Short Rd., Indian Land, 29707
	Bus.	(803) 547-5547	Home	(803) 547-5215
(C)	414A Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
	Bus.	(803) 212-6874

  * James M. "Jimmy" Neal [D] 

    Retired Principal

    Dist. No. 44 - Lancaster Co.

(H)	5148 Sandy Lane, Kershaw, 29067
	Bus.	(803) 475-3533	Home	(803) 475-2358
(C)	422C Blatt Bdlg., Columbia, 29201
	Bus.	(803) 734-2976

SENATE

** J. Michael "Mick" Mulvaney [R] (2008)

    Businessman

    Dist. No. 16 - Lancaster & York Cos.

(H)	550 Ralph Hood Rd., Indian Land, 29707
	Cell	(803) 246-1001
(C)	606 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29201
	Bus.	(803) 212-6024

If you would like to send them a fax, you may do so at the library. You may e-mail them to Richard Band and he will send them.

House Fax Number: 803-734-2925