Yesterday, Governor Malloy published his EXECUTIVE ORDER RESOURCE ALLOCATION PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2018 (see the State Library summary page B-60). This budget will go into effect on July 1, 2017. Under this plan, Connecticut Library Consortium's (CLC) state funding is eliminated. This plan will remain in effect until the general assembly adopts and the governor signs either an interim or a biennium budget.

While CLC is actively working on strategies to be less reliant on state funding, we aren't there yet. The loss of all state funding this year would cripple us, just at a time where we are finally rebuilding our staff and are playing an important role in developing much needed, long-term, supplemental delivery services for libraries in CT. The loss of this funding has significant impact in the short term. In July, CLC will need to write checks totalling over $230,000 for products that you, our members, have purchased this past month. Consolidating and paying up front for your purchases is one way we can pass along maximum discounts.

We need you to call, write or meet with your legislators NOW.

Urge them to vote for a budget that makes library services whole, including funding for Cooperative Library Service Units (CLC). Help them understand how cuts to CLC impact your library and library services across the state. Although the Governor's plan is an interim plan, we need to make sure this elimination of funding does not become permanent. We are asking that $190,000 for Cooperative Library Service Unit (CLC) funding be restored to the FY 17-18 budget. With that $190,000, CLC can help libraries across the state save more than $7,400,000. Think about what it will do to your materials, equipment and services budget if CLC can't negotiate discounts, coordinate roundtables, offer cooperative collections, or provide publicly bid contracts for you to purchase from.

To help you make the call, write the email or letter, or make your case, we've prepared your town's savings (PDF) and your legislative district's savings (download and open in Excel). For your own library's savings, give us a call or email members@ctlibrarians.org. For tips on how to contact your legislators or how CLC benefits libraries, consult our Advocacy toolkit.

Thank you.

Jennifer