Link to January 24 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report, "Libraries lament loss of funding for databases". (via Resource Shelf)
Excerpt: Everyone from auto repair troubleshooters to students of Japanese uses them. They offer online tutoring in subjects ranging from chemistry to writing, and they give advice to job seekers preparing resumes and cover letters.
But many of the hundreds of subscription databases offered by Pennsylvania's public libraries -- and the convenient remote access many of them offer -- will vanish this year, victims of slashed state and local funding.
"We are talking about dozens of sources of reliable information, vital educational tools that reach tens of thousands of students with little money," said Glenn Miller, executive director of the Pennsylvania Library Association.
This year, state funding to public libraries will total $68 million -- down from $94 million in 2008. The specific portion of state funding for a variety of large database collections, such as PA Power Library and AskHere PA, which are online reference services, dropped from $11 million last year to $2.9 million this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment