Approved by the WVLA Executive Board
June 2004

     The West Virginia Library Association supports funding for academic, public and school libraries. Because funds for academic libraries are provided through college and university budgets and school libraries receive funding through local boards of education, it is difficult for the Association to effectively lobby to increase funds to either of these types of libraries. Nevertheless we are concerned that cuts in funds to these libraries are seriously limiting their ability to meet the needs of the citizens of West Virginia.

WVLA adopted the following legislative goals for 2005.

• Increase grants in aid to $6.50 per capita

• Increase funds for digital resources to $500,000

• Support the West Virginia Library Commission's request for funds to operate the agency including:

  a. Restoration of funds cut from the personnel line item of the Agency's budget

  b. Continued support for Statewide Library Network (aka Infomine)

  c. Continued support for Services to libraries

• Support legislation to restore an administrative position at the WV Department of Education to oversee the development of school library/media centers in WV public schools.

• Support the appropriation of funds to subsidize the cost of transporting interlibrary loan materials between libraries.