FY 03 Budget Questions
1) Will TexShare services be cut this year?
While all Texas State Library and Archives Commission
(TSLAC) services will feel the impact of lower funding
levels in indirect ways, TSLAC has made the required
FY03 general revenue cuts without directly impacting
TexShare services. The current set of TexShare databases
is secure through June 30, 2003.
2) How does the freeze on FY03 TIF grants affect
TexShare services?
Because TIF grant funding is used to purchase subscriptions
to the TexShare databases, there will be less money
in FY 03 to spend on subscriptions for the period
July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.
The current set of TexShare databases is in place
through June 30, 2003. There is money in the TSLAC
budget to allow us to subscribe to a reduced set of
databases to run July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.
We hope to retain the database service at about 70%
of its current level. There is a chance that some
of the FY03 TIF grant money will come to us, allowing
for a continuation of most databases. However we must
plan for the possibility that TIF grants will remain
frozen past the date our subscriptions come up for
renewal.
3) How will TSLAC determine which databases to continue?
The Electronic Information Working Group met last
month to discuss process for de-selecting databases.
This working group has dedicated many hours of time
and a considerable amount of knowledge and talent
to the TexShare database service. We asked TexShare
member libraries to complete a survey
indicating which databases are most important to them).
In making the final recommendation, the group will
consider:
Survey results
Statistics on database use
Title lists, full text coverage and overlap
Vendor reliability
Best value
Return to top
4) How can I be involved in the decision-making process?
If your library has completed a database survey,
you have already had a major impact on the decision-making
process. Also, you may send your comments to the Electronic
Information Working Group members. The roster, including
email addresses, is at http://www.texshare.edu/programs/electronic/electronic2003.html.
Library Resource Sharing (LRS) staff are always anxious
to hear from you and will share your comments with
the Electronic Information Working Group. Send your
comments to LRS staff at databases@tsl.state.tx.us.
5) When will I know which databases will be continued?
The Electronic Information Working Group will make
preliminary recommendations to the TexShare Advisory
Board at their April 25, 2003, meeting. The Texas
State Library and Archives Commission must approve
contracts at their May 19, 2003, meeting.
6) How have this year's cuts affected other Texas
State Library and Archives Commission programs?
While all TSLAC services will feel the impact of
lower funding levels in indirect ways, some direct
services will be affected.
The biggest impact on library resource sharing is
that the Library of Texas Resource Discovery Service
will be a little slower out the starting gate than
we had planned. We had dedicated significant funding
to provide libraries with the resources to make their
cataloging software compliant with the requirements
of the Resource Discovery Service. We will still work
with libraries toward compliance, but the funding
for doing so is at a much lower level, so it will
take a little more time to bring libraries into the
compliance.
For more information on the FY03 TSLAC budget cuts,
refer to the TSLAC Web site at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/budgetinfo.html#2003.
Return to top
FY04-05 Budget Questions
1) How will TexShare services be affected by the
FY04-05 budget cuts?
TSLAC, along with other state agencies, was asked
to reduce its FY04-05 budget request for general revenue
by 12.6%. In addition to cuts in general revenue,
we were directed by the Legislative Budget Board to
cut by 50% all programs funded by the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund. This 50% reduction, along with
the uncertainty of future TIF grants, will critically
affect the TexShare database program. For this reason,
we are submitting an exceptional item request of $4.6
million each year of the biennium to help restore
this crucial program.
The FY04-05 budget cuts affect TexShare most critically
in these ways:
- Many of the TexShare Web site support activities
that UT Austin provides through our strategic partnership
will be brought in-house. Other outside contracts
will be brought in-house also.
>
- The subsidy for the courier service will decrease.
This year, libraries pay $1130 for courier services,
and TSLAC subsidizes $1620 per library. We do not
know what next year's courier costs will be. However,
if courier pricing remains stable and if our appropriation
is in line with our budget request, next year libraries
would pay $1940 for the service with TSLAC subsidizing
$810.
>
- Unless TIF grant funding becomes available, TexTreasures
grants will not be awarded in FY04-05. Because we
may see a release of TIF grant funding, we are still
accepting applications for FY04 TexTreasures grants.
- The money available for database funding has been
decreased because of the uncertainty of TIF funding.
While TSLAC has moved funding into the databases
from other budget line items, there is not enough
money in the budget to replace the amount previously
funded through TIF.
- Fees for access to TexShare databases will be
reinstated. We are forming a TexShare Task Force
on Fees. This task force will examine the issue
of fees for TexShare members and make recommendations
regarding a fee structure.
2) When will I know what my Courier costs will be?
The contract for courier services is up for bid this year.
We will award the contract after the bids have been evaluated
and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission approves
a contract. We will try to work through this process quickly;
however purchasing rules prohibit us from releasing any
information on costs until a contract is finalized. We have
tentatively set the courier subsidy at $810 per library,
but we will not be able to determine the actual level of
subsidy that TSLAC can provide until a budget is finally
set by the Legislature this summer.
3) When will I know if TexTreasures grants will be
awarded?
Award of TexTreasures grants is dependent upon the
availability of adequate funding for the database
service. We will not know whether TexTreasures grants
can be awarded until the legislature has made a determination
regarding the future of TIF funding.
Return to top
4) Should I turn in an application for a TexTreasures
grant?
If you have a project you would like to see funded
by TexTreasures, please complete a grant package and
submit it by the March 28, 2003, deadline. All grant
packages will be reviewed and scored. If funding is
available, grants will be awarded.
5) When will I know what databases will be continued
The Electronic Information Working Group will start
looking at the TexShare database selections for FY04
as soon as the Legislature has determined our FY04
budget. We will post information on their progress
toward selecting the FY04 databases to the TexShare
discussion lists. We anticipate that the Electronic
Information Working Group will follow the same time
line as in the past, and that contracts for the FY04
database service will be taken to the Library and
Archives Commission for approval at the April 2004
meeting.
6) How will fees for database services be determined?
The TexShare Advisory Board has asked Director and
Librarian Peggy Rudd, in consultation with Eva Poole,
chair of the TexShare Advisory Board and Beverley
Shirley, director of Library Resource Sharing, to
appoint a task force on fees. All TexShare constituencies
will be represented on the task force. Information
available to the task force members as they develop
their recommendation will include:
- Database pricing
- TSLAC appropriations and budget information
- Results of a random, stratified survey of TexShare
member libraries on the issue of fees
- TexShare mission and vision
- Local funding issues
- Practical and administrative issues regarding
fees collection
Return to top
7) When will I know what my database fees will be?
We will keep TexShare members informed regarding
the activity and recommendations of the Task Force
on Fees through the TexShare electronic discussion
lists. A final determination of fee level will be
dependent upon the level of funding appropriated for
FY04-05 by the legislature.
8) How can I be involved in the decision-making process?
Be sure you belong to one of the TexShare electronic
discussion lists. Instructions for signing up are
at http://www.texshare.edu/memberinfo/contact/mailinglists/index.html.
You can contact members of the TexShare Advisory Board
with your concerns. The roster, with contact information,
is at http://www.texshare.edu/memberinfo/advisoryboard/advisory2002.html.
Also, contact members of TexShare working groups.
See http://www.texshare.edu/memberinfo/workinggroups.html
to link to rosters and contact information. We would
like to hear from you at texshare@tsl.state.tx.us.
9) How will other TSLAC programs be affected by the
budget cuts?
FY04-05 cuts will be felt deeply across all TSLAC
programs, most especially the grants programs. For
more detail regarding the budget cuts, visit the TSLAC
Web site at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/budgetinfo.html#2004.
Other Questions
1) What is the future of resource sharing in Texas?
Texans should be optimistic about the future of Texas
libraries. Librarians from all different backgrounds
have come together to improve library service in Texas.
They give up regional thinking without abandoning the
regional needs of their users. With dedication like
this, there is, indeed, a bright future for resource
sharing in Texas despite economic bad times.
Return to top
TexShare Contact:
TexShare Coordinator
Texas State Library and Archives
PO Box 12927
Austin, Tx 78711-2927
512-463-0188
512-936-2306 Fax
Email: texshare@tsl.state.tx.us
|
