We depend so heavily
on these databases to meet our needs in many
areas, such as reference. Our service to the public would
be mortally
wounded! |
We are a very small
rural library and all monies that are received go
for operating expenses. |
TSTC Marshall Library is a brand new
library in a 2-year college, so
we greatly appreciate the access that TexShare databases
have
provided for our 600 students. When we were an extension
center, the
public library in town served as our library also. Now
that we are a
stand-alone college, we must provide on line and on site
library
services. We were proud to show our on line access to
the visitors from the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools in August 2002. When they come back in a year
to check our progress, we will not be
able to afford to show the same access, let alone improvement,
without
TexShare databases. We desperately need for the Legislative
Budget Board to continue to fund TexShare databases, whether
from a partial continuation of the Texas
Infrastructure Fund or through the Texas State Library
budget. |
Dell City ISD controls the library. Being
a small district with 156
students K-12 we are having a hard time staying afloat.
With the
possibility of losing 4 teachers due to budget, it is
not possible for the
schools to contribute in anyway. Sorry, for we certainly
enjoy the
databases and hope there's a way to continue.
|
The Florence Public Library at this time
is unable to pay for any of the
databases. Sorry I was so late in answering. |
We cannot fund any databases on our limited
budget. It is essential to
keep TexShare in place. |
The databases are wonderful to have,
but are not in our budget. It is
imperative that the state fund the databases. WE do appreciate
them. |
Our library is so small, and on such
a tight budget, that we feel we
could not pay for the databases at this time. We are open
only 20 hours
a week, and even though the databases are an asset to
our library,
they are not used extensively enough to warrant payment.
Thank you,
Carolyn Fletcher If the Board were pressed, I'm sure we
would fall in
the $200-$500 category.
|
These databases have been used rarely
in this small rural community.
|
The TIF funding of TexShare databases
should be continued at the
expense, if necessary, of TIF grants to individual institutions. |
We will be willing to pay more to keep
the databases we have now and
a little less for a partial package. We think our patron
would get more
out of the e-books along with the other databases than
to have just the
other databases alone. I feel small. |
While we have checked the $200 - $500,
realistically $200 is probably
the maximum we could pay. |
Small libraries with small budgets cannot
pay for these services.
|
The City of Wolfforth Library does not
have local funding allocated in
our current fiscal budget to pay for these items. In order
to pay for the
databases, we would have to give up something else in
our local
budget. Our materials budget is already committed for
this year and
that is the only item we would have any optional control
over. In
addition, the minimum $200 to retain any portion of the
databases
represents 8% of our local materials budget. We would
have to give up
access until at least October, 2003.
|
We would be unable to guarantee that
any financial support could
continue year to year. |
Obviously, it's hard to guess what next
year's budget will be. I assume
that any amount we pay for TexShare will come out of other
material
budgets -- i.e. we would get them instead of other books,
media, etc. In
FY02, over 3% of our total searches. |
I do not know how much validity my answer
can have at this point. We
public community colleges have also been hit with the
7% reduction
mandate. That combined with a near 20% increase in our
enrollment
and the prospect of not even receiving the current……
|
We are struggling just trying to pay
for our interent.We can not afford
another bill.We greatly need and appreciate this program..Sorry
we are
unable to contribute at this time.
|
I only have approx $2000 in the budget
to "play" with. So it doesnt
really matter what was offered, $2000 is the max we could
pay. I also
found out this week that we will be losing $2400 from
one of our
funding sources. I did want to ask: Would the vendor offer
the products
at the price TSL is now paying?
|
Sue, my sincere apology for trying to
have all the TCCJCL complete
this survey. I have been able to keep most of the TexShare
funds in my
software account to cover extra databases every year.
We should be
able to pay our fair share if still in this range.
|
Our budget is extremely limited and includes
no money for electronic
databases. If we lose Texshare, we will have to do without,
period. We
are already experiencing a shortfall in our 2003 budget,
and we are
scrambling to find a way to cover this.
|
Our small library depends totally on
the Texas State Library
databases. Our County supported library can barely stretch
our budget
to cover new books and to operate and maintain our public
computers.
It will not stretch to cover online databases.
|
While TexShare Databases are a valuable
resource for our patrons,
there is currently no money available in our library's
budget for
databases. Since there are no projected increases in the
city's funding
of the library during the next fiscal year, we would have
to reduce
spending on books, audios, videos, or supply costs to
afford funds for
databases. Since access to TexShare Databases are helpful
to library
patrons across the state, hopefully the State Library
can find a way could be found to fund the most used and/or
valuable databases. Small
libraries such as ours will be unable to afford even one
database.
Patrons from small communities will once again be isolated
from vital
information. Thank you for requesting our library's imput.
Barbara
Moore Driscoll Public Library. |
We don't have much use for the data bases,
so wouldn't be able to
allocate much money for the use of them. |
We are a small library and even though
we can pay only a small
amount of the overall. The databases are wonderful but
most small
libraries cannot even afford the ones in question number
3; and those
our not the ones that our patrons use the most.
|
These databases are extremely important
to small libraries but there is
no way I can afford to purchase any of them. The solution
as I see it is
to cut the EBooks way back or completely and keep such
vital
resources as Electric Library, All Ebsco, and World Cat.
|
Our patrons have come to depend greatly
upon the use of these
resources. We are only budgeted approximately $8,000.00
for
materials for the year. Without the use of these databases,
the library
would suffer greatly. We will do whatever we can to keep
this service.
Thank you in advance for everything the State Library
does for our
small libraries.
|
Any additional expense would require
some adjustment to other parts
of our materials budget, however, we must consider providing
databases for our students and faculty if Texshare is
no longer an
option.
|
While we are better off than a lot of
libraries our size, we still have a
limited budget. If we had to spend money on the databases,
it would
most likely reduce our materials budget elsewhere.
|
Clyde Public Library is open only 20
hours a week, with funding coming
from private donations for all operations except personnel
ases for the
general public andwhich is funded by the City. If the
system were to
have some funds for one or two databases.
|
Crowley has a budget of $119,000 so we
would have to be very
selective as to the databases we signed up for. This is
a great service
that the state is providing.
|
This is one of the best services that
the Texas State Library has ever
supplied, especially to smaller libraries like ours. There
is no way that
our budget could ever support this number and variety
of databases.
|
One of our problems which we face along
with other libraries is getting
funding from our local government. They do not see these
databases as
a neccessity in the operation of our library.
|
You must understand that when I say we
would be "able" to pay over
$10K, we would also have to cut something else, probably
equipment to
do so. But, the databases have become "must" items.
|
These databases have been of incalculable
value to our patrons. They
would be greatly missed. However, we would be unable to
pay for them
ourselves. |
The Archer Public Library receives $100
a month for office supplies,
cleaning supplies, books and movies. We depend on donations,
grants,
and system funds for the rest. The Ebsco and Gale databases
are used
so much at the Archer Public Library we would be willing
to use two
months of our budget to keep them. This doesn't sound
like much to
larger libraries and wealthier libraries but as you can
tell it is a whole
lot to the Archer Public Library. |
Of course, until our administration decides
how to cut spending, this
can only be a best "guesstimate." |
Theses databases are a very important
asset to our library. I use them
very often for my work as librarian as well as helping
our patrons find
information. We would certainly hate to lose this asset
and would be
willing to pay to help continue having them even though
we could only
help minimumly financially. |
We do not you the databases at this time,
and we do not have extra
money to pay for the use of them. |
Our budget is very small; we could not
afford TexShare if we had to
pay for it. |
Texshare is a valuable tool for my library
to have. There is NO WAY
that my budget would be able to buy these databases and
it would
hamper my ability to provide the appropriate service that
my patrons
require, as well as affect how my staff does their job
(i.e.OCLC, Books
in Print). I don't know of a county that isn't cutting
budgets and the
library is never high on the priority list. We tend to
be a bit better off
than a lot of the smaller libraries in West Texas and
it would hurt us
badly to not have access to TexShare. I can only imagine
how it would
crush the other small libraries and schools.
|
Our library budget is $30,000 for all
materials. This is not sufficent to
meet our current needs. We will not be able to provide
for the needs of
our library patrons if we have to spend our materials
funds on
databases. Even a minimal amount would have an adverse
effect on
our library.
|
Well just when you think you are gong
to be able to get your staff
trained the public educated and information available
to them, you find
that you no longer will be able to use the source that
has been
available. In small rural communities we do good to keep
up with
books, audios, videos, and technology. We have been fortunate
in the
past to receive grants, but they are coming far and in
between to count
on and more peple are asking for a piece of the pie. So
at this time it
would be hard to pitch in, with all the cuts that are
coming so please do
not let Texas go down hill without the information to
take with them on
the ride down, make it a pleasant and a ride they can
keep coasting on.
|
The databases are too expensive for our
very limited budget.
|
We are a small library, and our budget
is limited. While the databases
are greatly appreciated, I would only be able to budget
under $500 for the databases. Thank you.
|
Last month our entire city budget was
frozen, with the exception of
small and emergency items. All departments are operating
under the
same rule because state sales tax revenues are down, and
it does not
look like it will clear up very quickly. Capital items
such as the new
automation system we are in the process of migrating to,
were on order
in October, so we will be able to complete that project.
We can not
order library materials, however today, I was able to
order a fax
cartridge and a case of toilet paper today. We would be
willing to
consider giving up our TexShare monies (about $3,000 that
we planned
to spend on library materials)to pay into the fund to
purchase the
Ebsco, Gale, and Amigos/OCLC databases. If funds were
so critical we
would also consider giving up our NTRLS Collection Development
funds (about $3,000)toward the database costs. Currently
our City of
Mineral Wells total library material funds are only $18,000
per year. I
do not know if this would be
possible, legal, etc.
|
Our library could simply not afford the
high cost for the databases now
offered through Texshare. Our patrons and staff use some
of the
databases extensively, such as EBSCO, Gale, Medline, Books
in Print
and Worldcat. A cut in those resources would mean a tremendous
burden for a small library like ours, and would result
in a cut of overall
services to our patrons, as we would need to make a choice
between
purchasing books and AV materials or the databases.
|
Very useful resources but beyond our
financial capabilities if we had to
pay for them.
|
The databases need to be provided at
the state level so all libraries can
provide them and all citizens use them on an equal basis.
The loss,
reduction, or inequality of service of these databases
will have a
tremendous negative effect on library service in Texas.
|
We use the databases in number 3 the
most. As is happening for most
libraries our city is searching for ways to cut the budget.
Finding this
money will be very difficult and more is not really possible.
|
We would be happy to take our current
"Lone Star Grant" monies and
apply it to the TexShare databases rather than discontinue
them. I
think the assessed fees should be calculated on a per
capita amount for each database and then allow libraries
to pay.
|
The lost of the Texshare databases would
set many of our patrons
back. As we are a high poverty area and most of our patrons
depend on
the library for their informational needs. The library
has a limited
budget and could only afford to spend $1,000 on electronic
databases.
Our patron demographics are 70% hispanic and 27% below
poverty
level.
|
Answers are based on availability of
funds as currently budgeted. If
budget is reduced, it could affect ability to pay. |
If we are asked to pay additional funds
to cover the costs of TexShare
databases, we would prefer that those costs not be FTE
based, but
rather based on the size of our collection budget. Also,
if we are asked
to contribute to the costs of these databases, we would
like to have
some flexibility in grouping those that we would be more
willing to pay for than the groupings presented in this
survey. Or, flexibility in
identifying different levels of packages that vary as
the their
comprehensiveness and are priced accordingly.
|
We recently lost the local WalMart to
another city and our city's
operational budget is being reduced by $1,000,000 due
to this. we face
a bleak remaining fiscal year, and next year (FY03-04)will
be even
worse. We already are in a hiring freeze.
|
It would be a great hardship to give
up the full range of information
now available in the databases. Students and adults count
on them for
information. I know $2,000 to $5,000 on our own would
buy very little
for our library users. Hopefully funding will be found
for such a crucial
service to Texas residents.
|
Considering that the #3 choice represents
over 50 of the databases,
one wonders how much savings is involved here. It would
have been
good to tell us what the savings would have been to our
library for
choices #2 and #3. Money paid for databases with….
|
We may be able to provide more at a later
date.
|
This has been a wonderful, wonderful
service. If economies are
necessary, fewer databases could be offered. If we had
to buy
databases locally, we would probably buy only InfoTrac,
and maybe
WorldCat. Even those might be more than we could afford.
|
These amounts are predicated on the availability
of approved budget
amounts for fy 2003-04 for Dallas County Community College
District.
DCCCD Educational Resources Center. please correct information.
|
Without outside monetary funding for
the TexShare databases this
library will have no access. This library serves a rural
population of
around 60,000 people. The library has a book budget of
$29,000.00 to
purchase books, audiovisual materials and periodicals.
Cost of the
databases is $318,400.00 for the subscription and there
is an even
higher fee of $708,763.00 for subscription to databases
and ebooks.
These prices put the product out of the community's reach.
Just
because this is a rural area of East Texas does not mean
that the
citizens do not need information. In fact, it is just
the opposite.
Information is vital to a rural population so that the
people can make
knowledgeable choices for their lives. Not knowing leaves
the citizens
unable to improve themselves, to have opportunities to
get an
education and/or employment. How does one attain a job
as an
architect if one does not know that such a career exists
and that there
are special educational skills needed? How does one become
a
business leader and ........
|
We have not been able to establish funding
for an electronic database
line item. As our library nearly quadruples in size in
the next year I am
concerned how we will fund its operation with our existing
budget.
Texshare is a very important resource tool for our customers.
We have
discontinued many of our expensive Gale hard copy subscriptions
since
we have access to Texshare. I hope the state will be able
to continue
funding Texshare. Without Texshare we will have to divert
resources to
fill in the gaps of our hardcopy subscriptions. Please
find a way to at least
continue funding the EBSCO and Gale databases.
|
The Denton Public Library would be willing
to leverage existing
materials budget funds to pay for continuation of the
TexShare
databases offerings.
|
Based on this year's budget, Abilene
Public Library would have
$21,500 to spend on database subscriptions. This includes
databases
that we currently subscribe to. We would have to re-evaluate/prioritize
what we would maintain, add or cancel.
|
These databases are most important to
all libraries. The value is
higher to us than we indicated, but we are having severe
budget
problems including having laid off a number of employees
in recent
weeks and could not pay any more for the databases.
|
Currently, BPL spends more than $50K
for our online databases that
are not covered by those from TSL. I believe that we could
provide
some of this funding to underwrite TSL database services.
I hope that
we can preserve some form of these services under the
current State
budget cuts. Thanks.
|
I currently do not have funds to cover
any increased fees for databases
other than a minimal amount without negatively impacting
other library
services.
|
Irving PL knows the value and power of
the TexShare database
program having paid for Ebsco, Gale/InfoTrac and First
Search
databases prior to the database project and if needed
will likely be able
to pay $20,000 to $30,000 towards TexShare databases.
|
Any amounts would be contingent upon
future funding the library will
receive in the City budget for materials, which is uncertain
at best. But
I do feel that the databases are important enough to keep,
somehow,
someway!
|
If we have to cut back please consider
adding a car repair database
like Alldata.com or Mitchellone.com and more genealogical
databases.
|
Since patrons have come to rely on the
databases especially Ebsco, we
are committed to continuing at least Ebsco. When purchasing
Ebsco
that already puts our commitment over the $10,000 mark.
|
The Texshare databases are invaluable
to our staff and patrons, and
we would never be able to pay the full price for these
databases with
our current library budget.
|
The availability of the above funds would
be only as a result of
discontinuing other electronic databases to which APL
now subscribes.
There are no budgeted funds to replace State funding for
databases.
The current database budget at APL is $60,000 less than
last FY due to
budget cuts. Additional budget cuts this year may also
impact database
subscriptions as well as other materials and staffing
budgets.
|
The amount we would be willing to pay
over $10,000 would be based on
the level of databases provided. ie. #1, #2, or #3.
|
These three questions were pretty easy
for a library of our size. If you
need us to let you know a maximum we'd be willing to contribute
to to
the effort, we could probably do that. I had hoped sometime
in the
future this contribution purchasing model would happen
for additional
databases rather than the existing ones, so it's a discussion
we are
happy to participate in.
|
