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Announcements and Updates Impacts to INFOhio from state budget cuts Message from INFOhio October 29, 2008 Colleagues, It is no surprise to you that this year is going to be particularly difficult given the current economic conditions and recently released state budget cuts. Over the years, INFOhio has weathered a number of reductions in state funding. Through wise management, INFOhio has been able to avoid passing on these cuts to our end users by decreasing staff, trimming office expenses, and reducing or eliminating many programs and services all without affecting electronic resources. The recent state budget reductions – 12.37% for INFOhio – has forced the Governing Board to immediately cut this year’s budget. This percentage translates into an actual reduction of $305,566 from our $2,469,223 appropriation from the Ohio Department of Education. (Line item 200426 for the Ohio Education Computer Network) Below is a summary of INFOhio’s state funding, prior to the 12.37% reduction: Electronic Resources: $756,683 (31%) Includes funding SIRS Discoverer and INFOhio’s share of EBSCOhost with OhioLINK and OPLIN; World Book Web, Science Online, Biography Reference Bank, Oxford Reference Online, and NewsBank Newspapers with Libraries Connect Ohio (funded in part through an Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio). Library Automation Support to ITCs: $794,880 (32%) Helps lower fees for almost 2,400 buildings automated through INFOhio Technical Support: $398,355 (16%) Supports all INFOhio products and services, including the Core Collection, automation, media booking, the Curriculum Resource Catalog, and the OAIMC Digital Video Collection Central Operation: $519,305 (21%) Includes staff, office, programming, meetings, communications and Web site expenses The INFOhio Governing Board considered a number of options for cutting costs which had to be made by October 1. One option, regretfully, was to discontinue offering SIRS SIRS Discoverer as part of INFOhio's Core Collection of Electronic Resources – a reduction of more than $223,000. Allow me to explain why SIRS Discoverer had been selected for discontinuation. It is because this product is the only database completely funded by INFOhio's budget. It is not part of the suite of products acquired with other Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) partners. However, as a result of discussions with our colleagues at the eTech Ohio Commission, they graciously agreed to provide INFOhio with a special grant for the amount needed to continue SIRS Discoverer until June 30, 2009. I know I speak for thousands of Ohio educators and even more students and parents when I express my deep appreciation to eTech Ohio Commission members for this decision. At the same time, I caution you to consider that this funding is a one-time grant to continue SIRS Discoverer for the remainder of this school year. We must use the next few months to develop a bold strategy to replace this temporary funding and ensure INFOhio products and services are not in further jeopardy. In addition, we must find $82,566 in cuts within Central operations to balance this current round of state budget reductions and be ready for any additional cuts that may occur before this school year ends. The INFOhio Governing Board, with the help of the INFOhio Users Council, will focus all energies on a new strategy for the upcoming state biennial budget to be approved by the next General Assembly. We will keep you informed of our plans and ask for your help to educate and inform your customers about what is happening with INFOhio’s funding situation. As always, if you have any questions, please contact me. Sincerely, |
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| Last Updated on October 29, 2008 |
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