Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
03/11/2008 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR11 | |
| SB241 | |
| SB119 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 241 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 119-SCHOOL LIBRARY GRANTS 4:31:25 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 119(RLS), "An Act relating to grant programs to support libraries." 4:31:40 PM GINNY AUSTERMAN, Staff to Senator Donald Olson, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SB 119, on behalf of Senator Olson, sponsor. She informed the committee that SB 119 establishes a library construction grant program and a school library collection development grant program. Both of these programs are subject to appropriation. The library assistance grant program allows for the state to match, up to 50 percent, the cost of new library construction, or major expansion, in communities with a population of 10,000 or less. Local government would be responsible for securing a match of at least 20 percent, with the remainder provided by private donors. The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) would administer the grants and promulgate regulations to establish ranking criteria. 4:32:31 PM MS. AUSTERMAN continued to explain that the public school library collection development grant program establishes a maximum grant of $3,000 for a fiscal year to a public school library deemed eligible by the grants administrator. The grants administrator will be the person or division in charge of the state library. The funds are to be used for the expansion of the library collection materials, meaning books, magazines, reference and audio-visual materials, and electronic subscriptions that support school curriculum and student reading activities. Grant money may not be used to purchase classroom materials, textbooks, testing software, library automation software, computer hardware, operating software, or technology support. Grant recipients shall prepare an annual report to the DCCED to describe the effects of the grant and the distribution of funds. 4:34:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 1, line 12, of the bill, that allows for a grant for library construction and major expansion. He pointed out that the definition of "major expansion" means an expansion of an existing library to increase the square footage of the structure by not less than 30 percent. Representative Seaton surmised that the grant money can only be used for construction and major expansion. 4:35:39 PM MS. AUSTERMAN clarified that Sec. 3 provides for public school library collection development grants. CHAIR WILSON passed the gavel to Vice Chair Roses. 4:36:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON observed that grant funds for community libraries are only for the square footage expansion of the building and funds for materials are only for school libraries. 4:36:37 PM MS. AUSTERMAN indicated yes. VICE CHAIR ROSES asked whether a school library could be considered the public library in small communities. 4:37:21 PM MS. AUSTERMAN said yes. In many small communities the school libraries are the public libraries. VICE CHAIR ROSES than asked whether, in that case, construction costs for a school library would qualify for matching funds from the state under the school construction label. 4:37:38 PM DARWIN PETERSON, Staff for Senator Bert Stedman, Alaska State Legislature, confirmed that school libraries qualify for construction funds under other sections of the statute, if there is no public library. The intent of Sections 1 and 2 of SB 119, was to encourage small communities to attract outside private funds to construct public libraries that are not part of the school system. 4:38:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH pointed out a discrepancy between the sponsor statement and the bill and stated her support for the language in the bill, such that "available funding shall be awarded to the highest ranked applicants." 4:39:40 PM MS. AUSTERMAN acknowledged the correction. 4:39:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 2, line 11, of the bill and asked whether the definition of "publicly owned and operated" would allow something other than a municipal government to qualify. 4:40:34 PM MR. PETERSON responded that any community, town, city, municipality, the state, or any public entity could own and operate the library if the other eligibility criteria were met. 4:40:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON then asked whether non-profits automatically qualify as public ownership. 4:41:20 PM MR. PETERSON said no. 4:41:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON surmised that, unless a community is an incorporated municipality, it could not qualify, because there is no public ownership. He asked whether the intention is that community ownership is sufficient to qualify for a grant. 4:42:03 PM MR. PETERSON indicated that the intent of the bill was to allow any community to partner with the state or private entities to construct a library. For example, Anchor Point could partner with the state, and others, to construct or to expand its existing library. Small communities would be eligible if they can contribute 20 percent and operate the facility. 4:43:07 PM VICE CHAIR ROSES returned the gavel to Chair Wilson. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON then asked how to establish public ownership in a non incorporated community. This bill appears to eliminate tribal ownership. 4:44:06 PM MR. PETERSON indicated that he would request a legal opinion on this question. 4:44:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON assumed that there can be 50 percent matching funds from the state, and, for example, 30 percent more from a private source. He then asked whether a taxing mechanism was required to raise the 20 percent from the community or if that amount can also be a contribution. 4:45:13 PM MR. PETERSON stated that the intent was to tax the community to generate its local contribution. 4:45:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON further asked where the taxing authority would originate in a small, non incorporated community. 4:46:08 PM MR. PETERSON explained that very small communities were not considered since they can not afford to own or operate a library. 4:47:04 PM CHARLOTTE GLOVER, Youth Services Librarian, Ketchikan Public Library, related her experience as a librarian and as a coordinator of literacy activities. She stated that the Ketchikan library is part of a consortium of seven schools and a college and she knows how poorly funded the school libraries are. Ms. Glover stated that the public library has money for new books, but school libraries do not. She opined that school children want books, in fact, circulation has grown for the last 17 years, in spite of the Internet age. School libraries borrow 600 books per year from the public library; the public library can not meet the demand from teachers and school libraries. She concluded that kids do not have books at home and the bill would provide books for school libraries. 4:50:27 PM ROSLYN GOODMEN, School Librarian; Library Consultant, related her experience as a school librarian and as a library consultant. Her research indicates that school libraries in rural Alaska do not have the collections necessary to support education standards and to meet the informational and pleasure reading needs of students. Research in Alaska also supports a correlation between reading success and the library selection of books that students can, and want to, read. Ms. Goodman opined that every school would benefit from new books and other library resources. Most collections are outdated, do not meet school district standards, are not infused with new books, and lack current reference books. Furthermore, many collections contain discards from other libraries. She urged the committee to support SB 119. 4:53:23 PM DEBBY EDWARDSON, Writer, informed the committee that she was speaking as a mother of seven, a children's writer, a school board member, and a resident of rural Alaska. Firstly, she opined that reading and a love of books is critically important to a child. Tattered books and empty shelves in village schools is a failure on a fundamental level and, through her research as a school board member, she learned that kids with well stocked libraries benefit in many ways. Ms. Edwardson reminded the committee that village schools are community centers, and there is no other source for books in villages. She recalled that the DEED reports that one-third of Alaska's students enter high school reading below grade level. 4:56:45 PM CHAIR WILSON asked witnesses to submit written testimony if possible. 4:57:50 PM PATRICIA LINVILLE, Librarian, Seward Community Library, stated that the Seward Community Library is the only municipal library on the eastern Kenai Peninsula and it is used all day by residents and visitors in a variety of ways. The community of Seward has risen over $100,000 for a desperately needed new library and museum. Furthermore, the city of Seward is applying for loans and grants, as there will be no federal funding available. She opined that Seward would apply for a matching grant from the state grant program established by SB 119 if given the opportunity. Ms. Linville concluded that SB 119 would help Alaska's school and public libraries become the information sources and community centers that are needed in small communities to ensure an informed future for the state. 5:00:22 PM SUE PAULSEN stated that she was a library user for over 50 years. She pointed out that there is a new library project in Petersburg that is supported by efforts from the community, the library board, and many other groups; however, the project needs the help of the legislature to complete construction of a cornerstone of the community. She thanked the legislators for their work and urged the committee to pass SB 119, with attached funding, as soon as possible. 5:01:21 PM SHARON JUNGE, Physician, related her experience as a rural physician and opined that libraries are helpful in the prevention of mental illness and substance abuse by providing a place to go and opportunities for social interaction, and by functioning as a center of cultural events and sources of accurate information. She described the passage of SB 119 as an opportunity for legislators to improve the quality of life for constituents in small towns. 5:01:57 PM PEARL BROWER, Special Assistant for External Affairs, Ilisagvik College, informed the committee that Ilisagvik College is a tribal college with a mission to educate and to preserve and promote its culture and heritage. The Barrow community library is managed by the college and functions as the school and public library in Barrow while providing extra library support to all of the villages on the North Slope. In addition, the library collects and disseminates cultural information worldwide. She noted that the library served 70,000 patrons in 2008 and a larger facility is necessary. She expressed her support for SB 119 in order to create more space for her community's youth and the library's archive collection. 5:03:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON listed the eligibility requirements for a construction grant and asked whether Ilisagvik College would qualify. 5:04:31 PM MS. BROWER explained that the library is a North Slope Borough facility that is managed by the college; therefore, the grant would be applied for by the municipal government and the library would qualify. 5:04:51 PM DAVID ONGLEY, Representative, Tuzzy Library, reminded the committee of the national trend to cut school libraries and librarians. He recalled that the library budget formerly allowed a librarian to visit the villages on the North Slope; however, there is no budget now, even for books. He listed several library construction projects that are receiving different levels of state funding and opined that the construction portion of the bill will make funding throughout the state uniform. 5:07:06 PM JUDITH MCQUERRY, Representative, Ketchikan Public Library, spoke of municipal public libraries, from Ketchikan to Barrow, that are in need of expansion or new facilities. She indicated that there has been no grant funding for decades; in fact, library construction money goes only to communities represented by powerful legislators. Ms. McQuerry urged the committee to support the library construction portion of SB 119. In addition, she expressed her support for the funding of school library collections, as school libraries have no other source of funds for books. CAITLIN DIXON, School Librarian, Shoenbar Middle School, stated the need for a new public library in Ketchikan. She informed the committee that Shoenbar Middle School has a beautiful new library building and books; however, all of the other schools are in need of funds to fix their library collections. The present budgets for school libraries will not make up for the past lean years when insufficient additions were made. 5:10:20 PM KARI SAGEL, Teacher, Blatchley Middle School; Librarian, Alaska Association of School Libraries, explained that library books and materials help to prepare students to meet Alaska's educational standards. In fact, she has been purchasing books almost exclusively to support the new eighth grade science testing. Other areas of the library collection have been neglected, such as geology, weather, climate, botany, physics, and mythology, because these subjects are not covered by the curriculum standards testing. Ms. Sagel stressed the importance of a new and relevant collection in order to interest students in reading and research. She concluded that, to interest students in reading and to improve their success at reaching educational standards, the library must provide current and accurate books and materials that meet students' curricular and interest needs. 5:12:17 PM BARB BRYSON, School Librarian; Board Member, Alaska Association of Libraries, related her experience as a school librarian for 27 years. She advised that school libraries that are properly funded, staffed, and resourced lead to higher student achievement regardless of the socioeconomic or education levels of the community. In addition, based on 2004 and 2005 statistics, the median budget for school libraries nationwide was $9,368.00, the average budget in the Pacific Northwest was $19,211.00, and the average budget for Alaska was $4,284.00. Ms. Bryson observed that replacing library materials is very expensive; in fact, the average cost of a children's hardback book is $21.00. She opined that the funds proposed by SB 119 would allow an annual purchase of 142 books, which would improve any collection. Ms. Bryson reminded the committee that state standards cite the importance of libraries, but without funding librarians can not support the standards. She encouraged the passage of SB 119. 5:15:24 PM CATHY BOUTIN, School Librarian; Member, Governor's Advisory Council on Libraries, stated that she is testifying as an individual. Ms. Boutin informed the committee that the new Harry Potter book cost $34.99. She estimated that $3,000 would go a long way to help school library collections. She gave several examples of out-dated books that are still in school collections, and pointed out the rising cost of publications and digital versatile discs (DVD)s. 5:17:55 PM CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony. [SB 119 was held over.]
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