The State Library received full federal funding, after expecting to only receive half.
Despite the positive news for the library, the South Dakota Library Association said cuts could still be on the horizon.
The South Dakota State Library received the full amount of its Institute of Museums and Library Services grant, despite the expectation there would be large cuts.
“I’m very relieved that South Dakota got our money, because we are kind of in desperate need for it," said Elizabeth Fox, the President of the SD Library Association.
From facing immense cuts to the state library during South Dakota’s legislative session to being told federal funding would be cut, she said it’s been a long journey.
Now, most of the state library’s funding is in place with some cuts, but nowhere near the proposed amounts. As for the federal funding, she said she was surprised to receive the full amount of the grant award.
“I already knew about four states that had gotten cancellation letters," Fox said. "So, I figured if they were cancelling certain states, and admittedly those states were blue states, but I figured if they were cancelling states, surely they weren’t going to give full funding to other states."
However, Fox said just because the funding has been restored for this year, doesn’t mean the fight is over.
“This issue probably is not going to go away. Funding is an issue. Money is tight, and it’s not just going to magically grow on trees," Fox said. "We are going to need to begin evaluating. Since we’ve already begun the process of what is really important, what do the citizens of South Dakota really need from libraries, where do we need to spend our money the most?"
She added she’s had communications with South Dakota’s federal delegation, while she didn’t specify which congressional offices she’s talked to, she said those she has heard from say they aren’t supportive of federal funding for libraries and see it as a way to cut funds.
“So that means that South Dakota within the state has to come up with a way to fund libraries,” Fox said. “Or we have to decide that we don’t value libraries and go back to the dark ages. That’s an exaggeration of course.”
Fox said all these questions make it hard to plan when funding is adjusted at the federal level and from the top.
