ALA Report: Flat funding has been an obstacle -- perhaps even a chronic problem for public libraries this entire decade

Public libraries at all levels have been affected by the economy. "While the full impact of the economic downturn remains fluid and the data challenging to assemble, what is known is that flat funding has been an obstacle—perhaps even a chronic problem—for many libraries this entire decade. Confirming evidence from a 2006 ALA study of public library funding, a 2009 survey conducted as part of the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study revealed a worsening of funding – about 20 percent reported flat funding continuing in FY2010 and a majority reported budget reductions. Of those with budget cuts, about 20 percent reported 5-to-10 percent reductions in FY2010 from FY2009." For details see ALA's The Condition of U.S. Libraries: Trends, 1999-2009. Hat tip to Digital Koans. [JH]