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Library leaders ask for modest SLRC funding increase to maintain statewide databases and services
Summary
State Library Resource Center director and local library leaders told the Appropriations Committee that a small increase would preserve statewide database access, digital collections and interlibrary loan services used millions of times annually; SLRC asked for $600,000 increase phased over years to cover consortium pricing and vendor inflation.
Delegate Dana Jones and a panel from the State Library Resource Center (SLRC) urged the Appropriations Committee to support House Bill 597, which requests additional state funding to sustain the statewide library consortium and digital services that the SLRC provides.
Mary Hassler (Harford County Public Library) and Liz Sunderman (SLRC chief) described the SLRC as a “crown jewel” that negotiates discounted multi‑year consortium rates, operates the Maryland SAILOR database consortium and hosts Digital Maryland. Sunderman said statewide licensing saves approximately $4.6 million a year in aggregate costs for databases and resources but currently costs the state about $600,000; SLRC asked for a modest increase (the panel said about $600,000 was the amount of the increase requested) and projected a 4% annual increase thereafter to keep pace with vendor contracts.
SLRC testimony highlighted usage metrics: more than 8.9 million database searches statewide in FY24, 355,000 circulated items through SLRC interlibrary loan, and approximately 284,000 visits to SLRC's physical facility at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Witnesses argued that reduced SLRC funding would force local libraries or school systems to lose access or shift local budgets to cover costs.
Committee members did not take a vote in the transcript provided.
