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State Library outlines compensation request, ILL bridge funding and concerns about proposed restrictions on children’s materials
Summary
The North Dakota State Library asked the House Appropriations — Education and Environment Division for targeted equity pay increases for entry‑level library assistants, ongoing funding for an interlibrary‑loan bridge, and cautioned the committee that proposed restrictions on materials could impose unbudgeted building changes on small libraries.
Laurel Sain, fiscal and administrative services director for the North Dakota State Library, briefed the House Appropriations — Education and Environment Division on compensation, program funding requests and how library-related bills could affect local libraries.
Sain said the State Library’s average compensation ratio is approximately 88% of market, making it one of the lower‑paid state agencies. She described a targeted equity request for 102‑level (info services assistant) positions, noting an increase would raise the annual salary for those positions from roughly $34,990 to about $39,102 and that benefits are estimated at roughly 21% of salary.
Sain also reviewed an ILL (interlibrary loan / ILL bridge) request for $450,000 ongoing funding. She explained DPI had redirected federal funds to support the bridge in the current base and that the department had realigned its budget to match the governor’s request. She said DPI had redirected $252,000 from its current base to help support materials at the local level rather than buying new items centrally.
State Librarian Mary Susie then described concerns about a separate bill (not yet enacted) that would restrict children’s access to certain materials and, according to her testimony, could require some libraries — especially small or one‑room facilities — to build physical separation areas to block access. “The libraries do not have money to build walls,” Susie told the committee, and she said the bill’s language allowing materials to be restricted could create access challenges in single‑room community libraries.
Committee members and library staff discussed tribal libraries, carryover authority for an ongoing renovation project at the Liberty Memorial Building, and the mechanics of FTE pooling in OMB. Sain and the committee discussed a carryover request for architect fees and next-step bidding for the renovation.
Ending: Committee members suggested the state library and authoring legislators consider amendment language addressing tribal libraries and the practical implications for small libraries; staff said they would follow up on clarifications about funding sources and the FTE pool mechanics.
