Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Library Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State Library outlines cuts, seeks cybersecurity funding and proposes reestablishing Witkin Law Library fee account
Summary
The State Library told the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 that it must plan to absorb the statewide 7.95% reduction to state operations adopted in last year’s budget, requested a cybersecurity augmentation, and sought reauthorization of a special fee account that has historically supported the Witkin State Law Library.
The Department of Finance told the subcommittee the State Library should plan for a 7.95% reduction in ongoing General Fund support and that implementation of a vacancy savings adjustment would eliminate 10 unfilled positions — actions the library estimates will reduce state operations funding by roughly $3.7 million when combined.
Rebecca Wendt, deputy state librarian, told the committee the library prioritized reductions to programs that have alternative fund sources — private partnerships, philanthropic support or endowments — while safeguarding core statutory responsibilities: providing research services to state government, supporting local public libraries and preserving California’s historical collections. Wendt said the library is “lean” and that cuts would slow progress on strategic priorities and increase wait times for some services.
The 2025‑26 budget also proposes $332,000 in 2025‑26 and $282,000 ongoing to strengthen the State Library’s cybersecurity infrastructure by replacing aging hardware and procuring cloud‑based security subscriptions. Department of Finance testimony said the investment would support upgraded protections and monitoring.
The Governor’s proposal includes trailer‑bill language to reestablish a special fund that channels a portion of appellate civil filing fees to what the record calls the Witkin State Law Library; those fees had sunset at the end of 2024. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended the Legislature require the State Library to prepare a revenue options report for the Witkin Law Library and suggested reauthorization, if pursued, include a one‑year sunset (through 01/01/2026) so policymakers could revisit the funding approach after reviewing options.
LAO analyst Ian Klein said special fund reliance at the Witkin Law Library has declined over the past decade and recommended the State Library propose sustainable revenue options as part of any reauthorization. He said, in 2017‑18 special funds covered about 43% of operating costs for the law library, while in 2023‑24 special funds covered roughly 13%.
Committee members sought specifics on cybersecurity baselines, the State Library’s plans to protect digitized collections, and the expected effect of the operational cuts on services that local libraries and state offices rely on. The library said it had coordinated the cybersecurity plan with the California Department of Technology and other state auditors and that the proposal represents a fiscally measured approach to address current vulnerabilities.
Ending: The subcommittee left the items open and requested the State Library provide the revenue options report and further detail on cybersecurity baselines and anticipated service impacts from the operational cuts.
