TIPPING POINT

摘要

After several years of budget sluggishness, libraries now report a definite uptick in fiscal support and one that's expected to continue healthily next year. Overall library budgets are projected to grow over the next year, according to the 484 libraries responding to the LJ Budget Report 2005, regardless of library size, with an average rise of 5% (see table below). Materials budgets are expected to go up 4.7%, while salary budgets should rise 5.2%. The statistics are relatively consistent regardless of size of library. Libraries spend an average of 14% of their budgets on materials and 61% on personnel. While each situation is different, libraries over- all appear to be reaping the ripple effects of better state budgets. Reported the National Council of State Legisla-' tures in December, "Budget overruns are less severe than in recent years. And budget gaps are practically nonexistent." Still, the group warned that 22 states expect significant budget challenges for FY06.