Above: Children participating in Lunch at the Library, a program of the California State Library. Photo courtesy of the California State Library.
California Humanities recognizes the important contribution of public libraries to the state of California in providing critical services to their communities, from access to books and information and the internet to being a safe haven for children providing after-school homework help. Continued investment in our public libraries and the humanities is necessary for a thriving democracy.
Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom presented his May Revision proposal for the 2024-25 State Budget which included a mix of pauses, reductions, and spending cuts. With a $27.6 billion dollar deficit in the current year, there were major cuts in funding for programs and state agencies related to the work California Humanities does in public libraries with the California State Library and other cultural organizations throughout the state. Similar cuts were seen in the arts, as we noted earlier this week.
Governor Newsom’s May Revision proposed eliminating $5.5 million in funding for Lunch at the Library, a reduction which will lead to public libraries throughout the state dropping their participation in this important enrichment program. Operated by the State Library and California’s public libraries, Lunch at the Library serves thousands of children and teens in California who need a nutritious meal during the summer months. While California Humanities commends state leaders for rejecting the May Revision proposal to eliminate the Lunch at the Library this week, we still encourage robust funding for this important program.
Additionally, the Governor is also proposing a 50% reduction in the California Library Services Act (CLSA). The Act, which has been in existence since the early 1970s, was founded on the principles of equity, by requiring that public libraries engage in a cooperative and collaborative manner of sharing resources within each of the nine geographic regions of the state. The proposed cut to the CLSA will disproportionately impact small and rural libraries that rely on consortium-level support for physical and digital materials access.
“While California Humanities understands that the state is facing a very challenging Budget deficit in 2024-25, we recognize that programs such as the Lunch at the Library are essential to local communities and reducing funding to the CLSA is devastating,” said President and CEO Rick Noguchi. “As a partner of the State Library and many of California’s public libraries, California Humanities encourages legislators and the Governor to continue these vital services with robust funding.”
