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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Tsosie		DATE TYPED:	02/27/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Statewide Library Services				SB	672
					ANALYST:		Gonzales

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	$330.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Office of Cultural Affairs, State Library

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 672 appropriates $330.0 from the general fund to the Office of Cultural Affairs for the purpose of establishing a virtual statewide library catalogue, interlibrary loan program and library materials delivery system.

Significant Issues

The State Library notes there is no “union catalog” in New Mexico whereby libraries can see all the holdings of books and serials of other libraries in the state. Smaller libraries have inadequate cataloging resources rendering them unable to catalog their materials and to share (and receive) resources from other libraries. Therefore, their citizens and communities are separated from the increased economic and cultural benefits larger libraries can offer. Interlibrary loan resources are disproportionate among large and small, have and have-not libraries.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $330.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY04 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

State Library staff would need to work with the vendor to increase the current contract and to specify the statewide services expected.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This bill specifically funds the New Mexico Resource Sharing Program (NMRSP) that provides for a virtual statewide library catalog from which interlibrary loans will be generated. The State Library indicates this bill would especially benefit smaller and poorer libraries by putting within quick reach of local citizens all the library resources of the state, the United States, and even the world – and all within 48 hours. Smaller, poorer libraries would have more equitable access to cataloging resources so they may become equal partners with larger, more affluent libraries in the state.

JMG/yr