HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell is calling on library users to pressure Senate Republicans to stop advocating spending cuts that he says would decimate library services.
The Democratic governor appeared before dozens of library employees and supporters at the East Shore Area Library in Harrisburg on Tuesday.
The state’s libraries received a record $75 million in state subsidies last year, and Rendell is advocating a 10 percent reduction that he said would not seriously impair library services.
But he said the Senate GOP’s plan to cut subsidies by more than half would force libraries to reduce their hours, cut back on book purchases and lay off staff members.
The governor said libraries provide a vital part of many youngsters’ education, and defended his plan to increase taxes to preserve important services.