JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A week after staff from the Governor’s Office ushered Kansas City Public Library Executive Director Crosby Kemper and library supporters from their office, Missouri River Regional Library (MRRL) has publicly extended an invitation to the Governor and First Lady to visit their location.
Located in Jefferson City, less than half a mile from the Governor’s Mansion, MRRL wants to share the services libraries provide to the community in light of the 87% proposed budget cut to public libraries.
“Missouri River Regional Library has not received over $53,000…Continued [budget] shortfalls will have a long term cumulative effect reducing the range of services our library can provide,” said Schoonover. “Libraries are a vital resource to some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
MRRL released that the Missouri public libraries are $6 million short this year due to the Governor’s withholds from the 2015 budget. The withholds include funding for internet serves. MRRL says that the withholds will also negatively impact the ability of libraries throughout the state to access federal technology grants.
The Governor has not replied to Schoonover’s invitation.
To date, Governor Nixon’s response to public library advocates has been generalized, stating that tough decisions need to be made to balance the budget. MRRL joins with public libraries statewide in asking the Governor to fully fund Missouri’s libraries.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
