2007 Session MSL Budget Overview

Montana State Library Commission

Montana State Library Contacts

Title	Name	Phone Number	E-mail address
State Librarian	Darlene Staffeldt	406 444-3115	dstaffeldt@mt.gov
Digital Library	Jim Hill	406 444-5355	jimhill@mt.gov
Central Services Manager	Kris Schmitz	406 444-3117	kschmitz@mt.gov
Montana Talking Book Library Regional Librarian	Christie Briggs	406 444-5399	cbriggs@mt.gov
Director of Library Development	Bob Cooper	406 444-5431	bocooper@mt.gov

What The State Library Does

The Montana State Library meets the information needs of Montana government agency management and staff, ensures state agencies and all Montana citizens have permanent access to public information created by their government, supports the role of all Montana libraries in delivering quality library content and services to their patrons, works to strengthen local community public libraries, ensures that Montanans who are visually or physically handicapped are provided access to library resources, and measures its successes by its patrons’ and partners’ successes.

Statutory Authority For The Montana State Library

Title 22, Chapter 1, and Title 90, Chapter 15, MCA

22-1-103, MCA provides for the State Library Commission to:

· give assistance and advice to all tax-supported or public libraries in the state and to all counties, cities, towns, or regions in the state that propose to establish libraries;

provide library services for the blind and for individuals with physical disabilities;
furnish library assistance and information services to state officials, state departments, and Montana residents;
Designate areas for and establish federations of libraries.

22-1-212, MCA provides for the establishment of a state publications library depository and distribution center, ensuring permanent public access to public information produced by state government.

90-15-301, MCA provides for the Library Commission to maintain a Natural Resource Information System; 90-15-305 provides for a Water Information System; and 90-15-302 provides for a Natural Heritage Program.

How Services Are Provided

The Montana State Library (MSL) is organized into three major divisions with the following functions:

The Montana Talking Book Library (MTBL) offers alternative reading materials for Montana citizens who cannot read or use standard print materials because of a visual, physical, or reading handicap. In Montana, approximately 12,000 visually and physically disabled people are eligible to use the MTBL. Staffing for the Montana Talking Book Library includes 6 current level FTE plus over 450 hours monthly of volunteer services.

The Montana State Digital Library (MSDL) is a professionally catalogued, maintained, and supported collection of state publications, Montana natural resource and natural heritage information, geospatial data, and library development materials assimilated and managed by information science specialists. This Division includes the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) – a comprehensive system for the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of information relating to the natural resources of Montana; the Natural Heritage Program (NHP) – a program of NRIS administered through a contract with the University of Montana that is the primary source for information relating to Montana’s plants, animals, and natural communities; and the Library and Information Services (LIS) section, which provides information services to state government agencies and manages our State Publications Depository program. Digital Library staff employs appropriate methods of acquiring, cataloging, managing, and providing permanent access to the library collection so that users can easily discover information of interest, visualize the information in context with related information, and obtain the information in a variety of formats to serve their information needs. Digital Library staff includes content specialists who provide users reference services relating to the library collection. Staffing for the Montana State Digital Library includes 11.75 current level FTE, as well as 2.25 modified FTE for a total of 14 FTE.

Library development is at the core of excellent library services across Montana. The Library Development Division (LDD) provides leadership, guidance, and training related to library programs, services and facilities. A professional staff plans, develops, and implements programs and administers funds for new and improved library services throughout the state. Staffing for the Library Development Division includes 5 current level FTE, as well as 6.25 modified FTE for a total of 11.25 FTE.

Spending and Funding Information

The following figures show funding and expenditure information for FY 2006 for all sources of funding of the Montana State Library. Because the figures include all sources of funding there are no direct relationships between these figures and appropriation levels presented in the Budget Analysis for the 2007 Biennium.

The above information does include administrative appropriations. The department had $196,891.78 in administrative appropriations in fiscal year 2006. The administrative appropriations were received from the following departments and utilized as described within the Natural Resource Information System:

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): $74,770.31

Provide Montana Imagery Acquisition for Use in Wetland Mapping; perform information access services in support of the remedial design, remedial action and monitoring of the Streamside Tailings Superfund area; provide public access to a variety of DEQ’s air quality management information; develop maps of electricity and natural gas pipelines, renewable resources, and transmission corridors; maintain and extend the functionality of the Remediation portion of the Digital Atlas and the Remediation Division Online Query System; technical support services related to water quality data and information reporting and management work by DEQ,

Department of Justice (DOJ): $584.24

Provide information services for the Natural Resource Damage Program.

Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP): $60,780.25

Provide web mapping support services for websites, Geographic Information System (GIS) lands layer and development of the High Resolution National Hydrography Dataset.

Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHS): $39,595.51

Provide GIS, web, database, and related technical assistance to the DPHHS Environmental Public Health Tracking System (EPHT) project to link natural resource information to public health data.

Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC): $7,666.75

Provide on-line access to water rights information.

Montana State University (MSU): $13,494.72

Work with MontanaView consortium to assimilate, catalog and manage imagery for long-term public access; develop a web portal to facilitate access.

The following figures show funding and expenditures from FY 2001 through FY 2006, for HB 2 funding.

The Montana State Library had no significant changes in revenue or expenditures from 2001 to 2006, with the exceptions of special session cuts, normal present law adjustments and pay plan adjustments.

2007 Biennium New Program Implementation and Program Expansion

Program Expansion

The Montana State Library had no program expansions in the 2007 biennium. Any increases were related to restoration of some of the special session cuts and pay plan adjustments.

2007 Biennium

FTE Hire Dates

FTE

Date

Library Development Administrative Assistant

1.00

02/21/06

FTE

The legislature approved appropriations for a restoration of 1 FTE (which had been cut during the special session) in the 2007 Biennium. The figure shows the position and hire date for the restored FTE.

Corrective Action Plans

The Montana State Library had two legislative audit recommendations and associated corrective action plans in place during the 2005 biennium. Auditors recommended: 1. the library analyze its federal special revenue funds accounts as required by state accounting policy and resolve identified errors; and 2. the library establish controls over donations in accordance with state policy. The Montana State Library implemented both recommendations immediately.

2009 Biennium Budget

The following figures show the proposed HB 2 budget for the 2009 biennium.

Goals and Measurable Objectives

The following figure shows the department base year and budgeted biennium goals and performance measures that are associated with the proposed 2009 biennium HB 2 budget.

Montana State Library Commission Montana State Library
Measurable Objectives for the 2009 Biennium
Goal	Measurable Objectives	Current Status of Measures
1. Acquire and manage relevant quality content that meets the needs of Montana library partners and patrons.	By 2008, implement a comprehensive system to acquire, catalog, manage, and provide permanent access to electronic state publications.	Current processes are focused on print publications. Program modifications to address electronic publications are underway, but much work remains to be done. Statute update is needed. Legislation has been drafted (see LC0158).
	By 2012, digitize the current print collection of state publications to make them easier to manage and more accessible.	The extensive 40-year print collection is available only in hard-copy.
	By 2009, develop formal agreements with all state agency producers of geospatial data to ensure routine capture and archiving of important datasets for permanent public access.	Although most agencies currently provide datasets to the clearinghouse, frequency of transfer and need for periodic archiving is not formally established in all instances.
	By 2009, ensure that all datasets provided to the clearinghouse are supported by comprehensive metadata.	Metadata is sometimes missing and is often incomplete, necessitating additional work on the part of MSL catalogers.
	By 2009, extend the MontanaView collection to include significant Montana satellite imagery in the public domain.	Just implemented in 2006, the MontanaView collection is now quite small, representing only a fraction of the data available.
	By 2009, through the Natural Heritage Program, provide accurate, up-to-date information on the distribution and status of Montana's native species by processing a backlog of about 50,000 observation records, gathering up to 100,000 new records from museums and agency files, and updating occurrence information for about 200 animal species.	Occurrence information was updated for 40 animal Species of Concern. There are still 146 animal species to be updated and a backlog of over 25,000 observation records, as well as up to 100,000 observation records to be compiled from museums and agency files.
	By 2008, expand and update the Natural Heritage Program’s on-line Field Guides, emphasizing habitat and management information, and photo resources.	A guide to the Aquatic Ecosystems of eastern Montana was completed. Over 10,000 photos have been compiled in an image database. There have been no major updates or improvements to Animal and Plant Field Guides.
	By 2010, significantly reduce NRIS reliance on grants, contracts, and interagency agreements to accomplish its core mission.	NRIS currently supports essential staffing through grants, contracts, and interagency agreements. Although these projects provide benefits, they often prevent staff from accomplishing core activities and fulfilling the program’s primary mission.
	By 2008, ensure that the MSL professional development collection remains current and relevant to users statewide; a bi-annual survey of development needs of library staff will result in appropriate additions and deletions to the collection.	Currently recommendations and surveys are made occasionally without regular or formal patterns.
	By 2009, 80 percent of users will rate the MSL professional development collection as having met their professional development expectations.
	By 2009, at least 80 percent of respondents to an annual user survey will report an increased awareness of the MSL professional development collection resources, and at least 20 percent of respondents will report a recent use of the collection
	By end of 2007, MTBL will have upgraded its library database (KLAS) to version 7 from version 5. This will enhance the contents and capabilities for our patrons reading pleasure and selection process. We will evaluate the transition through surveying all patrons annually to identify any problems and work towards a patron satisfaction rate of 85% in 2008.	MTBL is currently running on version 5 of the KLAS software.
	In 2008, MTBL will begin upgrading the current Digital Recording Program software and hardware to the highest National Library Service standards for Low Complexity Mastering (LCM) and Duplication systems. By the end of 2009, we will know the projected costs of future upgrades and auxiliary equipment needs for producing the end product of digital books to patrons. We will evaluate this through our Montana Cassette Book Review Committee.	Montana’s digital recording program was the first established nationally on the National Library Service’s specifications and standards. It was established in 2000.
2. Provide libraries, agencies, partners, and patrons with convenient, high quality, and cost-effective access to library content and services.	By 2008, implement Geographic Information (GIS) portal technology combining and enhancing the best attributes of the current NRIS clearinghouse to catalog and provide access to geospatial datasets held at MSL. Provide an interface that allows users to publish metadata records, organize groups and provide access to geospatial data held at their organizations.	Geospatial data access is currently provided to various categories of users through separate systems developed under grants and contracts over the past 20 years. Portal technology has been acquired and plans are underway to integrate and standardize discovery and access methods.
	By 2009, provide the means to search the entire MSL collection via a single search mechanism.	Patrons must now search separately through several MSL collections using various interfaces.
	By 2009, reestablish MSL’s Water Information System as a primary point of access for Montana water information.	Due to staff cuts in the 01 and 03 biennia, the Water Information System has become somewhat dated.
	By 2009, provide extensive access to NHP information holdings by developing a Biological Information Portal ( as part of the NRIS Geographic Information Portal) that links to all major NHP datasets, including birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates, plant species of concern, aquatic habitats, and ecological systems.	A Bird Distribution Web Portal was developed providing access to about 300,000 bird observations. Data on other animal groups, plants and ecosystems still needs to be incorporated to create the Biological Information Portal.
	By 2009, provide access to extensive information documenting Montana’s habitats, including, maps and related information and making it available via the web.	The NHP has added web resources documenting the major aquatic ecosystems of eastern Montana. Documentation of upland and wetland habitats and aquatic ecosystems of western Montana are not completed.
	By 2008, implement targeted training sessions to increase and ensure awareness of and effective access to NHP data by agency personnel.	Training sessions have been held for Montana Department of Transportation’s Environmental Services staff, DEQ staff, and county weed supervisors.
	By 2008, evaluate the potential for contracting with the University system libraries to improve state agency staff access to reference services.	Staff limitations disallow significant time spent on providing reference or research services to state agency staff.
	By 2009, ensure that Montana librarians and patrons have access to quality E-content by researching and assessing on an ongoing basis bibliographic services, periodical databases, Internet search engines, and other Web content provided by vendors, library consortia, individual libraries and appropriate private sector suppliers
	By 2008, assist with the purchase, enrollment, training and marketing elements of at least one statewide bibliographic service and one set of periodical databases to be made available to all interested Montana libraries.	Currently offering at least one set of periodical databases to be made available to all interested Montana libraries.
	By 2009, the value of these E-content services will be measured by an annual increase in E-content user statistics of at least 5 percent, documentation of user demand for additional E-content services, and anecdotal reports from librarians and patrons indicating that access to E-content made a difference in their lives like helping them to accomplish an educational or personal growth goal.	Currently we have 383 libraries across Montana providing our statewide database E-content to their users.
	By 2009, deliver at least four technology skills workshops per year conducted at geographically balanced locations throughout Montana, and the online delivery of a least 12 training sessions teaching E-content skills to librarians.	Currently offering at least two technology workshops per year.
	By 2009, evaluation summaries from the technology skills training opportunities will indicate that at least 75 percent of the participants consider themselves capable of successfully using available E-content resources to meet a significant portion of their information needs.
	By end of 2007, after the KLAS upgrade to version 7, MTBL will increase the reliability of the WebOpac Services to patrons through Keystone Systems. We will survey the patrons using this service through our annual patron survey process and at least 75% will report greater success using the online services.
3. Provide consultation and leadership to enable patrons and partners to reach their goals.	By 2009, through the NHP, we will work with partners to identify biological data needs/priorities and develop coordinated statewide inventory and assessment plans for priority habitats and species groups.	Strategies are being drafted for documenting and monitoring amphibians, small mammals (with FWP), for mapping and evaluating wetlands (with DEQ), and for developing statewide land cover mapping (with the Land Cover I-Team and Information Technology Services Division (ITSD)). Strategies are still needed for other animal groups, plants and aquatic ecosystems.
	By 2009, ensure that Montana library directors have the skills they need to be effective administrators by involving them in workshop sessions on administrative and policy issues. The accomplishment of this objective will be determined by the workshop participation levels and by evaluation summaries indicating that a least 80 percent of those participants consider themselves better prepared to manage the administrative aspects of their libraries.
	By 2009, ensure that Montana public library trustees have the knowledge and skills needed to be effective stewards of their libraries by annually providing trustees at least two statewide training opportunities, four regional training opportunities, and fifteen individual library board training sessions.	Currently providing the annual trustee training and at least six individual library board training sessions.
	By 2009, at least 80 percent of the participants in trustee training opportunities will consider themselves more knowledgeable about the roles and duties of a public library trustee and feel better prepared to perform their board responsibilities.
	In 2009 MTBL will have developed a more formal consulting relationship with Montana public libraries and offer our services to supplement theirs where indicated. We will conduct yearly in-services to library federations on the utilization of digital books and new services. Annual evaluations will be conducted through a survey of public libraries.
	By 2010 we will have a regular yearly in-service with all Blind and Low Vision Services staff, Montana Association for the Blind (MAB) support groups and Low Vision Montana partners (a total of four offices) to bring the best quality and most efficient services and outreach training to our patrons. We will meet with these groups monthly to evaluate its success.	Currently providing one annual in-service for two of the four offices.
4. Promote partnerships and encourages collaboration among partners and patrons so that their information needs can be met.	By 2008, increase interagency sharing and exchange of biological data through NHP by establishing a multi-agency workgroup and by fostering the standardization of data collection and data management formats.	Standardized data collection and management practices are under development with FWP and the U.S. Forest Service. Coordination with other agencies is still needed.
	By 2009, over 100 libraries will be Montana Shared Catalog (MSC) members. Annual satisfaction surveys of the MSC participants will indicate that at least 95 percent of the membership considers MSL support of this statewide project to be in the good to excellent range.	Currently 78 Montana libraries are members of the MSC.
	By 2009, encourage the continued growth and development of Montana’s six library federations by providing consulting, marketing, training, and outreach support to the leadership of these regional library consortia. The accomplishment of this objective will be determined by the addition of at least one new participating library per year in at least three of the six federations.	Current participating libraries by federation are: Board Valleys Federation – 20 of 173 Golden Plains Federation – 6 of 42 Pathfinder Federation – 15 of 123 Sagebrush Federation – 12 of 92 South Central Federation – 16 of 150 Tamarack Federation – 15 of 151
	By 2009, establish a brief electronic “MTBL newsletter update” to be sent to all optometrist and ophthalmologist offices in Montana, conveying current and new services of the MTBL and other related services available to low vision and blind patrons. This will be evaluated annually at the Montana Academy of Ophthalmology and Montana Optometric Association meetings held in Montana.
	By 2009 bring the best possible newspaper service to our patrons through partnering with Newsline phone service and Radio Reading service. Evaluate the awareness and usefulness of these two services in our annual patron surveys.
	Work with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and senior centers in Montana’s rural communities to develop on-going in-service regarding MTBL services. Evaluate this annually by surveying senior centers in Montana of their knowledge of MTBL.
	Work with Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB) and public school special education teachers in Montana through Montana Education Association/Montana Federation of Teachers to provide information to teachers, students and parents on MTBL services.
5. MSL is a well-run organization and a sought-after employer; it is efficient and effective and successfully engaged in its ongoing mission.	By 2009 reduce staff turnover to 15 percent.	Current staff turnover rate is 20 percent, due to competition with partners and with the private sector and other considerations. MSL instituted the Broadband salary plan to partially address this issue. Staff turnover rate was at 28.5 percent in 2005.
	By 2008 make significant strides in developing the leadership and management skills of the workforce in anticipation of significant turnover at upper management levels.	Succession planning has not been formally emphasized.
	By 2009, streamline the administrative processes associated with MSL statewide cooperative purchasing of products and services to better serve participating libraries. The accomplishment of this objective will be determined by at least 25 percent of participating libraries reporting a noticeable decrease in the amount of time required for them to successfully enroll and begin using the provided products and services.

Budget and Policy Issues

The following budget or policy issues are included in the Montana State Library’s budget submission to the Governor’s Office.

· Present law adjustment entitled GIS Portal which would increase funding for the Natural Resource Information System to enhance the role of the Montana State Library as the GIS clearinghouse for the State of Montana. This provides $150,000 in each year of the 2009 biennium and 1.00 FTE to create GIS data gateway to spatial information by state and local agencies and the public.

Present law adjustment entitled Natural Heritage Program which would add $75,000 in each year of the 2009 biennium to increase support of the Natural Heritage Program to obtain, catalog, store, manage and provide access to natural resources information from state agencies and other sources, work with data producers to routinely update information, develop and manage a website providing access to information, conduct outreach and training to promote effective access and use, and respond to user requests.
Present law adjustment entitled standard costs adjustments includes reinstating per diem at $3,350 and volunteer insurance for the Talking Book Library volunteers at $500 both zero based line items. The per diem is for five Commission members, appointed by the Governor, to receive $50 per day per diem rate to represent the Commission on business. Legal fees in Department of Justice increase from $71.80 per hour to $84 for approximately 135 hours per year totaling $1,700.
Present law adjustment entitled LSTA grants: Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds are redefined each year. Projects are approved by the State Library Commission. LSTA grants are requested as a biennial appropriation and are estimated amounts for the carryover each year. LSTA funding is received every year and has a two-year award cycle. Following are the estimated grant levels for the 2009 biennium: 06 LSTA $75,000; 07 LSTA $550,000; 08 LSTA $500,000; 09 LSTA $400,000.
Increased Library Federation Support: Increased coal tax shared account funding of $135,000 in each year of the 2009 biennium which will provide revenue to the projected annual expenditures of $219,000 for the periodical database, $56,000 for library on-line materials, and $161,122 for federation activities. The State Library’s total coal severance tax shared account revenue for FY 2006 was $436,512. This appropriation brings the total to just over $571,500 for FY 2008 and FY2009.

Significant Issues Expanded

DP 1 GIS Portal – New Proposal vs. Present Law Adjustment

DP 2 Natural Heritage Program – New Proposal vs. Present Law Adjustment

For the past twenty years, NRIS has been the primary point of access for natural resource information, including geospatial data in Montana. The value of this role has been reflected in the high level of use of our web services and the tremendous appreciation and support repeatedly voiced by users.

However, funding for the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) and its Natural Heritage Program (NHP) is complex and has long been inadequate to fully support the program. Current funding for the program supports only half of the staffing needed to obtain, integrate, catalog, store, manage and provide access to increasing amounts of natural resource information from state agencies and other sources, work with data producers to continuously update this information, develop and manage a website providing access to the information, conduct outreach and training to promote effective access and use, and respond to user requests. To retain the breadth and depth of staff necessary to operate, we have relied heavily on soliciting contract funds for special-interest projects, which primarily focus on development of applications to access various datasets. These contracts divert staff from primary tasks of data acquisition, integration, cataloging, management, and general dissemination and prioritizes these projects above the mandated functions of NRIS.

Consolidating and updating these various information access applications into a single, powerful Geographic Information (GIS) portal using current technology and implementing better discovery and access tools will take a concentrated effort that is not possible under the current funding. The funding provided through DP1 and DP2 does not represent new activities or an expansion of the program; instead, it provides the funding that will enable existing staff to accomplish the core mission and ensure that Montana decision-makers, businesses and citizens have access to current, and accurate natural resource information. This is critical to accomplish the ongoing assimilation of data from a broad range of sources, and the documentation, processing, presentation, dissemination, and user training/support that underpin the success of the GIS Portal.

DP 1 GIS Portal – Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) Funding

Supplementing NRIS core funding with “pass-through” funding from several agencies was first formalized with an apportionment formula in 1999. At that time, the amount of funding to be provided from each of the five source agencies was determined based on a target amount of agency funding and a preliminary analysis of agency utilization of NRIS services – including web-based services and direct staff consultation. During 2006, the NRIS Advisory Committee established in 2-15-1514, MCA, met several times, along with representatives of the budget office of the agencies affected, to review the allocation formula and recommend changes.

This group recommended increasing the funding for NRIS/NHP, and, after examining alternatives, recommended that contributing agencies be assessed as follows:

· base assessment – equal for all agencies and representing 40 percent of the total agency contributions;

· Web services assessment – representing 30 percent of the total and prorated to agencies based on their documented usage of NRIS web resources and services for the preceding period;

· Direct staff support assessment – representing 30 percent of the total and prorated to agencies based on the hours of direct services provided by NRIS/NHP staff for the preceding period.

Although this formula was supported as most fair to the agencies involved, NRIS has been unable to measure web usage per agency for several years, due to changes in the way that Internet users are identified within the state network. This limitation made it impossible to apply the formula for the upcoming biennium. However, the ability to measure web usage per agency has recently been restored, providing the opportunity to utilize this formula in the future should the legislature determine that agencies should continue to share a portion of NRIS operating costs.

NRIS services benefit not only the agencies contributing their data, but many other agencies, the private sector and the public at large. Assessing agencies a fee for providing datasets to NRIS would not encourage agencies to contribute valuable information to the clearinghouse. We therefore strongly recommend that the cost formula adopted by the NRIS Advisory Committee be utilized, beginning in 2009, should it be necessary to continue to seek agency contributions to the NRIS budget.

DP 6 – Increase Library Federation and Statewide Database support

The State Library uses the Coal Severance Tax (CST) monies to fund three separate projects: library federations, library materials at the State Library, and the magazine database.

Federations: There are six library federations, which are regional associations of libraries, and membership is open to all libraries. Federation coordinators in Hamilton, Lewistown, Sidney, Fairfield, Malta, and Helena administer the federation activities with the assistance of the State Library. Library directors, staff and trustees meet together at least once a year (for most federations twice a year) to receive training, to make plans for joint projects, and to share resources and ideas. In 2006 Federations used the coal tax to fund the cooperative purchase of technology, automated services, collection materials, and unique library software. Federations also use the coal tax to purchase continuing education opportunities and to provide additional support for their resources sharing programs. The Commission approves federation annual plans of services and then reviews how federations meet their goals and objectives in their annual reports. Coordinators report directly to the Commissioners during at least two Commission meetings per year. Funding for the Federations currently totals $161,122 per year.

Library Materials: The State Library uses $56,390 per year of CST to purchase materials that are shared with libraries statewide and that add to the amount of unique materials held in the state. These materials include a collection designed to support the improvement of libraries and are a necessary part of building a strong information structure in Montana.

Magazine Database: The third program is the purchase of a statewide license(s) to periodical database(s). Montana libraries have negotiated a statewide purchase of approximately 5,500 full-text magazines, 160 newspapers, an auto repair reference, and a small education-related reference database. The funding purchases a license for all participating libraries to use the product. Using a computer and an Internet browser, the user can easily search the product to find information on any topic in magazines, ranging from “Time” to specialized health, scholarly, or business journals. Montanans use the product to find information for school reports, medical conditions, investment news, business opportunities, and many other uses. 383 Montana libraries participate in the project and the use of the online products continues to grow each year. The statewide license(s) are currently funded with $219,000 per year of CST monies and $72,000 per year from local libraries.

The new monies for these programs will add approximately $15,000 per year for federation support which will allow federations to expand services. These monies will also add approximately $120,000 per year to the statewide database project. The database monies will allow the State Library to add additional databases, as well as eliminate the invoicing and collecting of payments from the local libraries. Local libraries have in the past contributed approximately 20% of the total database license fee.