The Legislative Committee recommends the following programs as the top priorities on CLA’s legislative agenda for the second year of the current biennial state budget (FY2009). This agenda was approved by the CLA Executive Board on November 1, 2007.


Connecticard is a statewide program which allows all Connecticut citizens to use their library card in any other public library in the state. Last year over 4.6 million items were borrowed under this program. A consultant hired by the State Library recently determined that the actual median cost of a Connecticard transaction is $1.05, which would require $4.9 million for the program to be fully funded. Despite a welcome increase of $250,000 in FY2008 to $1,226,028, reimbursement to participating libraries has only risen to $0.27 per item. CLA seeks additional annual increases over the next several years until this $4.9 million goal is achieved.


CLC’s program of statewide cooperative services for 900 member libraries was funded by the General Assembly at $350,000 in FY2008. CLA seeks $375,000 for CLC to continue its programs in FY2009. CLC’s InfoAnytime program was funded by the General Assembly at $150,000 in FY2008. InfoAnytime provides librarians online 24/7 to answer reference questions for 175 public and academic libraries statewide, with 60-70 questions being answered daily. CLA seeks $200,000 for CLC to continue this service in FY2009. InfoAnytime is funded on the same shared local funds/state funds cost model that supports CLC’s other programs.


This program was funded by the General Assembly at $8.5 million in FY2008, a substantial increase from $3,500,000 in FY2007. With a growing list of Connecticut libraries in need of new buildings, renovations, expansions, ADA improvements, remodeling, and energy conservation, CLA seeks to increase this funding to $10,000,000 in FY2009.


iCONN, Connecticut’s re-search engine, provides an extensive set of online resources to all state residents. In FY2007 iCONN saw a small increase to $2,067,485 that allowed the addition of the Historical Hartford Courant (1764-1922). CLA advocates increased support for this successful program to $3,067,485 in FY2009. This increase will expand the resources available to students and residents and result in significant savings to local communities.


CLA recommends extension of the new statutory language regarding confidentiality of library records included in PA 07-227 to apply to all academic libraries in Connecticut.


CLA will also monitor legislative developments in the following areas: urban libraries; library education; privacy; and Internet filtering.



     Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - 8:00 to 9:30 am
     Legislative Office Building, Hartford (directions).

• Connecticard Fact Sheet
• Connecticut Library Consortium Fact Sheet
• Construction Grants Fact Sheet
• ICONN Fact Sheet
• ICONN Cost Savings 2007 Fact Sheet