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|
SPONSOR: |
Picraux |
DATE TYPED: |
01/29/02 |
HB |
198 |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Statewide Magazine On-Line Database Program |
SB |
|
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|
|
ANALYST: |
Gonzales |
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APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
|
|
|
|
200.0 |
|
|
Recurring |
GF |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates/Relates
to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act
LFC Files
Office of Cultural
Affairs
State Department of
Education
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 198 appropriates $200.0 from the
general fund to the Library Division of the Office of Cultural Affairs for the
purpose of expanding the statewide magazine on-line electronic database
program.
Significant Issues
The appropriation is intended to make available
full text periodicals and other reference materials to all public elementary,
middle and junior high school libraries in an effort to improve student
literacy skills. The bill would expand
the statewide magazines online database to 445 public elementary school
libraries and 141 middle and junior high school libraries in order to assist
the in the improvement of student achievement and literacy skills. Currently, the statewide magazines online
database provided by the State Library Division is available free to all public
libraries, academic libraries, and high school libraries only. There were approximately one million
searches of this database by these libraries in 2001.
According to the State Department of Education,
national data indicate that almost half (48%) of fourth graders in New Mexico
scored “below basic” in reading compared to 39% of students nationally (NAEP
1998) and research indicates that access to appropriate reading materials at
all levels is a necessary circumstance for reading success (National Research
Council: Starting Out Right 1999).
The State Department of Education notes this
legislation supports its Literacy Policy action item “Use of Appropriate
Instructional Materials: Curriculum resources and materials must be developmentally
appropriate, research-based, and culturally relevant. Technology must be integrated to support learning.” A recent survey of school libraries found
that 1983 was the average publication date of New Mexico collections in
science, social studies and technology (Survey conducted by the New Mexico
State Library and the State Department of Education 1999).
New Mexico schools report that 84% of public
school classrooms have Internet connectivity capable of accessing on-line
resources to support learning (2001 Legislative Survey, State Department of
Education).
During the FY03 budget hearing for the Office of
Cultural Affairs before the Economic Development and Regulatory Subcommittee of
the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, the Subcommittee recognized the
significant need for this expansion of the database program due to its direct
link in supporting education throughout the state.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $200.0 contained in this
bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered
balance remaining at the end of FY03 shall revert to the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE
IMPLICATIONS
Administrative implications would minimally
affect one .5 FTE position at the State Library whose job already includes
keeping database use statistics from existing participating libraries statewide.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The appropriation
should be made to the Education, Outreach and Technical Assistance program of
the Office of Cultural Affairs rather than to the Library Division as the
agency is appropriated by program rather than by division in the General
Appropriation Act.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE
ISSUES
The bill would augment and enhance the magazines
online program that already exists for some NM library types, e.g., public,
academic, and high school libraries.
The State Library Division would keep monthly statistics about library
usage of the product and would even have monthly "hits" statistics
available indicating which specific magazines are being used and where.
The Office of Cultural Affairs noted three
significant issues in regard to the program included in this legislation:
Issue 1:
The relative lack of resources in many elementary and middle school
libraries in NM. Literature on the
subject is conclusive that greater student achievement and school performance
is directly correlated to the quality of school libraries. The proposed database offers over 2,000 full
text reference materials, magazines, and journals geared for this student
group. This service allows participating
libraries freedom from the budgetary burden of buying and processing a print
product by utilizing a "just in time" concept instead of a "just
in case" collection policy. This
bill would extend an electronic database service to elementary, middle and
junior high students through their libraries.
The program would result in the availability of additional library and
literacy resources for students at the middle and elementray school levels,
resources they do not have.
Issue 2:
Unequal opportunities for library resources in the state. This program would provide equal access for
public school libraries regardless of school site. Students in Animas would have the same electronic resources as
students in Albuquerque.
Issue 3:
Building early information literacy and information access skills. This program in school libraries would
complement other statewide efforts to offer the Internet to students, schools,
and classrooms. It would foster
utilization of the Internet and help develop research skills students will
utilize throughout their academic lives and beyond into lifelong learning.
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