University Library News Release

Date: October 10, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jeanette Smith, NMSU Library, (505) 646-7492, jcsmith@lib.nmsu.edu

GO Bond C Will Support NMSU Library

The New Mexico State University Library, as well as libraries throughout the state, will benefit from passage of GO Bond C on the November 7 ballot. Bond C proposes a total of $9 million for publicly funded New Mexico academic, public and school libraries.

Library Dean Elizabeth Titus said that Bond C proposes $3 million for public academic libraries, enough to purchase two library books for each full-time student attending college in the state. $700,000 in one-time funding would permit the NMSU Library to build and update book and periodical collections that support the scholarly and research needs of NMSU and the community.

Titus said that the average cost of a college library book is now $60 and the average cost of a subscription to an academic journal has risen 9% in the last year.

The bond would also help the Library provide information in electronic format that will be accessible all the time to distance education students, faculty and staff, no matter where they live.

$3 million for public libraries and $3 million for publicly funded school libraries are also included in the $9 million proposed.

Bond C has been endorsed by the New Mexico Consortium of Academic Libraries, the New Mexico Municipal League and the New Mexico Task Force for School Libraries.

According to the 2006 GO Bond Committee, consisting of State Librarian Richard Akeroyd and other librarians from throughout the state, while GO Bond C will be at the bottom of the ballot, it needs to be a top-of-mind consideration if New Mexico is to cope with the many challenges facing its libraries today.

For more information, contact Dean Titus at (505) 646-1508.

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