Press Release -- SLA Strongly Opposes Budget Cuts to U.S. National Agricultural Library

CEO Lachance Urges Congress to Support Critical Information Services to Public in the Face of Sustainable Growth, Biofuel, and Rising Food Cost Challenges

For Immediate Release

Alexandria, Virginia, 20 May 2008— The Special Libraries Association (SLA) recently voiced strong concerns for the public’s well being in a letter urging the U.S. Congress to oppose the Bush Administration’s proposed 2009 budget cuts to the U.S. National Agricultural Library (NAL).

The President’s proposed FY2009 Budget request of $18 million will significantly damage the NAL’s ability to maintain services at the current level, according to SLA, and is $4 million (18.8%) less than the 2008 budget and $6 million (25%) less than the 2007 budget. SLA’s position is that the proposed reduction in funding will have a severe impact on the NAL and create a ripple effect throughout the country and the globe.

In a letter to the Chairwoman and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies, SLA CEO Janice Lachance spoke about the need for specialized information services for agriculture in the face of various environmental issues affecting the farming industry, the environment, and the economy.

“As the affects of global warming and its impacts on agriculture become more of an issue, the nation’s food producers are seeking more sustainable growth strategies. Rising energy costs are affecting the country’s supply chain, as well as the cost of food for consumers. We are at a critical time, and the NAL services are needed more than ever.”

The NAL is the largest agricultural library in the world and has been serving agriculture since 1862. Established by Congress, its mission is "to ensure and enhance access to agricultural information for a better quality of life." NAL's work in collecting, preserving, and making agricultural information available is fundamental to the continued well being and growth of U.S. agriculture, and the development of food supplies for the nation and the world.

The proposed reduction in funding will also have a severe impact on the NAL’s ability to provide services to important federal agencies. One such potential impact would include major disruption to activity and research at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Because NAL is the primary source of research materials for USDA scientists, limited access to the full array of scientific information available through the NAL would impair USDA’s effectiveness in responding to emergency situations, initiating new projects, and participating in the larger scientific community. Additionally, a major part of the USDA mission involves important regulatory activities surrounding food safety, with USDA scientists working to ensure that the “nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled, and packaged.”

Lachance concluded, “NAL’s collections are used continuously by researchers, scientists, students, writers and teachers all over the U.S. and around the globe.  Reducing or eliminating access to these important materials could result in unseen and potentially dangerous impacts on the public.”

Beyond the research of scientists, the NAL provides services to thousands of family-owned farms in the United States and around the world.

According to an article in The Washington Post written by Columnist Barbara Damrosch, “It is the greatest agricultural library in the world. Through its document delivery system, its vast collections have long been available to other libraries all over the country and around the globe. It is the hub. And in no small way, it has helped build the farm my husband has tended for the past 30 years.”

Background and Additional Resources

Act now---go to SLA's Legislative Action Center to write a letter

Read Washington Post article from May 1, 2008

Read Librarian Activist Web site

Read National Agricultural Library posting from May 5, 2008

The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 11,500 members in more than 60 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic, and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org

Note to Editors: For more information on the importance of library and information services within government agencies or to schedule a supporting interview with CEO Janice Lachance please contact PR Director Cara Schatz at cara@sla.org or 703.647.4917