Date:
11/8/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES – With the passage of General Obligation Bond Issue "C" in the Nov. 5 New Mexico General Election, academic libraries will receive enough dollars to purchase two library books for each full-time student attending college.
Golden Library at Eastern New Mexico University will receive $144,541, ENMU-Roswell will receive $77,238, and ENMU's Ruidoso Learning Center will receive $14,379.
Bond Issue "C" passed in Roosevelt County by 2,045 (56 percent) for and 1,610 (44 percent) against. Statewide, it passed 242,184 (60 percent) for and 163,489 (40 percent) against.
Thanks to Portales area voters who helped pass Bond "C," ENMU's Golden Library will soon be the beneficiary of $144,541 in state funds to purchase much-needed books. The occasional boost from supplemental bond funds enables the library to purchase current books that support the research needs of students and faculty, and replace lost and worn items of enduring value.
The ever-increasing cost of professional and scholarly journal subscriptions routinely erodes the library's capacity to purchase a balanced array of book and periodical research material. Journal prices for some departments are so high that little-to-no funds are available to purchase books; this is a particular problem for the life and physical sciences where re-accreditation may hinge on whether the library subscribes to certain, mandated journal titles.
Passage of Bond "C" represents a win-win situation. Academic, public and school libraries are heavily used by all New Mexicans. Bond money gives everyone a chance to augment their collections for the benefit of current and future citizens.