Interim Budget Committee Reports

During each legislative session, legislators identify issues they want to study in more depth. They appoint interim committees to conduct these and other studies during the interim between sessions. Legislators use what they learn from the interim studies to make well-informed decisions about what bills to consider during the next session.

Biennium 2027 Interim Reports

From September 2025 through September 2026, MSL will report to the Education (Section E) Interim Budget Committee about library resource sharing programs.

Library Resource Sharing Study

Montanans want convenient access to content, services, and information to achieve their personal, educational, and professional goals. In 2024, Montana’s 119 public libraries and branches recorded 3.2 million visits, amounting to the equivalent of 3 visits per state resident. Add to this statistic the number of students, educators, researchers, and specialized groups that used Montana’s 560 school libraries, 60 specialized libraries, 21 academic libraries, and 7 tribal college libraries and the impact of Montana’s network of libraries is significant.

However, Montana libraries' ability to offer the same high library services to all Montanans are
hampered by financial barriers, disproportionate resources, and geography. With adequate
funding, the libraries of Montana can meet the information needs of all Montanans. Meeting this
demand was also the intent of the Legislature when they revised 22-1-328 in 2009. This statute
states:

22-1-328. Statewide interlibrary resource-sharing program. The commission shall establish a
statewide interlibrary resource-sharing program. The purpose of the program is to administer
funds appropriated by the legislature to support and facilitate resource-sharing among libraries
in Montana, including but not limited to public libraries, public library districts, libraries operated
by public schools or school districts, libraries operated by public colleges or universities, tribal
libraries, libraries operated by public agencies for institutionalized persons, and libraries
operated by nonprofit, private medical, educational, or research institutions.

No such appropriation exists, creating an unfunded mandate for the State Library. To ensure
that all libraries across Montana can serve their communities regardless of their community’s
size or location, they need a funded interlibrary resource-sharing program.

Section E Interim Budget Committee Study Objectives

Work with the Montana State Library and the Montana Library Association throughout the course of the study
Understand what the library resource sharing program does
Understand how the program is currently funded
Identify and prioritize shortfalls (if any)
Estimate costs of any proposed changes to the program
Develop committee recommendations

Study Timeline

September 2025: Introduction to study concepts, legislative mandate, and study outline; seek additional feedback from the Committee on study questions.
March 2026: Overview of the breadth and interrelationships of current resource-sharing services necessary to meet Montanans information needs and to achieve educational goals. Overview of the costs and economic value achieved when investing in resource-sharing services statewide.
June 2026: Discuss the gaps that exist in our current resource-sharing services, how those gaps impact libraries and patrons that are underserved, and how these barriers impact libraries abilities to contribute to the achievement of Montana’s educational goals.
September 2026: Committee identifies opportunities for state special revenue or other funding sources that could be included in proposed legislative solutions.

Library Feedback

Libraries of all types are encouraged to provide feedback to the Montana State Library to assist with this study. Presently, MSL is conducting two surveys to better understand the priorities and needs of Montana libraries regarding resource sharing.