State library budget increases; Young Readers expansion aims to reach 35,000 more children

The Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee received testimony from the Maryland State Library Agency (MSLA) on its FY25 operating budget and the transfer and expansion of the Young Readers program.

Laura Hyde, the committee’s budget analyst, said MSLA’s FY25 allowance increases by approximately $4.2 million to $103.9 million, with most of the change in library retirement and public library aid. Hyde noted Chapters 6 49 and 6 50 of 2023 transfer the Baltimore City Young Readers Program and the Young Readers Matching Grant Program into MSLA and raise the matching‑grant mandate from $250,000 to $350,000.

Irene Padilla, the state librarian, told the panel MSLA supports 192 library branches and 22 mobile libraries and reported more than 3,500,000 registered borrowers. Padilla highlighted persistent digital‑access gaps, saying about 20% of Maryland households lack broadband service and that roughly 40,000 households with children do not have broadband access.

On the Young Readers program, Padilla said the expansion will allow MSLA to subsidize the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for an estimated 35,000 additional children statewide. MSLA plans to hire a full‑time contractual staffer to administer the program beginning Jan. 31 if the budget is passed, and the agency said it will prioritize grant distribution to high‑poverty ZIP codes and underrepresented areas. Padilla said the program will track outcomes and report results back to the General Assembly as required.

Committee members asked about program evaluation and measures; MSLA agreed it will collect and report relevant data. DLS recommended concurrence with the governor’s allowance for MSLA; the agency and analysts said they will continue monitoring performance measures and implementation details.

Ending: The committee concluded MSLA’s presentation and will next consider the agency in its capital budget hearings.