Almost anyone who has worked in a library understands that librarians are constantly working on a tight budget, even when the economy is strong. With state and local governments struggling to stay afloat, budget cuts for libraries have already begun, and more are expected. Ironically, as the economic crisis forces libraries to slash spending, demand for library services actually increases as cash-strapped families try to use more free sources of entertainment.

With this issue, we aim to assist librarians in budgeting and planning for library technology during a difficult financial crisis. By offering both a detailed analysis of the current state of library technology funding and expert-authored, practical guides to stretching your budget and planning for maximum efficiency, the content of this issue can help librarians fulfill their technological needs while weathering the ongoing economic storm.

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