Expanding state's library rescource sharing program gets OK
By ANNA M. TINSLEY
Harte-Hanks Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - A local lawmaker's proposal to expand the state's library resource sharing program gained preliminary approval this week, as it was passed out of a House committee.
Abilene state Rep. Bob Hunter's proposal would increase funding for TexShare - the co-operative sharing program - and expand the sharing from just four-year public schools to include independent colleges and universities and community colleges.
It would then share resources among the state's 52 publicly-funded higher education institutions.
"The TexShare program will give every college student in Texas, including our students at McMurry University, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian University and Cisco Junior College, access to all of the collective library resources of our state," said Hunter, R-Abilene.
The measure was approved this week by the House State, Federal and International Relations Committee, which Hunter chairs. It now heads to the House for a vote.
The bill would increase TexShare funding from $1 million to $3 million over the next two years and place it under the supervision of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, rather than the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
It also proposes that money to support the program come out of the state's Telecommunications Infrastructure fund.
"Bringing this information together through the use of resource sharing technology and developed infrastructures will no doubt be of great benefit to the current and future Texans pursuing higher education in our state," Hunter said.