HARRISVILLE — A presentation on the Northland Library Cooperative turned to issues that could impact library users with the upcoming federal budget.

Director Roger Mendel presented the services offered by the co-op to the Alcona County Library Board during a meeting Wednesday. Discussion by the end of the presentation turned to the proposed federal budget.

During the presentation Mendel said the co-op worked to provide a number of libraries in northern Michigan with several services, including the statewide delivery of interlibrary books though the Regional Interlibrary Delivery Service program.

There also was a summer reading book service, downloadable music and other services. Mendel said Alcona County Library paid $3,100 member fees for the service, but received more than $8,500 in value for services, including $7,000 for delivery, $100 for summer program booking, a $250 for a continuing education grant and $1,116 for the free music service.

Mendel said the remaining amount came from the co-op’s budget and state aid.

After the presentation Trustee Edward Foster asked how the budget could impact the co-op if it was approved verbatim.

Mandel said there probably would not be a direct effect on the co-op if the budget was approved, but said there are several other programs the library system utilizes that would cause an impact.

“The federal budget does have an effect on the (Library of Michigan Library Services and Technology funding), which is the major piece of funding for the (Michigan eLibrary Catalog and Resource Sharing System), which all your residents use quite a lot, that is a major impact,” Mendel said.

He said another thing that could be cut at the state level is federal funds that would be used to support continued education for library workers.

Trustee Susan Hynek said she was concerned with the budget.

“I think we are all concerned about the cutbacks and how they could affect us,” he said.

Mendel said the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency, controls the LSTA funding, and that service would be eliminated, meaning $4.5 million would not come to Michigan. A lot of the funding that comes to Michigan is used for the MEL-CAT databases.

“It’s important that you let your legislators know that this elimination of funds will have an affect on people,” Mendel said. “One of the things that I always thought was a real benefit of the MEL databases was whether you live in a small shack by the river (as long as you have Internet) or if you live in a very fancy house, you all have the same access to information and I think information is key with our walk with freedom. It’s one of those commodities that more and more the public sector is putting a dollar sign on.”