Library officials are concerned a provision in Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal could unravel Wisconsin's library system, which allows patrons to access books, movies and other material from anywhere in the state.

To help municipalities control costs, Walker wants to eliminate a requirement that library funding levels be maintained minimally at the average of the prior three years.

The requirement has been in place since the library system was established in 1972 to ensure municipalities can't slash services and book budgets while taking advantage of the resources at neighboring libraries, according to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

"Wisconsin is just an incredible shining beacon of shared library resources," said Martha Van Pelt, director of the South Central Library System, which covers Dane and six other counties.

Van Pelt previously worked as a library director in Washington state, where municipalities had to maintain their own library resources, which tended to benefit more affluent communities.

If Walker's proposal is approved, Van Pelt said, "we'll go back to the Dark Ages of what a state like Washington does: You don't pay taxes to me, so you can't use my library."