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Governor Proposes 2.76% cut to Library Funding.

The Governor’s 2010-2011 Executive Budget Proposal (it is not called the State Budget until adopted by the Legislature) outlines proposed changes in funding for the following items of interest to the library community:

Library Aid: $84,458,000 (cut of 2.76% or $2.4 million from $86.8 million at end of 2009); cut of approximately 17.3 % from Library Funding in 2007/2008.

Public Library Construction Funds- $14 million (no change)

School Library Materials Aid - $19.26 million - $6.25 per pupil (no change)

Adult Literacy Education (ALE) - $4.3 million (cut of $300,000 from end of 2009)

Bundy Aid (aid to private colleges) – $39 million (reduction of $800,000)

School Aid - reduced by $1.1 billion or 5% reduction

SUNY Aid – reduced by $72 million or 4.6%

CUNY Aid – reduced by $32 million or 4.1%

Library advocates are encouraged to visit the NYLA website at www.nyla.org and click on the contact elected officials icon to send new web letter to your state legislators urging them to reject the latest (5^th !) cut in Library Aid, or contact your legislators directly sending your own letter – even better.

Remember – these are tough economic times, but that is why libraries are needed more than ever. Libraries are providing the “safety net” for many in all of our communities. Looking for jobs? Writing resumes? Filling for unemployment? Learning new skills? Just relaxing from all the stress? The library is there for our communities. Please ask your legislators to be there for us!

Participate in SnapShot NY: A Day in the Life of a Library

NYLA also encourages your library to participate in our “SnapshotNY: A Day in the Life of a Library”

What’s life like on a typical day at your library? Wouldn’t you like to document in statistics, pictures, videos and user comments just how busy and essential your library is?

Then join New York’s libraries and participate in "Snapshot: A Day in the Life of a Library” by collecting statistics, comments, and photographs/videos from one day between now and Feb. 17^th to provide tangible proof that libraries consistently provide invaluable services to our communities, in our schools and on our college campuses.

Pick a day and send us your statistics for that one day in any or all of these areas:

Patron/Student Visits/Door Count

Internet/Public Computer Usage

Number of Reference Questions

Number of Educational Programs Offered (computer, early childhood/adult literacy, etc.)

Circulation Total for the Day

In the near future, we will provide you with a link to a survey form and website to provide statistics that you have gathered and any comments, photos or videos you would like to share from that day.

For assistance in organizing your “ SnapShotNY: A Day in the Life of a Library” , please contact Johanna Geiger at events@nyla.org Submit your statistics and testimonials by Feb. 17^th so we can compile everything and showcase the information at Library Lobby Day, Tuesday, March 2^nd in Albany. The libraries submitting the top three videos/photos/comments will receive a Flip Video Camera and one free registration to the NYLA Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs – Nov. 3-6^th.

Check out these other similar initiatives for some ideas and results:
<SnapShotPA: A Day in the Life of Pennsylvania Libraries>

<Snapshot: One Day in the Life of New Jersey Libraries>

Snapshot Day is part of an overall campaign strategy being launched by the New York Library Association entitled:

NY’s Libraries: Essential

to life Long Learning

to Jobs & Opportunity

to Quality of Life

to Community Empowerment

The purpose of the campaign is to foster greater appreciation and support for libraries from both decision-makers and the general public, especially during these difficult economic times.