Library Legislative Day 2001
Librarians, trustees and friends and users of libraries will gather in Albany on Tuesday, March 20th to meet with legislative leaders to talk about the future of library service in New York State.
The New York Library Association has endorsed the following recommendations of the Commission on Libraries:
- Create NOVEL, the NY Online Virtual Electronic Library, to deliver high-quality, reliable digital information and provide access for all New Yorkers.
- Ensure that all of NY’s students are information literate by providing strong school library media programs.
- Promote the availability of local public library service to all NYers and improve support for public libraries through the formation of Public Library Districts.
- Promote equitable library services for all NYers through a need-based formula to reduce disparities in public library funding, and create NY EXCELS to promote service excellence in all types of libraries.
- Provide support for public library construction, expansion, and renovation to ensure NY’s libraries are accessible to all library users.
- Improve the capacity of NY’s urban public libraries to meet the unique needs of their diverse, densely populated communities.
- Strengthen the ability of NY’s libraries to help library users acquire basic English literacy, information literacy, and computer literacy skills.
- Enhance access to the specialized resources held by NY’s academic, special, and research libraries to improve educational achievement, economic development, and health care for all state residents.
- Support and enhance a highly skilled library workforce to meet the needs of citizens.
- Provide leadership and advocacy for change by strengthening the expertise and accountability of the NYS Library.
A budget request of $95 million is being filed to support these initiatives.
All members of the library community are encouraged to be involved, by going to Albany on March 20. You can help to educate decision-makers about the importance of libraries in North Country research, teaching, learning and general quality of life.
The Council has arranged the following appointments with local representatives:
9:30 a.m. Fran Sullivan
10:00 a.m. Jim Wright, Bob Nortz, Dierdre Scozzafava
11:30 a.m. Elizabeth Little
12:30 p.m. Chris Ortloff
1:30 p.m. Ron Stafford
If you are unable to attend this special day, please write your elected Assemblymember or State Senator requesting an increase in the library budget.
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