Governor Cuomo has released his proposed budget, this marks the start of state budget advocacy season.
So how did libraries fare in the Governor’s proposal? Flat.· Flat funding for library aido this is the funding that underwrites much of the support your library receives from the Mid-Hudson Library System as well as your Local Library Services Aid that comes directly to your library· Flat funding for the State Aid for Public Library Construction programo this program currently results in $525,000 for the libraries of the Mid-Hudson Library System, an area that has reported over $50 million in construction need.Help legislators help their constituents by encouraging them to draft a counter proposal to the Governor’s executive budget that treats libraries like the communities they serve by:1) Increasing Library Aid: The Governor’s proposed funding is equal to what was in last year’s enacted state budget. This proposed funding fails to acknowledge the crucial role libraries serve in our communities, and the contributions they make to our state’s education system. Libraries ARE Education! State Education Law requires that Library Aid should be $102.6M for FY2016-17. Libraries should be fully funded under the law. Absent of that, library aid must at least increase each year in parity with increases in education funding.2) Increasing Library Construction Aid: Funding for the State Library Construction Aid program has remained stagnant for nearly a decade, at $14M annually. Once again, the Governor proposed flat funding for this program. The State Division of Library Development estimates that library renovation and construction needs are $2.2B statewide. Over 48% of public libraries in NYS are 60+ years old, and an additional 33% are 30+ years old. Investment in the Library Construction Aid program must be increased to address aging infrastructure, energy inefficient buildings and the evolving ways people use libraries.What you can do right now:« Take a minute out of your day to use the New York Library Association’sOnline Advocacy Center to send a pre-drafted message to your elected officials in Albany to let them know that State Aid for libraries must be treated fairly in this year’s final budget – library aid should increase at the same rate as education aid. Encourage all your fellow library fans to do the same!.Follow the link below to have your voice heard!« Encourage everyone you know who cares about libraries to “Get on the List” NYLA has developed, and visitnyla.org/advocacy for updates.
