Advocacy 2020

Follow-Up Information to Advocacy Day 2020

Thank you to everyone who attended Advocacy Day 2020. Our work is not over, please send letters to your legislators in support of library funding. I will keep this page updated as we learn more.

• Senator Gallivan Letter on Library Aid - 03.04.2020.pdf
• Write Letters in Support of Library Funding to your Representatives
  • Find My Senator
  • Find My Assemblymember

Legislative Priorities

Invest in Libraries

Libraries are educational, civic and cultural spaces, staffed by trained information professionals, flexible enough to meet the needs of every New Yorker in every setting - from rural to urban, from PreK throughout school, to post-grad and beyond.

• Persistent underfunding of the State Library Aid program has disenfranchised millions of vulnerable New Yorkers who lack access to information resources and trusted, community-based information professionals
• Information inequality plagues vulnerable, marginalized, and historically oppressed populations. New York’s failure to act risks creation of a permanent “digital underclass”
• New York State must guarantee information equity for all New Yorkers through aggressive investment in library services

NYS Library Operating Aid: $200M

Increased aid is needed to support the foundational framework of New York State libraries, improving the lives of residents of all ages, abilities and economic status.

• Provide school, public, and academic libraries and library systems adequate funding
• Move toward providing every student with access to instruction in information sciences by a certified school librarian, guarantee public libraries are appropriately staffed, and provide quality ongoing training for librarians and library workers.

NYS Library Construction Aid: $75M

Increased investment is needed to maintain and develop the physical infrastructure of New York State’s libraries, in order to ensure a safe, accessible and sustainable environment for the future.

• The New York State Library estimates the deferred maintenance need at over $1.5B
• Nearly half of New York’s libraries are over 60 years old
• Investments allow libraries to invest in energy-efficiency and support the local construction industry

View as PDF

2020 Budget Priorities NYLA.pdf

Equal Access to School Libraries and Librarians

A.2444 Solages / S.2421 Kaplan

This bill, currently in the Education Committee of both the Assembly and Senate, requires all school districts to maintain a school library in each elementary and secondary school and to employ a certified school library media specialist for each such school library.

• Background: All students have an inherent right to equity of instruction in information literacy, and it is needed now more than ever. Under current law, elementary school students are not guaranteed instruction in information literacy skills
• Impact: Passage of this bill would help ensure that all students are college or career ready.

Additional information: School Libraries and Certified LIbrarians Information.pdf

View as PDF

Click here for NYLA's Advocacy Page.

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