Continue reading »]]> In a recent op-ed in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, local Irondequoit politico Richard Barone–known for his dislike of any kind of tax for any kind of service–called library supporters “cry babies” because of our desire to stop the continual cuts to state library aid.

He lead his missive with

The 10 percent cut in state aid to the New York libraries is not as drastic as it seems or as unfair as some library spokespersons claim.

If Richard only paid attention to the facts instead of relying on typical anti-tax, Tea Party rhetoric. The reality of state library funding is this.

1. Library aid has already been reduced five times since 2008 from $102 million to $84 million in 2010.
2. The proposed 10% cut would reduce Library Aid to $76 million–below 1994 levels.
3. The combined multiyear cuts would total $26 million or 26% of Library Aid.
4. During the same time, library use has increased by 11% and 98% of libraries report helping someone look for a job.

The majority of state library aid goes to library systems. For the Irondequoit Public Library, that’s the Monroe County Library System. The system provides inter-library loan, online databases and resources for research, cataloguing and circulation services as well as professional development programming.

When state library aid is cut, the systems are forced to pass increased costs along to their member libraries. The libraries then have to turn to their funders. Since Irondequoit Public Library is a municipal library–an actual department of the Town–the Library board will have to go to the Town board to ask for an increase in funding to cover the extra $16,199 it will need to pay the system–a 27% increase.

Since the Library has already received cuts from the Town because of its financial situation, it is questionable whether the Town will be able to make up the $16,199 in library funding.

Richard Barone is the cry baby here. Lashing out at any tax regardless of the impact on his community. It’s a shame. It’s rhetoric like Barone’s that has forced Irondequoit and other libraries across the state to cut programming and hours and other services despite increasing use and demand from their communities.

Continue reading »]]> Last week, Denny Farrell (D-Manhattan) took to the floor of the Assembly to talk about the budget. In a rather off-handed remark, he dissed libraries.

“Libraries, we really don’t need them anymore maybe.” Click here to view the video.

The fact of the matter is we will always need libraries–especially in this economy. Let Assembly Farrell, who is also the Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, that the best apology he can make is by restoring $4.2 million in Library Aid in the state budget. His Albany office number is 518-455-5491.

Continue reading »]]> Jason Baker from Jamestown hit the nail on the head in his recent letter to the editor to the city’s Post-Journal.

The proposed cuts to education in Jamestown are alarming. Difficult decisions need to be made in such a tough economic climate. However, the district’s library department was utterly destroyed by the cuts.

Just like the funding attacks on public libraries, school libraries are seen an expendable. But, as Baker points out, school librarians are also teachers and their work is invaluable for our children and their academic achievement. 

Jamestown School District has 1o schools and nine school librarians. The cuts will mean there will be only two librarians to cover the city’s six elementary schools. That math just doesn’t add up!

Continue reading »]]> NYLA’s ED Mike Borges and the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries, Bob Reilly, were guests on Capitol Pressroom today with Susan Arbetter. click the play button and after introductions move scroll bar on Track #1 to 35 minute mark. They’re pretty clear on how the present state budget and the budgets for the last few years has… done a number on libraries and library systems.

Listen to their comments on how cuts are impacting libraries.

http://thecapitolpressroom.org/the-capitol-pressroom-for-march-3-2011/

Continue reading »]]> Lisa Matte, the director of the Jervis Public Library in Rome, NY, testified before a state hearing about the impact impending state and local cuts will have on Jervis and other libraries throughout the state.

Here’s one of the salient points of the article:

“We’re very concerned that funding…is in danger on many different levels, not just direct funding to systems and libraries,” Matte said today. She noted the “trickle-down effect” of cuts to municipalities that cause them to lower contributions to libraries. At a state budget hearing in Rome last week, she said contributions to Jervis a year ago were cut 20 percent by the city and 25 percent by the county, while Jervis reduced its budget by 15 percent for 2011.

No offensive comments on the article’s comment blog yet. This is just about how cuts in funding are making it more and more difficult to function. Cutting library funding trashes a library’s ability to provide the programs and services the community wants and needs.

Continue reading »]]> In a recent survey by Kids Out and About.com Rochester, NY, 1,800 area parents were asked to vote on their Top 3 Places to take their kids in the greater Rochester area. From there, the site compiled the Top 20 places. Interestingly, Local Libraries were not on the original list of choices but parents were smart enough to write them in!  This bodes well for libraries in the Monroe County Library System, the Pioneer Library System and the NIOGA Library System.

Parents know libraries are good for their kids. Now, if only the folks who think libraries are a waste of taxpayer money could look beyond their “cut, cut, cut” rhetoric and recognize one of the best public service return on investment in their community–their local library.

Continue reading »]]> With all that’s happened this year to the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library’s funding, it is refreshing to read comments on yesterday’s Buffalo News article. Facing a $7 million deficit next year, the Library’s board of trustees may be faced with branch closings, layoffs and deep cuts to buying new materials.

With only one snarky “we can go to Barnes and Noble” type comment, the others responding to the story have been much more supportive than we usually find. Here’s one.

BETH LEWITZKY, BUFFALO, NY on Fri Feb 25

When did the model for public libraries change from being a free public good, one of our great equalizers, to being an institution, as the Collins administration puts it, which has to “do a better job of fundraising and generating income?” Are we really so poor as a community that we can no longer support one of the institutions that helps sustain us as a free and democratic people?

I suppose those who mistakenly believe that everything can be googled and would prefer an Internet cafe or a Barnes & Noble to a library will choose to reelect Collins. For those who dont lets get rid of him in November.

Continue reading »]]> Dear ALA Members,
I am writing to you today to enlist your participation in an association-wide advocacy campaign to protect funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR), H.R. 1, funding the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The House version zeroed out the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program.
Action now moves to the Senate, which is drafting its own version of the CR.

This is the time to reach out to your U.S. senators by phone or email – and, importantly, to urge others in your communities to do so as well.

The request to your senators is straightforward. In the Continuing Resolution for 2011:
1.       Maintain the 2010 funding level of $213.5 million for the Library Services and Technology Act.
2.       Maintain the 2010 funding level of $19.1 million for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program.

Beyond these basic requests, I urge you to share with your senators how you are using this federal funding and how the constituents of your state benefit educationally and economically from library services during these challenging times. Provide examples of how you assist the public with online job searching, preparing resumes, small business development, accessing online information and training, etc.

Inform your senators about the role school libraries play in ensuring students graduate with the skills they need to be successful in today’s workforce. The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program increases the literacy skills and academic achievement of students by providing them with access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers; and well-trained, professionally certified school librarians.

This is only the latest part of our ongoing need for grassroots advocacy on federal appropriations and other library issues. The federal government’s 2012 budget will be the next focus of Congress.

Your messages to the senators requesting 2011 support for the Library Services and Technology Act and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program will also influence their deliberations for the 2012 funding levels.

Your advocacy is vital to ensuring that our libraries remain a fundamental force in America’s economic and educational future. As an association – and as a profession – we must work together to have a strong voice.

The ALA Legislative Action Center can assist you with contacting your senators. If you need further help, call Jeff Kratz or Kristin Murphy with the ALA Office for Government Relations at 1-800-941-8478.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Roberta Stevens
ALA President

Continue reading »]]> The following comment, from Binghamton’s Press and Sun-Bulletin’s website, www.pressconnects.com, was written in response to the Gannett News Service article, Library funding eyed for cuts as facility use continues to soar, that ran in newspapers across the state on 2/18/11.

LenJack, 11:03 AM on February 19, 2011
With the advent of the internet and all of the information available at users monitors and printers, libraries are going the way of the smoker’s lounge. Who needs to go look up anything in books anymore? Dewey decimal has been totally replaced by the likes of Google. If you want a place to read and look intelligent, go to Barnes and Noble. Don’t lay your expenses on the hard hit tax payers.

The response: public access computer use in public libraries continues to rise and where do people go to authenticate what they find on Google? Thier Public Library. Public Libraries provide the best public service return on investment around–for every tax dollar spent on library programs and services, communities get much more than their money’s worth!

Continue reading »]]> The Irondequoit Public Library is a municipal library whose funding has decreased substaintially the past few years. A recent article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle gave a very good overview of what the library’s challenges are and why they are considering becoming a special legislative district public library.

But, blog responses such as this underscore the need for more of us to respond on blogs and refute the misinformation:

Pen247 at the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
2:10 PM on February 21, 2011

Why does every town need it’s own library? It might have made sense say before the CAR. You could consildate down into 3 (east side, main and west side). that would save a lot of tax $’s from being taken from everyone for the benefit of the few.Also, Libraries should focus on books. You want internet, buy it or go to a coffee shop, you want movies/DVD’s check out BLOCKBUSTER!

Again, libraries like NPR and cell phones for the poor are all ideas that have no reasonable need. These are EXTRA’s. In tough times families cut the extras so should government.

We all know libraries have evolved from much more than being warehouses for books.

They are community centers that focus on “recreation for the mind.” They provide much needed meeting space. They provide programming and classes for Life Long Learning. They are economic development engines providing resources for small business entrepreneurs and by being destinations that bring scores into downtown areas and main streets across the country.

Join the conversation here and at the Democrat and Chronicle.