History of Funding for Libraries and Library Systems in New York by Leonard Meinhold, Director, North Country Library System (2003) *updated by MHLS (2004/2005/2006/2007/2008)
1990	No increase. Law passed to increase Ch. 917 $15 million over three years. None of these funds were actually appropriated. Libraries receive $70.5 million.
1991	Appropriation decreased. Additional $5 million appropriated. 10.5% cut for a total of $68.5 million final appropriation
1992	No increase.
1993	Additional $4.8 million appropriated for a total of $73.3 million
1994	Additional $8.2 million appropriated for a total of $81.5 million
1995	No increase.
1996	No increase in statutory aid; $2 million appropriated in one-time funds for Electronic Doorway Library program.
1997	Increase of $.8 million to $82.8 million. Additional $2 million appropriated in one-time funds for Electronic Doorway Library Program
1998	Additional $5.9 million increase appropriated to finally fully fund Ch. 917 (passed in 1990) at $88.5 million.
1999	No increase.
2000	$5 million added as a one-time special legislative project. Total $93.5
2001	Appropriation decreased by $5 million from prior year. Total of 88.9 appropriated 2000 Census results ignored (costing MHLS $71,000)
2002	No increase. 2000 Census results ignored (costing MHLS another $71,000)
2003*	After the Governor proposed a 15% cut the legislature overrode the budget and restored funding to 2001 level. Therefore, no increase. 2000 Census results ignored (costing MHLS another $71,000)
2004	5% cut totaling $4.4 million statewide, $85,000 for MHLS 2000 Census results ignored (costing MHLS another $71,000)
2005	After the Governor proposed the continuation of the 5% cut, the legislature restored it in their budget bill, but could not come to consensus on an increase in library aid. 2000 Census results ignored for the fifth straight year ($71,000 X 5 = $355,000)
2006	No increase. 2000 Census results ignored for the sixth straight year ($71,000 X 6= $426,000)
2007	$20 million increase: The use of the 2000 Census figures in the library funding formula Resulting in approximately $71,000 annually for MHLS from this point forward $3 million for systems Resulting in a one-time allotment of approximately $70,000 for MHLS $14 million for public library construction Resulting in a one-time allotment of approximately $521,000 for MHLS member libraries
2008	2007 increases repeated + additional $5 million for systems. (System and construction aid are still one-time allotments.)
2009	Governor's 2008-2009 Budget Proposal (1.22.08): $14 million for construction included as one-time allotment $5 million less than last year in library aid