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Budget
Finalized - 4.08
The $5 million was restored for a total of $8 million over the 917
legislated amount. However, a 2% cut was imposed to all state aid
including base System Aid, Outreach Central Library and Local Library
Services Aid (LLSA) - the money local libraries receive directly
from the state.
The
$14 million for public library construction was retained.
Next
on the agenda are the 2008
Legislative Priorities.To send letters in support of any of
these pieces of legislation go to the New
York Library Association web site.
Lobby
Day Report - 3.12.08
More
than twenty libraries and all five counties sent representatives
to Albany on Tuesday, March 11th for Library Lobby day to meet with
the 13 legislators that represent
the MHLS Service area.
We
heard very good news!
- Both the
Senate and Assembly have restored the $5 million left out of
the Governor's budget in their budget proposals.
- Next come
the budget negotiations - stay
tuned to hear how the Governor will respond to the legislature's
proposal for libraries.
2008
Legislative Season Update - 1.23.08
Governor
Spitzer released his proposed 2008-2009 budget yesterday, there
is good news and bad news:
- First the
good news: $14 million for construction included
- Bad
news: $5 million less than last year in library aid.
What
does this mean for library advocates? We need to speak up
and ask that the cut be restored! 1 - Call or visit your
local legislators and ask them to restore the cut. 2 - Join
us on March 11th in Albany
to bring that message to our legislators. Coordinated transportation
to Albany is being arranged, more details coming soon.
2008
Legislative Season Update - 11.14.07
The
web site for the NEW
YORK LIBRARY INITIATIVE, the Regents budget and legislative
proposal for libraries for 2008 - 2009, is now online. Here you
can find:
estimates of proposed aid, fact sheets, research on libraries, links
to other library organizations, and other information and tools.
2007
Legislative Season Update - 7.16.07:
The
MHLS Board
of Trustees voted last week to suspend the $6 ILL fee for patrons
of member libraries who are seeking items obtained through OCLC
searches done at the System as of September 1st, 2007.
It is very important
that staff explain to patrons that this fee is suspended due to
the one-time funding increase and that patrons
can help make the increase permanent by writing or calling their
state legislators to thank them for the additional funds given to
the Systems in NYS this year.
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