Monthly Archives: January 2017

Governor Cuomo has cut library aid in his budget proposal for the coming year. From the Governor’s Executive Budget Proposal:

Library Aid – $91.6 million (4% CUT)
The proposed funding is $4 million less than what was in last year’s enacted state budget. This proposed cut 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 $102.6 million for FY2017-18. 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.

Library Construction Aid – $14 million ($5 million CUT) After a decade of stagnation, the State Library Construction Aid program received a $5 million increase in last year’s enacted budget. Governor Cuomo has proposed eliminating that additional funding.

Read this week’s MHLS Bulletin to find out how you can help combat the cuts!

Create a visual message with impact! We’re calling on at least two libraries per state legislative district (more would be awesome!) to help us tell the story of what a good investment libraries are leading up to Advocacy Day in Albany on March 1^st.

Are you in? You can help us by following the four easy steps found here: http://bit.ly/2iL8YPU

Governor Cuomo is finalizing his Executive Budget proposal, and NOW is the time to SPEAK UP FOR LIBRARY FUNDING!

A message from the New York Library Association: “We have not gotten any assurances that library funding is secure. In 2014, the last legislative election year, Governor Cuomo cut $4M in library aid as a negotiating tactic with the legislature. Library aid is again subject to these same negotiating tactics. The $4M in extra funding we worked so hard to get during last year’s budget is uncertain at best. This is unacceptable.”

TAKE ACTION NOW and tell the Governor that library aid should be INCREASED, not CUT. State Education Law mandates Library Aid be $102.6M for the upcoming year – current funding of $95.6M is inadequate, let alone a cut back.

Save

(POUGHKEEPSIE, NY) The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) announces, effective February 10, 2017: Thomas O’Connell will serve as Acting Technology Operations Manager; Nina Acosta will serve as Acting Automation Coordinator; and Courtney Wimmers will serve as Acting Cataloging Specialist II. Mr. O’Connell has held the position of MHLS Automation Coordinator since 2014. From 2003-2014 he held