| Friday Follow-up: a message from Brian M. Hildreth, STLS Executive Director |
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Governor Cuts $191,760 in Aid to Southern Tier Libraries Click here to call your State Senate and Assembly Representatives (This week we focus on our phone call campaign, next week we send emails and letters. Please read my important message below) Last week, I discussed 2016 New York State financial gains for libraries. I also indicated Governor Cuomo might cut these gains from his proposed 2017 budget. Well, this is one time I don’t feel good about being right.
On Tuesday, our Governor cut overall State Library Aid by 4.3%. He also excluded last year’s increase in Construction Aid to STLS member libraries.
Here is what his proposal looks like for our membership: We shouldn’t just be disappointed about his decision. We should feel completely slighted!
Libraries are education. We are “free for all” institutions that have been around since the 1850’s. Our services lend themselves to people of all ages and backgrounds without discrimination or requirements. We provide a priceless American value that is solidified in a comprehensive educational infrastructure.
So, here is why we should be more than disappointed. New York State schools, our partners in education, received a $1 billion investment through the executive budget. Moreover, the Governor is proposing a $163 million program to provide tuition-free state college education for middle class families. He has also included a tax credit to expand after-school child care. All of these proposals are significant boosts in education spending.
Let me be clear, I am in favor of increasing per capita investment in schools. I also support financial restructuring to breakdown barriers to higher education. And expanding the affordability of after-school programs is both inclusive and economically wise.
However, the Governor’s executive proposal is neglecting our libraries’ role in providing life-long learning. His spending fails to support an institution that caters to millions of New Yorkers well beyond their time in formal education, and by doing so, denies our libraries’ existence in educational infrastructure.
$7 million is the basic library request from New York State. It is the gap between what we currently receive ($95.6 million) and what is written in Education Law ($102.6 million). On Tuesday, this gap increased to $11 million.
Libraries represent 1/10 of 1% of New York State’s budget. I believe a $7 million add in comparison to the 1.2 billion proposed for total education is the smallest educational fraction. Now we are facing a $4.3 million cut at a time when New York State has $1.37 billion in unallocated funds from legal settlements.
What should we do about it? Well, we need to make a strong commitment to visiting our Assembly and Senate representatives. All six of our representatives have fought for Southern Tier libraries in past years, and I know we can count on them this year. We will visit them locally in February and in Albany this March.
Additionally, we will circulate petitions to demonstrate support from our community members. We will make phone calls, send emails and write letters. We will use social media to help residents understand the value of their public libraries. Lastly, we will do what we do 365 days a year… provide amazing service to the communities we love and the community members who love us back.
Above you will find a link for instructions on how to participate in our phone call campaign. Your calls will be directed at our Senate and Assembly representatives who have the power to restore the Governor’s cut and increase Library Aid.
I implore you to give it a try. It’s simple and easy. And you will feel better about doing it. We had 50 clicks on last week’s campaign to the Governor. Let’s get 96 people to call this week (2 from each library’s service area). I know we can achieve this! As I said before, it will be the collective of our efforts that make the difference in this year’s campaign. Thank you for your consideration.
Have a great weekend, STLS. I promise to share some good news in next week’s Friday Follow-up. Kindest Regards, Brian Hildreth, Executive Director Read past Friday Follow-ups: http://www.stls.org/blog Follow me on Twitter: @comlibpartner |
