Good news on library funding
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- March
- 17
It is no surprise that library use is up in every community during this economic horror show. People are renewing their library cards (some adults are even getting cards for the first time), borrowing more materials and taking advantage of useful and fun programs. More people are finding out that libraries provide great (and cheap) entertainment along with job search help, available computers and information on just about everything.
What is encouraging as well is to find out that funding sources are recognizing the importance and value of public libraries.
• Annual Library Lobby Day in Albany earlier this month drew many more supporters than in past years to talk with elected officials about libraries and funding options. Representatives from Westchester Library System, Mid=Hudson Library System and Ramapo-Catskill Library System bused up to the state capitol to make their message clear. For photos, check out Mid=Hudson’s site.
• The New York State Senate’s budget proposal restored close to 18 percent to public library funding. What the Assembly will do remains unclear, but library groups are urging its supporters to contact their representatives.
• President Barak Obama remembered libraries when he signed FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill last week. It recognized some still open bills from last year and brought them along. These include grant money for the Library Services and Technology Act, which help system libraries do their work. Also in the bill is funding for the state’s Talking Book and Braille Library.
American Library Association President Jim Rettig said this additional state funding will provide much-needed assistance to the nation’s libraries that are experiencing a spike in usage during the recession.
“Last year, libraries hosted more than 1.3 billion visits and are now averaging 175 million visits a month,” Rettig said.
“As Americans deal with the weakened economy, they are turning to their libraries more and more – not just for no-fee access to the Internet and free books, CDs and DVDs – but also for assistance with online job searching, resume building, 21st century job skills training, and e-government. We want to thank Congress and the White House for recognizing the need to fund libraries at the full level of the LSTA, especially during this time when Americans need their libraries more than ever.”
I’m heading off to go to visit some libraries in our region in search of some of the most-used and newest programs out there. Feel free to point me in the right direction…..a bnackman@LoHud.com
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 12:43 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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New City Library, usually as a long list of activities/programs.
As you might expect, the libraries who offer Westchester Library System’s WEBS programs are reporting longer and longer waiting lists. WEBS offers career counseling on both an individual and group basis, a program on entering (or re-entering) the workforce after age 50, and a wealth of information for job seekers looking for help from their local libraries. There’s more information at http://www.westchesterlibraries.org/node/66.