New York State Residents: Fight the Proposed Cuts in Library Funding!

Library funding is threatened yet again with NYS budget cuts.  Right when we need libraries the most, for information, education, and communication, our legislators cut the funding.  Libraries are more than storage facilities for books: they are learning centers, information access points, and community hubs.  In tough economic times, they allow for internet access to job applications when people lose their home connections.  They allow people who can no longer afford to buy books to continue reading, for education and for comfort. 

New York State Governor Paterson has proposed mid-year budget cuts to close a $3 billion budget deficit.  The proposal includes a 10% across the board cut to all state aid programs like Library Aid, which will result in a $3.3 million reduction in funding for library services.  

The proposed $3.3 million reduction in Library Aid is on top of the $8 million cut imposed back in April and the $3 million cut sustained last year.  If the proposed cuts are approved, it will reduce Library Aid to $88 million or 1998 level of funding.  With library usage continuing to increase and people of all ages depending on libraries to improve their literacy, computer and internet skills and the unemployed using libraries to search for new careers and employment, now is not the time for further cuts for library services

Please let your legislators know you oppose these cuts, and pass the word on! 

One way to take action is to go to Four County's home page at www.4CLS.org and click on the red, white and blue "Become a Library Advocate" button at the bottom of the page.  This links  to the New York Library Association (NYLA)'s Online Advocacy Center.  Once there, follow the instructions; using your ZIP code will make sure that the correct legislators receive your message of library advocacy.  You can also go directly to the NYLA website via this link. 

Last time I checked the website, NYLA’s critical "Take Action" message had the header "Reject the Governor's Proposed Cuts in Library Aid." They recommend choosing “Fax" as the delivery method for your message – it isn’t a green option, but it creates a powerful impact as page after page comes off the machine, to be delivered to your legislator’s office.  (And, having worked as a legislative aide, I can tell you that we’d still wind up printing off your emailed messages if we wanted a way to demonstrate voter input, so choosing “email” is not a green advantage in this instance.) 

All you need to do is fill in the section for Sender Information (name, address, and an email address for replies) and click the "Send Message" button at the bottom of the page. That's all it takes to become a library advocate – and thank you for your support!  It’s really a gift you give to yourself, to keep your community library vital.