The 2009-10 Executive Budget proposes a $18 million or 18% cut in Library
Aid. This would bring Library Aid down to 1993 levels and is on top of two
cuts (3%) in 2008, which reduced Library Aid from $102 million to $98.5
million. (This is basically a repackaging of the same cut proposed in
November by the Division of Budget, that the Library Rally and other
advocacy efforts help prevent.)

The Public Library Construction Aid - $800,000 line item was eliminated, but
the $14 million in borrowed funding for library construction remains intact.
NYLA is working with Division of Library Development and the American
Library Association to insure that a federal stimulus package for public
works projects includes funds for libraries.

Here’s what we can do now:
1) NYLA is looking for examples of how libraries have helped people find
jobs, create new businesses, etc. They also need to know if your library has
a business or employment center (physical space dedicated for such use) or
job assistance program, etc. Contact Michael Borges with your info:
direc...@nyla.org

2) Stay tuned! NYLA will be strategizing how to best respond to the proposed
cut in the next few weeks – we’ll keep you posted in the new year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator of Member Information
Mid-Hudson Library System
103 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845.471.6060 x239
FX: 845.454.5940
http://midhudson.org