Tomorrow is Lobby Day - Participate Virtually!

[Rebekkah Smith Aldrich]

While 40 intrepid souls make their way to Albany tomorrow take a few minutes out of your day to contact your NYS legislators to let them know how important library and System funding is to your community.

Whether you contact your legislator by phone, email or fax - everything you'd need is now posted on the MHLS home page [http://midhudson.org] One of the quickest way to do your duty this week is to use the NYLA fax program -
there's a link to it right on our homepage as well.

So what are we asking for this year? Take a look at the Talking Points library advocates will be using in Albany tomorrow:

Umbrella Messages:

q       Ask legislators to support Governor Spitzer’s proposed budget to retain 2006 funding levels, including:

• The use of the 2000 Census in the library funding formula
• $3 million for Library Systems
• $14 million for public library construction
  
  

q       Urge legislators to “close the gap” in library and system by funding the NYLA Proposal:

• 20% increase for public library systems
• 66% increase for local library aid
• All we’re asking for at this point is to keep up with inflation.
• $5 million to expand electronic database offerings through the New York Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL) – available to all libraries in NYS

 

Talking Points:

• We’re just trying to keep up:
• Our purchasing power weakens every year.
• What cost $88 million in 1993 would cost $121.9 million in 2006.

• The Mid-Hudson Library System saves local tax dollars:
• If the System didn’t exist…every community with a public library would have to pay an estimated 33% more for the level of library service they currently receive.

 

For example:

• MHLS automated circulation system provides $1.9 million in value annually to local communities.
• MHLS delivery department saves local library patrons $1.8 million annually.
• MHLS Delivery = one-seventh the cost of mailing items between libraries.
• If libraries had to buy all of the materials that they borrowed from the MHLS Youth Services Department in 2006 to provide children’s programming it would have cost them over $110,000.
• MHLS staff provided over 1,000 hours of professional development consultation at no charge for member libraries in 2006 – a value of $100,000.

 

FACTS About New York’s Libraries*:

• For every $1 in state funding at the system we generate $13 in services for the public.
• Libraries serve 75% of New York’s households; 52% of New Yorkers have library cards.
• Libraries are a $1.6 billion industry in New York generating another $3 billion in economic activity.
• New Yorkers make 107 million visits to their public libraries each year — 10 times higher than attendance at professional sporting events.
• New Yorkers found answers to 27 million research questions, borrowed 135 million books and other items, and attended 317,000 programs at their public library in 2005.
• New York State ranks 32^nd in the nation in per capita support for online database resources like NOVEL, behind states like Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas.
• New York State ranks 11^th in the nation in per capita ongoing state support for public library construction, behind states like Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
• A 2006 Zogby Poll showed New Yorkers support increased funding for libraries: 63% support more State funding for libraries, and
  85% support more state aid for public library construction.

* NYS STATISTICAL YEARBOOK, BIBLIOSTAT CONNECT, NYS LIBRARY AID CHARTS, US CENSUS BUREAU

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator of Member Information
Mid-Hudson Library System
103 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845.471.6060 x39
FX: 845.454.5940
http://midhudson.org

[Rebekkah Smith Aldrich]

Late Breaking Lobby Day News:

• •

The Senate has proposed an additional $5 million for system funding. This is on top of Governor Spitzer’s proposal of $3 million for a total of $8 million for systems. The Senate proposal also makes this allocation permanent. •Message: Thank you. This is a great start in the right direction.

• •

The Assembly has proposed just $3 million more for systems, which would bring system funding up to $6 million – but only for this year. Message: Please match the Senate proposal.
*Keep in mind that even with these additional funds, there is still a $25 million gap to have library funding keep up with inflation since 1993.