Library Advocacy Day – February 26, 2014
Pictured: Back Row (L-R): Robert Cartolano, President, Eastchester Public Library; Senator George Latimer, 37th District; Haina Just-Michael, President, New Rochelle Public Library; Tom Geoffino, Director, New Rochelle Public Library; Front Row (L-R): Patricia Fontanella, Trustee, Westchester Library System & Library Trustees Association of New York State; Sue Neale, Trustee, Westchester Library System; Pam Bernstein, Librarian, Irvington Public Library; Elise Burke, Executive Assistant, Westchester Library System
A group of 14 library supporters from Westchester drove up to Albany to join the New York Library Association’s (NYLA) Library Advocacy Day on Wednesday, February 26.
The group was made up of directors, trustees, staff, friends and advocates representing the libraries listed below:
Armonk-North Castle Public Library
Bedford Free Library
Briarcliff Manor Public Library
Eastchester Public Library
Irvington Public Library
Larchmont Public Library
Mamaroneck Public Library
Mount Pleasant Public Library
New Rochelle Public Library
Ossining Public Library
Pound Ridge Library District
Scarsdale Public Library
The Warner Library (Tarrytown)
Westchester Library System
We visited the offices all of the 14 legislators who represent Westchester County in the following order:
Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer [90th District]
Senator George Latimer [37th District]
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef [95th District]
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson [36th District]
Assemblyman Steve Katz [94th District]
Senator Greg Ball [40th District]
Senator Jeffrey Klein [34th District]
Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti [92nd District]
Assemblyman Gary Pretlow [89th District]
Senator David Carlucci [38th District]
Assemblyman David Buchwald [93rd District]
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins [35th District]
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin [88th District]
Assemblyman Steven Otis [91st District]
This year Governor Cuomo’s proposed Executive Budget for FY2014-2015 included $81.6 Million in Library Aid, an amount which reflects levels from 1996. Library visits have increased 46% since 1996, and libraries have been keeping pace with the technological changes and information needs of their communities. Additional funding is necessary as libraries continue to expand their role to provide workforce development resources and provide essential portals, along with guidance, to the increasingly important world of digital information.
Pictured: Back (L-R): Kate Meyer, Westchester Library System; Lucinda Manning, Trustee, Ossining Public Library; Claudia Mausner, Ph.D., Environmental Psychology Consultant & Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Pace University, and Westchester Library User & Advocate; Front (L-R): Patricia Kaufman, Retired Director, Mahopac Public Library, Westchester Library User & Advocate; Julie Ann Polasko, Westchester Library System; Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, 95th District; Elaine Sozzi, Westchester Library System
In addition, users from the libraries noted below signed a letter of support calling for a 4% increase for Library Aid (same as the increase proposed for School Aid). A total of 971 signatures were collected and the signed letters of support were delivered to the Legislators.
Briarcliff Manor Public Library
Bronxville Public Library
Dobbs Ferry Public Library
Irvington Public Library
The Field Library (Peekskill)
Tuckahoe Public Library
John C. Hart Memorial Library (Shrub Oak/Yorktown)
A special thank you is due to this year’s great group of Library Advocates. All contributed in some way—sharing insightful success stories from their libraries, taking pictures, driving, writing, tweeting, participating.
Thanks to those who signed on in support of library funding and to those who sent messages to their legislators via other means.
And special thanks goes to New Rochelle Public Library for providing this year’s transportation to Albany!
The deadline for an on-time budget is March 31st, so there is still time to contact your legislator via NYLA’s Online Advocacy page per the link below:
Meanwhile, libraries will continue to provide the essential services that are an investment in New York’s educational and cultural infrastructure, shaping a brighter future for all New Yorkers.