Hello everyone:

 

The library community in NYS was pleased that we were recognized in the State Budget with a $19.7 million increase in funding.  $14 million of this will be for construction/renovation for public libraries.

 

Of the rest, SCRLC will benefit in two ways:

 

1.  There were funds to hold harmless our funding related to the 2000 Census.  Parts of our state aid are based on a per capita formula. The population of our region has gone down, and without the hold harmless provision we would lose some state aid.  At least now, we will continue to get exactly the same funds for RBDB, HLSP, CCDA, and

our operating aid as we have been getting since 1998!! 

 

2.  There is an additional $3 million for library systems.  This is one time funding only, and SCRLC will benefit with about $28,000 for 2006/2007.  What will we do with this money?  In 2002, we developed a Regional Digitizing Plan and recently I have been working on developing an action plan to implement that more general plan.  With

these additional funds plus others that I hope to get, we can get going on this effort.  So stay tuned!

 

If you happen to be in touch with your local state legislators, thank them for their work this year and urge them to make the increases permanent.

 

Jean Currie, SCRLC Executive Director