MEMBER LIBRARY WEEKLY BULLETIN

No. 03-20                                                                                                                                                   May 16, 2003

GOOD NEWS !!!

We just received the following information from NYLA Executive Director Susan Keitel:

“History has been made in Albany.  The Assembly and the Senate have just completed overriding the Governor's veto of $13.3 million in library aid. 

As you know, $13.3 million in state funding for libraries was cut out by the Governor in his January budget proposal; restored by the Legislature in its budget response; vetoed by the Governor when the budget bills were sent to him; and it now has been passed into law by the Assembly and the Senate through the veto override procedure outlined in the State Constitution.”

NYLA recommends that we call or write each of our Senators and Assembly members, indicating our gratitude for their support of library funding, as evidenced by the successful votes to override the Governor's veto. We also should acknowledge the leadership of Assemblywoman Sandra Galef and Senator Hugh Farley, chairs of their respective committees in the Legislature, in convincing their leaders and colleagues of the importance of library aid restoration.

 NYLA also recommends that we drop a note to the Governor, telling him that we believe libraries of all kinds are vitally important and urging him to support them in every possible way.  Keep all links of communication open.  Maintain good relationships with everyone.

In addition FLLS recommends that we communicate this wonderful news to our communities, and thank those who contacted their legislators on behalf of the library. 

A reminder to library directors and trustees:  please complete the Executive Director’s evaluation form and return to George Willkens, by June 13th.  A stamped self-addressed envelope was sent under separate cover for the evaluation return.  If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Willkens.

May 22nd System Meeting

Are you looking for ways to transform Internet use among young people in your library? If the answer is YES, next week’s system meeting is for you! Walter Minkel, Technology Editor of School Library Journal will be presenting a workshop on Web Reference for Youth. This workshop is open to regional school and public librarians. School librarians from Marathon, Ithaca, Groton, Newfield, and Cayuga County, among others will be joining us! Please make this workshop a priority! To register, please contact me ASAP!

Important Summer Reading Information

“Be One in a Million Coupons” - Enrollment coupons have been created to promote this year’s goal of One Million Readers statewide. You may visit http://www.summerreadingnys.org/planners/Coupon-4-UP1.pdf to view and download the coupons. They can be reproduced and distributed to local businesses, given out at the circulation desk during the summer, and treated as raffle tickets - or used as registration for summer reading if you prefer. The enrollment coupons have been distributed to all the school districts in the state. Children may be showing up with them in your library soon. The coupons mention a “Chance to win your own collection of free books from Scholastic Inc.”

Scholastic Prizes -

Scholastic has agreed to provide home library collections (K-12) for each of the 62 counties in New York. Details on how these books will be distributed in FLLS will be forthcoming.

Scholastic has also donated 62 sets of books for libraries. In order to be eligible, our library must use the statewide summer reading theme, Picture This…Imagine That…READ!

State-level Promotion of Summer Reading -

Kelly & Salerno is recruiting statewide organizations to help build registration for summer reading. Organizations including the AFL-CIO, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the American Academy of Pediatricians, to name some, have been approached to help spread the word and distribute the coupons.

Feedback –

I welcome your feedback on any or all of the above. (dianam@flls.org; x27).

IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION!!

Please check your fax and e-mail for important parking information concerning finding parking for the System meeting, etc.  If you have not received anything by Friday (today, 5/16) please contact Marisa or Diana.

 

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Last updated 05/07/2004