MEMBER LIBRARY WEEKLY BULLETIN
No. 03-44 October 31, 2003
- REX HELWIG, Computer Network Manager
Jan and I will be away from the office next week from Tuesday through Friday. We will be attending the CODI/HUG (Customers of Dynix/Horizon Users Group) annual conference. We will be back in the office Monday 11/10/2003. Eric will be here all week for customer support.
This is an early reminder that the FALCONS (Dynix Users) meeting is scheduled for Thursday 11/20/2003. The meeting will be held in the Borg Warner Room at TCPL and will run from 9:30AM to 11:30PM.
- MARISA IACOBUCCI, Adult Services Coordinator
From The Desk Of Library Committee Chair
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef
Last May, I had the opportunity to meet some of you at NYSALB's Trustee Institute. We were in the final days of working out particulars for the 2003-2004 budget. That weekend, I heard loud and clear that you are willing and able to fight for state funding for your systems.
All signs indicate that we will have to fight that fight again next year. This is the time we have to get ready.
Clearly there's going to be a lot of talk next spring about the Campaign for Fiscal Equity vs. State of New York lawsuit. The ruling in June by the Court of Appeals found that the state is failing to provide, for some of our kids, the sound basic education to which they are constitutionally entitled. Education aid is big money. It constitutes 30% of our state budget total of $41 billion. Speaker Sheldon Silver sums up the court decision by saying that we "have received direction and guidelines as to what is necessary to enhance the education of our children."
The CFE decision explicitly recognized the connection libraries have to student learning, and urged the State to provide funding for up-to-date libraries as one important means of achieving equitable access to basic education for all.
The task of changing the way we fund education in our state is large and complex. But I am certain that libraries are part of the solution. Study after study shows that libraries lay the foundation for school success and a lifetime love of learning. It's in the library that pre-school kids first explore the world of reading. It is at the library that schoolchildren find books and computers - and help after school and during the summer. It's with NOVEL, New York's Online Virtual Electronic Library, that we deliver high-quality, reliable digital information to every public library, and it's with NOVEL that we'll get the same resources into our schools. I invite you use this time to reach out to the Governor and to your legislators, as they prepare for the 2004 session in Albany. Suggest to your director that he or she make an appointment to demonstrate NOVEL to your representative and their staff - in their offices - and go along. Suggest that your legislators could be invited to any functions you have planned during National Children's Book Week, November 17-23; perhaps they could read to pre-school kids at story time.
Second, let me know what you're thinking. Please share with me ideas or experiences you've had in working with libraries in local schools. Read about the CFE vs. State decision at http:// www.cfequity.org, and discover NOVEL at http:// www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/novel/. What do they mean to you and your community?
This next year, we'll work together to secure aid for our systems to make sure that the wonderful resources we treasure our libraries and librarians - are part of solving our education funding problems.
From the NYSALB newsletter, Fall 2003
2003 Bulletin Archive, 2002 Bulletin Archive, 2001 Bulletin Archive, 2000 Bulletin Archive
Last updated 05/07/2004