WSWHE BOCES SLS
February 13, 2015
SHARE WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet
Make Your Own Book Trailer
Be a Good Role Model - Read!
BE HEARD!! LIBRARY ADVOCACY DAY - FEBRUARY 25, 2015
A letter from Jeremy Johannesen - Executive Director, NYLA
Greetings Members of the NYS Library Community,
As you may be aware, Governor Cuomo released his FY2015-2016 Executive Budget proposal Wednesday afternoon. This officially begins the budget season here in Albany.
Last year the Governor cut $4M from the previous year’s enacted budget, and proposed $81.6M in state library aid. With your hard work we were able to reverse that cut, and $5M was added back to the budget, for a final number of $86.627M.
Despite some early discouraging reports about where we would be this year, we were able to successfully retain our $5M legislative add from the FY2014-15 enacted budget.
The Governor has proposed state library aid remain flat from last year, at $86.627M.
Though a small victory, this is flat funding from last year, and comes as the Governor is proposing up to a 4.8% increase in education spending. As we know from our recent Siena poll, a majority of New Yorkers want increased library funding, and 94% view libraries as an important part of our state's educational infrastructure. (Please use the findings of this poll in your advocacy efforts.) This year’s Executive Budget also proposes a continued $14M in library construction aid and a $1.3M reimbursement for libraries and library systems subject to the MTA Commuter Tax.
As always, NYLA is relying on its members to take action, and contact your elected officials through NYLA’s online advocacy tools once you receive an “Advocacy Alert”. In the interim, I encourage all library and library system directors to encourage staff to participate in these actions. Encourage everyone to “Get on the List” NYLA has developed, and visit nyla.org/advocacy for updates. When engaging with your elected officials, it is important that you discuss the great work you and your library are doing, and to also stay on message by using the talking points we have on our website. For those of you on social media, we have posted a set of tweets that we encourage you to use, and tweet at your local Assemblyman and Senator.
LIBRARY ADVOCACY DAY is Wednesday, February 25th! Come to Albany and make your voice heard!
NYLA-SSL Spring Conference
The WSWHE School Library System will offer up to 10 grants in the amount of $225 to pay for the (early registration - April 1 deadline, NYLA-SSL member) registration fee for any school librarian attending the conference. Please email J’aimé if you are interested for details about registration and payment. (First come, first serve).
Thursday, Apr 30, 2015, 05:00 PM
Tarrytown, NY
LOOK FOR FUTURE EVENTS!
Saratoga Barnes & Noble's received over 2300 books that will be given to our 18 local school libraries who participated.
Copyright Workshop with Anne Dalton - March 9 from 8;30 - 3:00 - Questar III BOCES
Invite teachers, administrators, and your tech team to learn about copyright for print and in the digital age.
Battle of the Books - March 16 from 9:00 - 1:00 - Skidmore College
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders have been doing some "extreme reading" since September! This Fourth Annual event is sure to be a nail-biter! We need volunteers, so let us know.