Thursday, June 30, 2011

State Advisory Council Seeks Public Input on 2020 Vision for Library Services

New York State’s Regents Advisory Council for Libraries (RAC) is asking New Yorkers to tell them what library services they will need in their local communities by 2020. Libraries and library systems are being asked to engage their customers and the general public by August 5 in discussing and answering the question “What’s Your Vision for New York’s Libraries in 2020?” Input and ideas will help inform the development of state policies and a new statewide plan for library services. All comments, suggestions, insights, ideas and recommendations are welcome.

Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, New York State Education Department, encourages libraries and library systems of all types to actively engage their respective communities in this second and critical phase of information gathering about future library service needs for all New Yorkers.

A downloadable 2020 Vision “widget” for placement of a brief survey on local websites is available HERE.

“I am asking that all types of libraries and library systems reach out into their communities and actively engage New Yorkers from all walks of life in this unique opportunity to discuss improving library services as we move toward 2020,” said Cannell. “It’s important that library users and non-users alike identify what services they will want from their neighborhood, school, college or special library in the future.”

The New York State Board of Regents has asked RAC to take a visionary look at the future of library services and to develop a set of innovative policy recommendations to improve library services to the people of New York State. Comments from the some 95 individuals and library and education organizations that responded in Phase One of the information gathering process are now posted on the RAC website. RAC encourages members of the library and education communities that were unable to participate during Phase One to send their thoughts on the ten questions posted on the RAC webpage by August 5.

For more information about the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries and to see a timetable for the development of the new statewide plan, please visit the State Library’s website.

Any questions about the RAC 2020 Vision Process and this second call for input may be sent to John Hammond, Chair, RAC 2020 Vision Planning Taskforce at john@nnyln.org or to Bridget Quinn-Carey, Chair, Regents Advisory Council on Libraries at bridget.quinn-carey@queenslibrary.org

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