The Albany Public Library is just about two weeks out from the annual budget vote and trustee election. If you're interested in learning more about the library's 2017 budget and candidates for the Board of Trustees, attend one of two forums this week.
Attendees will hear a budget presentation by Executive Director Scott Jarzombek, followed by a Q&A with the candidates running for three seats on the library board. We will make videos from the forums available on the APL YouTube channel early next week.
Showing posts with label library budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library budget. Show all posts
Monday, May 02, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Daily Kos: The Koch brothers' vision for America includes destroying your public library
From Daily Kos:
So of course the Kochs’ most invasive arm, Americans for Prosperity, had to step in, because FREEDOM!!! They never met a tax increase for the public good they didn't have to destroy, like the Columbus Zoo funding referendum a few years ago. They killed that—and they helped kill the Plainfield Library, too.
They ran anti-library robo calls (seriously, anti-library!) and they won. Not only will Plainfield not get the new library building, but "a 20 percent cut to services and programs will be needed to keep the existing building functional in the long term."
The library [in Plainfield, Illinois], currently an anchor for downtown and is a much-loved and heavily used part of the community. They are asking for a 20-year bond and a small increase in property taxes. The end result will be a brand new library that is three times larger than the current library, still in downtown, and will feature new technology, public meeting spaces, classrooms, and more space for books DVDs and other materials for the community.
So of course the Kochs’ most invasive arm, Americans for Prosperity, had to step in, because FREEDOM!!! They never met a tax increase for the public good they didn't have to destroy, like the Columbus Zoo funding referendum a few years ago. They killed that—and they helped kill the Plainfield Library, too.
They ran anti-library robo calls (seriously, anti-library!) and they won. Not only will Plainfield not get the new library building, but "a 20 percent cut to services and programs will be needed to keep the existing building functional in the long term."
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Albany school budget, library budget and library trustee vote Tuesday, May 19, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Voting for library board, the library budget, AND school budget will be held Tuesday, May 19, along with balloting for two tax-free facilities projects, including one that would provide a new turf athletic field at Albany High School.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. city-wide. The polls may or may NOT be at the same place one votes in the general election.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. city-wide. The polls may or may NOT be at the same place one votes in the general election.
Saturday, April 04, 2015
Library Aid Received +$5M Increase in FY15-16 NYS Budget
The New York Library Association (NYLA) is pleased to report that thanks to the tireless efforts of NY’s library advocates (like YOU), we have had a very successful budget cycle. Our message that "Libraries Are Education", and that library funding should increase proportionately with increases in school aid has been heard loud and clear.
Included in the NYS FY2015-16 Budget:
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Missouri Governor Nixon is Putting Libraries in Peril
Missouri’s public libraries are in trouble. Big trouble. Missouri’s governor, Jay Nixon, is withholding the vast majority of state funding from its public libraries.
Last year, the Missouri House and Senate debated and eventually passed a budget for 2015. The governor then signed this budget. This approved budget allocated $3.5 million to public libraries. It also allocated $3.1 million for Internet and digital services for libraries. Of that $6.6 million, Governor Nixon has only released $724,000 and only to libraries serving communities of less than 40,000 people.
What’s more, the Missouri House and Senate are currently debating the budget for the next fiscal year and Governor Nixon has proposed ONLY $724,000 for libraries next year. For the Kansas City Public Library alone, the cuts remove $100,000 from their annual budget. This will lead to reduced collections and reduced staffing. Smaller libraries will feel this budgetary pinch even worse.
More from BookRiot
Last year, the Missouri House and Senate debated and eventually passed a budget for 2015. The governor then signed this budget. This approved budget allocated $3.5 million to public libraries. It also allocated $3.1 million for Internet and digital services for libraries. Of that $6.6 million, Governor Nixon has only released $724,000 and only to libraries serving communities of less than 40,000 people.
What’s more, the Missouri House and Senate are currently debating the budget for the next fiscal year and Governor Nixon has proposed ONLY $724,000 for libraries next year. For the Kansas City Public Library alone, the cuts remove $100,000 from their annual budget. This will lead to reduced collections and reduced staffing. Smaller libraries will feel this budgetary pinch even worse.
More from BookRiot
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Winning All Over the Map | Budgets & Funding
From the Library Journal:
On the face of it, 2014 looks like it was a pretty good year for libraries at the ballot box: some 148 libraries reporting for this tally won and 42 lost. About 78% of libraries passed funding, bonds, or authority measures in 2014. Over 1.7 million Americans voted yes for their libraries. Only 22% lost. While unfortunate, it doesn’t seem tragic or perilous. But at EveryLibrary, we’re worried about the 1.1 million Americans who voted no this year.
Nonetheless, we’d like to figure out why winners win and losers lose, in order to help ensure that there are more of the former and fewer of the latter in the future. At EveryLibrary, we hear stories from both winning and losing campaigns that try to make sense of an election, that try to put a frame around voter behavior. The winning campaigns must have played all their cards right; the losing campaigns must have missed something. What elusive but critical error did the losers make?
On the face of it, 2014 looks like it was a pretty good year for libraries at the ballot box: some 148 libraries reporting for this tally won and 42 lost. About 78% of libraries passed funding, bonds, or authority measures in 2014. Over 1.7 million Americans voted yes for their libraries. Only 22% lost. While unfortunate, it doesn’t seem tragic or perilous. But at EveryLibrary, we’re worried about the 1.1 million Americans who voted no this year.
Nonetheless, we’d like to figure out why winners win and losers lose, in order to help ensure that there are more of the former and fewer of the latter in the future. At EveryLibrary, we hear stories from both winning and losing campaigns that try to make sense of an election, that try to put a frame around voter behavior. The winning campaigns must have played all their cards right; the losing campaigns must have missed something. What elusive but critical error did the losers make?
Monday, April 14, 2014
FLAT ALBANY PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET FOR 2015; 2 Trustee seats open
For the second year in a row, the library's Board of Trustees has approved a flat budget that results in no tax levy increase.
"The library trustees are committed to maintaining current spending levels for the coming year in order to give taxpayers a little relief from their tax burden," said APL Executive Director Carol Nersinger. "The administration has worked hard to make the most out of our current budget so we can continue operating seven wonderful neighborhood libraries for the people of Albany."
The 2015 library operations budget is $6,434,764 -- the same amount as the 2013 and 2014 spending plans. Because the budget does not raise the tax levy, the library is not required to put it out for a public vote. Approval by the library's trustees, which was unanimously given at its March meeting, is all that is required for the flat spending plan to become official.
The library does have two trustee seats that are up for election on May 20. Potential candidates must submit petitions to the City School District of Albany by 5 pm on Monday, April 21.
"The library trustees are committed to maintaining current spending levels for the coming year in order to give taxpayers a little relief from their tax burden," said APL Executive Director Carol Nersinger. "The administration has worked hard to make the most out of our current budget so we can continue operating seven wonderful neighborhood libraries for the people of Albany."
The 2015 library operations budget is $6,434,764 -- the same amount as the 2013 and 2014 spending plans. Because the budget does not raise the tax levy, the library is not required to put it out for a public vote. Approval by the library's trustees, which was unanimously given at its March meeting, is all that is required for the flat spending plan to become official.
The library does have two trustee seats that are up for election on May 20. Potential candidates must submit petitions to the City School District of Albany by 5 pm on Monday, April 21.
Monday, April 07, 2014
Ryan’s Proposed 2015 Budget Would Eliminate IMLS Grants to Libraries
From Library Journal:
On April 1, House Budget Committee chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) released his budget proposal for the fiscal year 2015... Among librarians... the most controversial cost-saving measure proposed in the Ryan budget might be its elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) entirely, cutting millions in grants to libraries around the country.
The ink was hardly dry on Ryan’s proposal before the American Library Association (ALA) released a statement slamming the notion of cutting the federal government out of the library funding picture, pointing out that as part of its work the libraries, the IMLS partners with a variety of other government agencies, and noting that “…the Institute has been a vital component in facilitating collaboration between federal agencies that relate to library services, such as the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communication Commission and the Government Printing Office, among others.”
ALA president Barbara Stripling described herself as “shocked and extremely dismayed” by the proposal, which, if it were enacted, could severely hinder the ability of libraries around the country to provide technology resources to patrons by eliminating the grants administered by IMLS under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). “The impact of that funding has been profound in providing access to technology in libraries that absolutely would not have been able to provide that access otherwise,” Stripling told LJ, pointing out that such technology is often used to access government services by patrons who don’t have Internet access in their homes.
On April 1, House Budget Committee chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) released his budget proposal for the fiscal year 2015... Among librarians... the most controversial cost-saving measure proposed in the Ryan budget might be its elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) entirely, cutting millions in grants to libraries around the country.
The ink was hardly dry on Ryan’s proposal before the American Library Association (ALA) released a statement slamming the notion of cutting the federal government out of the library funding picture, pointing out that as part of its work the libraries, the IMLS partners with a variety of other government agencies, and noting that “…the Institute has been a vital component in facilitating collaboration between federal agencies that relate to library services, such as the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communication Commission and the Government Printing Office, among others.”
ALA president Barbara Stripling described herself as “shocked and extremely dismayed” by the proposal, which, if it were enacted, could severely hinder the ability of libraries around the country to provide technology resources to patrons by eliminating the grants administered by IMLS under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). “The impact of that funding has been profound in providing access to technology in libraries that absolutely would not have been able to provide that access otherwise,” Stripling told LJ, pointing out that such technology is often used to access government services by patrons who don’t have Internet access in their homes.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The Survey of Public Library Plans for Workstations, Personal Computers, Laptops and other Computing Devices
ISBN 978-157440-243-8.
The study looks at the purchasing plans and computer use policies of public libraries in the United States and Canada.
The report helps librarians, information technology professionals and vendors answer questions such as: which brands of personal computers are favored by public librarians? What are their purchasing plans for laptops, eBook readers, fixed computer workstations and tablet computers? How much do they plan to spend? What are their plans for “information commons” and computer centers? How many such centers do they maintain and how much do they now and in the future plan to spend on them?
Just a few of the study’s many findings are that:
• The public library systems in the sample spent a mean of $47,357 for personal computers and workstations in the past year.
• Public libraries with more than 10 employees purchased a mean of 3.71 laptop computers in the past year.
• Libraries with a budget of less than $100,000 had an average stock of only 1.31 laptops.
• The libraries in the sample spent a mean of $824 to pay for laptops lost to theft or misplacement in the past year.
• The libraries in the sample spent a mean of $483 on eBook reading devices in 2012.
• 44.9% of the libraries currently own or lease an Amazon Kindle.
• 18.37% of the libraries plan on purchasing a Barnes & Noble Nook over the next two years.
• Main public libraries had an average of 3.29 “computer centers” or “information commons” in their main library.
• 23.08% of libraries with a budget higher than $1 million and 37.5% of public library systems have invested between $500 and $5,000 in iPhone technology.
• 94.44% of libraries with 1 to 10 FTE employees have made no investment in Android-based phone technology.
The report ($59.00) is available from Primary Research Group and also from major book vendors such as Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Yankee Book Peddler, Midwest Library Services, Overdrive and other distributors of content. For a free excerpt, table of contents and list of survey participants, or to place an order, visit our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com.
The study looks at the purchasing plans and computer use policies of public libraries in the United States and Canada.
The report helps librarians, information technology professionals and vendors answer questions such as: which brands of personal computers are favored by public librarians? What are their purchasing plans for laptops, eBook readers, fixed computer workstations and tablet computers? How much do they plan to spend? What are their plans for “information commons” and computer centers? How many such centers do they maintain and how much do they now and in the future plan to spend on them?
Just a few of the study’s many findings are that:
• The public library systems in the sample spent a mean of $47,357 for personal computers and workstations in the past year.
• Public libraries with more than 10 employees purchased a mean of 3.71 laptop computers in the past year.
• Libraries with a budget of less than $100,000 had an average stock of only 1.31 laptops.
• The libraries in the sample spent a mean of $824 to pay for laptops lost to theft or misplacement in the past year.
• The libraries in the sample spent a mean of $483 on eBook reading devices in 2012.
• 44.9% of the libraries currently own or lease an Amazon Kindle.
• 18.37% of the libraries plan on purchasing a Barnes & Noble Nook over the next two years.
• Main public libraries had an average of 3.29 “computer centers” or “information commons” in their main library.
• 23.08% of libraries with a budget higher than $1 million and 37.5% of public library systems have invested between $500 and $5,000 in iPhone technology.
• 94.44% of libraries with 1 to 10 FTE employees have made no investment in Android-based phone technology.
The report ($59.00) is available from Primary Research Group and also from major book vendors such as Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Yankee Book Peddler, Midwest Library Services, Overdrive and other distributors of content. For a free excerpt, table of contents and list of survey participants, or to place an order, visit our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
U.S. Public Libraries Weather the Storm
From BoingBoing:
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and the woman seated next to you on the plane could smoke her Virginia Slims all the way from Chicago to L.A., libraries were fully-funded and considered an essential for every community. Then came the financial crash, and the slash-and-burn began for library budgets. The American Library Association's handy infographic shows the impact that library budget cuts have on the communities they serve—and shows how libraries are weathering the storm...
Read the 2012 Public Library Funding & Technology Access study, produced by the ALA and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and the woman seated next to you on the plane could smoke her Virginia Slims all the way from Chicago to L.A., libraries were fully-funded and considered an essential for every community. Then came the financial crash, and the slash-and-burn began for library budgets. The American Library Association's handy infographic shows the impact that library budget cuts have on the communities they serve—and shows how libraries are weathering the storm...
Read the 2012 Public Library Funding & Technology Access study, produced by the ALA and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Brilliantly changing the conversation to save a library
"So the local Tea Party in Troy, MI decided enough was enough and decided to stop those evil libraries from enforcin' book learnin' on the community by stopping a 0.70% tax. Yea, that's right. A POINT SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE IN TAXES SO PEOPLE COULD HAVE FREE BOOKS. To prevent them from being selfish and ruining education for kids without access to books, the opposition came up with a brilliant solution. BOOK BURNING PARTAY!?!?!"
Save the Troy Library "Adventures In Reverse Psychology"
Save the Troy Library "Adventures In Reverse Psychology"
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Library Budget Passes!
From the Times Union:
Fears of deep cuts to library services overcame taxpayer anger Tuesday as voters blessed the Albany Public Library's $8.8 million 2012 budget, two months after they sunk a previous plan amid outrage over a proposed 25 percent library tax increase.
As of late Tuesday, the unofficial tally had the budget passing by 337 votes -- 2,811 to 2,474.
While the turnout was smaller than the roughly 7,000 people who flooded the polls in May, when the first proposed budget failed by 139 votes, the 5,285 voters who hit the polls represented a remarkable number for a sweltering Tuesday in July when the library budget was the only item on the ballot.
Read more HERE.
It is my understanding that the recently-enacted tax cap will apply to future library budgets, which mades passage of this budget so critical. If it had not passed, the current tax levy would have remained with future increase subject to the tax cap, unless 60% of voters vote to override to the tax cap.
Fears of deep cuts to library services overcame taxpayer anger Tuesday as voters blessed the Albany Public Library's $8.8 million 2012 budget, two months after they sunk a previous plan amid outrage over a proposed 25 percent library tax increase.
As of late Tuesday, the unofficial tally had the budget passing by 337 votes -- 2,811 to 2,474.
While the turnout was smaller than the roughly 7,000 people who flooded the polls in May, when the first proposed budget failed by 139 votes, the 5,285 voters who hit the polls represented a remarkable number for a sweltering Tuesday in July when the library budget was the only item on the ballot.
Read more HERE.
It is my understanding that the recently-enacted tax cap will apply to future library budgets, which mades passage of this budget so critical. If it had not passed, the current tax levy would have remained with future increase subject to the tax cap, unless 60% of voters vote to override to the tax cap.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
QUEENS LIBRARY SERVICE HOURS AND STAFF SAVED FROM BUDGET AX
Mayor and City Council Stand Up for Libraries
JAMAICA, NY, June 29, 2011 - Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante announced today that $23 million of the proposed $25 million New York City budget cut has been restored. This is the largest funding restoration at budget adoption in history. It will ensure a minimum five-day-a-week service schedule in every community by averting a massive layoff of library staff. The proposed budget threatened nearly
500 jobs and would have closed more than a dozen libraries altogether
and reduced services to two or three days a week in most communities.
"Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn and the City Council demonstrated their tremendous commitment to quality library service. They kept public libraries a top priority during a most difficult budget. Every layoff has been averted so library doors can remain open to enrich the lives of New Yorkers," said Thomas W. Galante. "Without the support of these library champions, including City Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Chairman of the Finance Committee; Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Chairman of the Cultural Affairs & Libraries Committee; Queens Delegation Leader Leroy Comrie; Council Member Vincent Gentile, Chairman of the Select Committee on Libraries; and the entire City Council, this would not have been possible."
Activism and advocacy by the public let City Hall know how much quality public library services are valued by the community. In mid-June, hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions and postcards protesting budget cuts were delivered to City Hall. Some 95,000 came from Queens.
Galante said, "We are turning our attention toward the opening of the new Children's Library Discovery Center, launching new and improved online services, piloting an e-reader project, installing easy-to-use self-service circulation technology, continuing the largest library renovation and expansion program in our 100+ year history, and providing all the programs and services that people rely on every day."
JAMAICA, NY, June 29, 2011 - Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante announced today that $23 million of the proposed $25 million New York City budget cut has been restored. This is the largest funding restoration at budget adoption in history. It will ensure a minimum five-day-a-week service schedule in every community by averting a massive layoff of library staff. The proposed budget threatened nearly
500 jobs and would have closed more than a dozen libraries altogether
and reduced services to two or three days a week in most communities.
"Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn and the City Council demonstrated their tremendous commitment to quality library service. They kept public libraries a top priority during a most difficult budget. Every layoff has been averted so library doors can remain open to enrich the lives of New Yorkers," said Thomas W. Galante. "Without the support of these library champions, including City Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Chairman of the Finance Committee; Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Chairman of the Cultural Affairs & Libraries Committee; Queens Delegation Leader Leroy Comrie; Council Member Vincent Gentile, Chairman of the Select Committee on Libraries; and the entire City Council, this would not have been possible."
Activism and advocacy by the public let City Hall know how much quality public library services are valued by the community. In mid-June, hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions and postcards protesting budget cuts were delivered to City Hall. Some 95,000 came from Queens.
Galante said, "We are turning our attention toward the opening of the new Children's Library Discovery Center, launching new and improved online services, piloting an e-reader project, installing easy-to-use self-service circulation technology, continuing the largest library renovation and expansion program in our 100+ year history, and providing all the programs and services that people rely on every day."
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
State Legislature Unveils Budget Proposals
From Michael J. Borges, Executive Director, NYLA
Both the Senate and Assembly released their respective budget proposals this week. The Senate has proposed to restore $4.2 million and the Assembly has proposed no restoration of the $8.45 million in Library Aid cuts. The Assembly has rejected the Governor’s proposal to divert Library Materials Aid for computer software and textbook purchases by school districts and the Senate has accepted the Governor’s proposal. The next step in the process is the scheduling of Budget Conference Committees.
The first meeting of the Education Budget Conference Committee that will work to resolve differences in their budget proposals has been scheduled for 2 pm Wednesday in Hearing Room C.
We need to get the Assembly to support the Senate in their partial restoration of Library Aid. Without the Assembly’s support, it will make more difficult for the Senate to keep their partial restoration included in a final budget agreement.
Please contact your state legislators – Senate to both thank and urge them to keep the restoration in the final budget and the Assembly to castigate them for abandoning libraries and to amend their budget proposal to match the Senate’s $4.2 million restoration. Visit www.nyla.org to new revised letter by fax or email.
Members of Education Budget Conference Committee:
Senator John Flanagan, Co-Chair, Senators Andrew Lanza, Mike Ranzenhofer, Jim Seward, Suzi Oppenheimer
Alt. Senators Steve Saland, Joe Addabbo
Assemblymembers Catherine Nolan, Co-Chair, Vivian E. Cook, Joan L. Millman, Kevin A. Cahill, Joel Miller
Alt. Philip Ramos, Gary Finch
Both the Senate and Assembly released their respective budget proposals this week. The Senate has proposed to restore $4.2 million and the Assembly has proposed no restoration of the $8.45 million in Library Aid cuts. The Assembly has rejected the Governor’s proposal to divert Library Materials Aid for computer software and textbook purchases by school districts and the Senate has accepted the Governor’s proposal. The next step in the process is the scheduling of Budget Conference Committees.
The first meeting of the Education Budget Conference Committee that will work to resolve differences in their budget proposals has been scheduled for 2 pm Wednesday in Hearing Room C.
We need to get the Assembly to support the Senate in their partial restoration of Library Aid. Without the Assembly’s support, it will make more difficult for the Senate to keep their partial restoration included in a final budget agreement.
Please contact your state legislators – Senate to both thank and urge them to keep the restoration in the final budget and the Assembly to castigate them for abandoning libraries and to amend their budget proposal to match the Senate’s $4.2 million restoration. Visit www.nyla.org to new revised letter by fax or email.
Members of Education Budget Conference Committee:
Senator John Flanagan, Co-Chair, Senators Andrew Lanza, Mike Ranzenhofer, Jim Seward, Suzi Oppenheimer
Alt. Senators Steve Saland, Joe Addabbo
Assemblymembers Catherine Nolan, Co-Chair, Vivian E. Cook, Joan L. Millman, Kevin A. Cahill, Joel Miller
Alt. Philip Ramos, Gary Finch
Thursday, October 28, 2010
NYC Zombie March to City Hall
Urban Librarians Unite
www.savenyclibraries.org
savenyclibraries@gmail.com
Save NYC Libraries Postcard Campaign and Urban Librarians Unite Announce Halloween Zombie Walk to Save NYC Public Libraries
October 31, 2010
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Urban Librarians Unite announce a Halloween Zombie Walk in support of New York City's public libraries, to be held October 31, 2010, beginning at Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn and continuing over the Brooklyn Bridge to commence at City Hall, New York, New York, USA.
The Halloween Zombie Walk brings library-loving New Yorkers together for a day of public theater to draw public attention to the mid-year budget cuts faced by New York City's public libraries. What does any of this have to do with zombies? Well, without libraries there are simply no brains, and zombies need to eat brains to live. With libraries across the city closed on weekends there is a desperate food shortage. So New York City’s zombie librarians will be walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall this Halloween to protest the drastic cuts to their food supply. These zombies are starving and without the support of the public library their future appears grim.
New York City's three library systems serve 8 million residents from a combined 212 locations, numbering over 43 million visits in FY'09. Since the economic crisis began, library use has been at an all-time high, with many New Yorkers depending on their local library for access to the information, resources, and programs necessary to conduct job searches, complete their education, navigate the Internet, and access public services.
Mayor Bloomberg’s projected mid-year budget adjustment will cut funding for libraries by $16.5 million - 5.4% across the board. This comes on the heels of a devastating August reduction of $30 million that decimated weekend library service. Three years of brutal cuts during the biggest economic crisis in a generation have reduced public library funding by a shocking $74.5 million since 2008, or 20%. Additional cuts will result in further service reductions and layoffs, right before the holiday season. Unless Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council maintain funding, libraries' ability to provide New Yorkers with job search help, afterschool tutoring, computer access and instruction, English classes, and research assistance will be sharply reduced by December 2010.
Dress in your bookish zombie best and march/shamble your way to City Hall to support your local library and feed your brain.
For more information on the Halloween Zombie Walk, please contact savenyclibraries@gmail.com
www.savenyclibraries.org
savenyclibraries@gmail.com
Save NYC Libraries Postcard Campaign and Urban Librarians Unite Announce Halloween Zombie Walk to Save NYC Public Libraries
October 31, 2010
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Urban Librarians Unite announce a Halloween Zombie Walk in support of New York City's public libraries, to be held October 31, 2010, beginning at Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn and continuing over the Brooklyn Bridge to commence at City Hall, New York, New York, USA.
The Halloween Zombie Walk brings library-loving New Yorkers together for a day of public theater to draw public attention to the mid-year budget cuts faced by New York City's public libraries. What does any of this have to do with zombies? Well, without libraries there are simply no brains, and zombies need to eat brains to live. With libraries across the city closed on weekends there is a desperate food shortage. So New York City’s zombie librarians will be walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall this Halloween to protest the drastic cuts to their food supply. These zombies are starving and without the support of the public library their future appears grim.
New York City's three library systems serve 8 million residents from a combined 212 locations, numbering over 43 million visits in FY'09. Since the economic crisis began, library use has been at an all-time high, with many New Yorkers depending on their local library for access to the information, resources, and programs necessary to conduct job searches, complete their education, navigate the Internet, and access public services.
Mayor Bloomberg’s projected mid-year budget adjustment will cut funding for libraries by $16.5 million - 5.4% across the board. This comes on the heels of a devastating August reduction of $30 million that decimated weekend library service. Three years of brutal cuts during the biggest economic crisis in a generation have reduced public library funding by a shocking $74.5 million since 2008, or 20%. Additional cuts will result in further service reductions and layoffs, right before the holiday season. Unless Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council maintain funding, libraries' ability to provide New Yorkers with job search help, afterschool tutoring, computer access and instruction, English classes, and research assistance will be sharply reduced by December 2010.
Dress in your bookish zombie best and march/shamble your way to City Hall to support your local library and feed your brain.
For more information on the Halloween Zombie Walk, please contact savenyclibraries@gmail.com
Monday, October 18, 2010
Buffalo libraries, trimmed again, won't close
From the Buffalo News, Sunday, October 17:
First the good news: your local branch library won't close next year ...
The library faces a projected shortfall of $6.75 million next year. That includes a $4 million cut in the systems county funding by County Executive Chris Collins.
To close the gap, Quinn Carey said, library officials have decided not to take the painful route of five years ago when the library system shrank from 51 branches to 37 during a budget crisis... But other difficult cuts will be necessary, the director said.
Among them:
Closing to the public the second floor of the Central Library downtown where a Teen Room and business and science collections now draw patrons and consolidating all public areas of Central on the first floor.
Cutting up to 130 full-time equivalent positions, which may mean layoffs for nearly 200 employees.
Drastically trimming open hours and staff levels, as well as some programs, at city and suburban branch libraries.
First the good news: your local branch library won't close next year ...
The library faces a projected shortfall of $6.75 million next year. That includes a $4 million cut in the systems county funding by County Executive Chris Collins.
To close the gap, Quinn Carey said, library officials have decided not to take the painful route of five years ago when the library system shrank from 51 branches to 37 during a budget crisis... But other difficult cuts will be necessary, the director said.
Among them:
Closing to the public the second floor of the Central Library downtown where a Teen Room and business and science collections now draw patrons and consolidating all public areas of Central on the first floor.
Cutting up to 130 full-time equivalent positions, which may mean layoffs for nearly 200 employees.
Drastically trimming open hours and staff levels, as well as some programs, at city and suburban branch libraries.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Colorado Ballot Backers: Shut Libraries, Sell Rail
By STEVEN K. PAULSON
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9IJ46GO0.htm The Associated Press
October 1, 2010, 4:23PM ET
Bloomberg Business Week
Supporters of three tax measures on the Colorado ballot say state and local governments could close libraries and put their books online and sell off light rail to cut spending if the measures pass.
Gregory Golyansky, vice president of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, told students and professors from the University of Colorado Denver on Friday that printed books are going away and light rail is 19th century technology.
"Do we really need to fill our prisons with nonviolent offenders, drug offenders, prostitutes and what not? We will have about two-thirds less people in our prisons. Government doesn't need to be involved in building golf courses or exercise facilities or ice rinks. Libraries are going away. Paper books are the yesterday technology, being replaced by online information. Government should stop subsidizing things like light rail. It's essentially a 19th century technology," Golyansky said....
Opponents of the measures - Proposition 101, which would reduce automobile and telecommunications taxes; Amendment 60, which would cancel voter-approved tax-limit overrides; and Amendment 61, which would limit municipal borrowing and bar state debt - said state and local governments face draconian cuts if the measures pass.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9IJ46GO0.htm The Associated Press
October 1, 2010, 4:23PM ET
Bloomberg Business Week
Supporters of three tax measures on the Colorado ballot say state and local governments could close libraries and put their books online and sell off light rail to cut spending if the measures pass.
Gregory Golyansky, vice president of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, told students and professors from the University of Colorado Denver on Friday that printed books are going away and light rail is 19th century technology.
"Do we really need to fill our prisons with nonviolent offenders, drug offenders, prostitutes and what not? We will have about two-thirds less people in our prisons. Government doesn't need to be involved in building golf courses or exercise facilities or ice rinks. Libraries are going away. Paper books are the yesterday technology, being replaced by online information. Government should stop subsidizing things like light rail. It's essentially a 19th century technology," Golyansky said....
Opponents of the measures - Proposition 101, which would reduce automobile and telecommunications taxes; Amendment 60, which would cancel voter-approved tax-limit overrides; and Amendment 61, which would limit municipal borrowing and bar state debt - said state and local governments face draconian cuts if the measures pass.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Libraries at a crossroads
More about problems in Buffalo: Sunday August 29, 2010 Buffalo News, p. F1-F2::
By Charity Vogel, News Staff Reporter Published:August 27 2010, 2:56 PM
Excerpts:
" ... there's only so much money to go around when it comes to buying books and media -- even though there are more formats than ever to spend it on.
Think these are problems just in your own household? Think again. That dilemma -- multiplied a thousandfold -- is the situation currently facing public libraries across Western New York, as well as around the nation."
"... Quinn-Carey, director of the Erie County system, said the system needs to put everything on the table when it comes to planning the future of libraries in Erie County.
County Executive Chris Collins has said he may ask the system to take a significant funding cut in 2011 -- as much as 20 percent. He has also said that while he does not have oversight or control over the library system's budget, he would put branch closures on the agenda of possibilities for the system going forward."
See the full story HERE.
By Charity Vogel, News Staff Reporter Published:August 27 2010, 2:56 PM
Excerpts:
" ... there's only so much money to go around when it comes to buying books and media -- even though there are more formats than ever to spend it on.
Think these are problems just in your own household? Think again. That dilemma -- multiplied a thousandfold -- is the situation currently facing public libraries across Western New York, as well as around the nation."
"... Quinn-Carey, director of the Erie County system, said the system needs to put everything on the table when it comes to planning the future of libraries in Erie County.
County Executive Chris Collins has said he may ask the system to take a significant funding cut in 2011 -- as much as 20 percent. He has also said that while he does not have oversight or control over the library system's budget, he would put branch closures on the agenda of possibilities for the system going forward."
See the full story HERE.
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