Award Nominations Needed

Award Nominations

Craig Koste & Ray Murray Award Nomination Process

Each year, NYSLAA seeks nominations from its members for each of these awards. The Executive Council reviews the nominations in April of each year and notifies the recipients. The awards are presented at the annual conference in June.

To nominate, please compile a packet including: your nomination letter, supporting letters, and any other pertinent documentation. Please include the name of the nominee's supervisor for notification. The deadline for the submission is March 31^st of each year.

Send nomination packets (or questions) for either award to the NYSLAA President:

Joy Piper
President
University at Buffalo
Central Technical Service
134 Lockwood Library
Buffalo, NY 14260-2210
Phone: (716) 645-2305 ext.242
Fax: (716) 645-5955

Save the date

Save the date!

The 2009 NYSLAA conference is going to be held -
Wednesday, June 10th - Friday, June 12th in Troy, NY.

Please plan on attending this awesome learning and networking opportunity.

Lottery tickets available

Each year NYSLAA sells 'lottery tickets' as a fund raiser to help support their annual conference.
Tickets are $5 each. Each ticket comes with 3 numbers on it.
If these 3 numbers are drawn in the NYS lottery during the month of February for the Evening drawing of 'Take Three', then you will win $25. If you numbers are drawn on Valentine's Day - you will win $50.
Your $5 ticket is good for the whole month of February.
If you would like to buy a ticket - please let me know.
Thanks
Heidi

ALA seeks $100M in Stimulus Funding

The American Library Association is (ALA) is asking Congress for a one-time infusion of $100 million in stimulus funding to help libraries aid Americans as they deal with the nation's current fiscal crisis.
To read more on this topic -
Check it out at:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6611595.html

From NYLA

Dear Library Advocate,

As I informed you yesterday, the 2009-10 Executive Budget proposes a $18 million or 18% cut in Library Aid. This would bring Library Aid down to 1993 levels and is on top of two cuts (3%) in 2008 which reduced Library Aid from $102 million to $98.5 million. (This basically a repackaing of the same cut proposed on November 18th by the Division of Budget, that the Library Rally and other advocacy efforts help prevent.)

Library Materials Aid for School Libraries remains steady at $6.25 per pupil.

School Aid was reduced by $698 million, but BOCES Aid was increased by $33 million. See link for complete list of changes <http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0910/fy0910littlebook/EducationSchoolAid.html>

Public Library Construction Aid - $800,000 line item was eliminated, but the $14 million in borrowed funding for library construction remains intact. NYLA is working with Division of Library Development and the American Library Association to insure that a federal stimulus package for public works projects includes funds for libraries.

Adult Literacy Education (ALE) funds remains level a $4.9 million (libraries are elgible to apply for these funds)

SUNY/CUNY tuition increases of 14% and 15% respectively were proposed. $338 million in cuts overall proposed - see<http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0910/fy0910littlebook/HigherEducation.html> for detailed info.

BUNDY Aid (for private colleges) was cut by $2 million.

The Executive Budget also includes two changes with potential benefits for libraries that NYLA advocated for:

Computer Software Aid - language was revised to allow the purchase of materials in electronic format which are access or delivered through the internet.

Local Government Efficiency Grants - language was amended to allow all types of public libraries to apply for these shared services grants including association, school library district and special legislative district libraries.

NYLA will be updating its Talking Points and 2009 Budget Priorities over the next week for use by library advocates in their meetings with legislators. An updated History of Library Aid, Library Circulation and Visitation Charts are already up on our website.

In addition, we are looking for examples of how libraries have helped people find jobs, create new businesses, etc. Also we need to know if your library has a business or employment center (physical space dedicated for such use) or job assistance program, etc. Thank you for your cooperation.

Michael J. Borges

Executive Director

New York Library Association

Volunteers needed

Library Volunteers Needed!

The Education Committee of the Italian American Community Center is
seeking volunteers to help set up its new library! The library has a
beautiful new space - complete with lots of windows - on the second
floor of the Community Center building on Manitou Road in Gates.

The collection consists mainly of books, many of them written in
Italian. The books are currently arranged on the shelves in broad
categories, such as Biography, Travel, Music, Art, History,
Architecture, Science, Sports, Culture, Fiction, Children's Books, and
Young Adult Books.

The skills of a librarian are needed to catalog the items, assign call
numbers, and develop a database of the library's collection. The group
would also welcome a librarian's help in determining which of the many
web-based software solutions would be the best choice for a library
management system (OPAC, circulation) for this small, specialized
collection.

In developing this new special library, the Education Committee is
committed to:

Developing the community's awareness of the Italian American experience
and culture
Having a functioning library in the Italian American Community Center
available to members and to the public
Serving as a resource for educators
Serving as a forum for the development of Italian language skills

If you are interested in using your library skills to help organize and
catalog this new collection, please contact Joe Aleo by phone at
585-254-2020, x1038
or by email at friar@rochester.rr.com.

Proposed Library aid cuts

In the public announcement of his budget this morning the Governor
proposed an $18 million or 18% cut in Library Aid that would bring state
aid for libraries down to $80.5 million. The $14 million in public
library construction would remain the same.

It is a constitutional requirement that the Governor present a balanced
budget -- the legislature does not have to meet that requirement! So
once again that's where we will focus our efforts.

Stay tuned.