New Poll Shows Continued Public Support For Increase in State Aid for Libraries

The New York Library Association commissioned a recent Zogby Poll that confirmed continued public support for increased state aid for library services and book purchases.

Poll respondents were asked whether libraries deserved more state financial support and despite uncertain economic times - 57% still responded in the affirmative.   “Despite a potential $4.3 billion state budget deficit, a majority of New Yorkers still believe libraries are an important part of our educational system and deserve continued state investments”, stated Michael J. Borges, Executive Director of the New York Library Association.

Library Aid had been frozen between 1998 and 2003 and was cut by $4.5 million in 2004. The cut was restored in 2005 and Library Aid was finally increased by a modest $3 million in 2006.  In 2007, the Legislature increased operating aid again by $5 million, recognizing the continued need to invest  in the state’s information infrastructure, libraries and library systems, to make up for eight years of flat and reduced funding.

Poll respondents were also asked whether the state should provide increased funding for libraries to specifically purchase books and an overwhelming 82% responded favorably.  Currently, school libraries receive $6.25 per pupil to purchase books, college libraries receive $1.90 per student and public libraries receive no direct aid to purchase books.  The average cost of a school library book is $23, the average for a public library book is $45 and the average cost for a college library book is $60.

The Board of Regents supports the New York Library Association’s proposal to increase state aid to school libraries to $10 per pupil and NYLA is  also requesting $7.6 million in book aid for public libraries and $2 million in book aid for college libraries.

“Reading and books are a fundamental part of learning at any age and New York needs to do more to promote literacy and access to reading materials for all New Yorkers.  The most cost effective way to do this is to support the purchase of books by libraries that can be shared among many,” continued Mr. Borges.

In addition, the poll queried respondents on how frequently someone in their household uses the library regularly and 65% replied that someone in their household used the library in the past year.

The telephone poll was conducted January 2nd thru Jan. 7th and surveyed 708 New York adults.

PDF Version of Press Release

Survey Methodology Zogby New York 1/2/08 thru 1/7/08

Zogby International was commissioned by the New York Library Association to conduct a telephone survey of adults.

The target sample is 708 interviews with approximately 41 questions asked. Samples are randomly drawn from telephone cd’s of national listed sample.   Zogby International surveys employ sampling strategies in which selection probabilities are proportional to population size within area codes and exchanges. Up to six calls are made to reach a sampled phone number. Cooperation rates are calculated using one of AAPOR’s approved methodologies  and are comparable to other professional public-opinion surveys conducted using similar sampling strategies.  Weighting by region, education, age, race, religion, gender  is used to adjust for non-response.  The margin of error is +/- 3.8 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.

Narrative Summary

1. Which of the following best describes how regularly someone in your household uses a library?

Once a week or more  23%
A few times a month  26
A few times a year  16
Rarely    17
Never    18
Not sure   --

More than half, 65%, of respondents report that a member of their household visits a library. Twenty-three percent agree that a member of the household visits a library once a week or more. Sixteen percent agree that a member of the household visits a few times a year, and a quarter agree that a household member visits a few times a month.

Just 17% of surveyed households rarely visit, and 18% never visit, the library.

2. Currently, New York spends less than one percent of the state budget on libraries. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion regarding the funding of libraries?

Libraries deserve more state financial support   57%
Libraries currently receive adequate state financial support  31
Libraries should receive less state financial support    2
Not sure         10

More than half of respondents (57%) agree that libraries deserve more state financial support than the less than 1% of the state budget that is currently allotted. Three in ten agree that libraries currently receive adequate state financial support and just 2% agree that libraries should receive les state financial support than they currently do.

3. The state of New York provides $6.25 per pupil for school libraries to purchase books, $1.90 per student to college libraries for book purchases and no aid for public libraries to purchase books. Generally speaking do you believe that libraries should receive increased state funding to purchase books?

 Yes    82%
 No    15
 Not sure    4

A broad majority (82%) agree that generally speaking libraries should receive increased state funding to purchase books. Just 15% disagree and 4% are not sure.

For Further Info Contact:
Michael J. Borges
Executive Director
518) 432-6952, ext. 101
director@nyla.org