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Home » About NYLA » Sections » School Library Media - SLMS » Legislative News

Legislative News

         Legislative Report

May 2008 SLMS Board Meeting in Syracuse

by Jill Leinung

 

This has been a banner year for SLMS and for getting issues that affect us out in the public and legislators’ eye.  We have not “seen” the effects yet, but as the lobby firm employed by NYLA stated, there cannot be too much value put in being on the forefront of the legislators’ radar.  

 

Through the efforts of Michael Borges, NYLA, and SLMS we have had terrific media coverage: many newspapers and some capitol region TV stations picked up on the press release and press conference concerning the age of NYS school library collections and other issues.  The latest is in NYS School Boards Association’s publication (www.nyssba.org )which ties all of our issues together. (Rocco Staino is quoted extensively) 

 

Budget Priorities 

-Aid for school library materials continues at $6.25 per student despite there being the largest increase in education aid to date.  The Board of Regents and NYLA aligned their budget priorities and asked for an increase to $10 per student.  This would cost $9 - $10 million.

      -Also not adopted was the budget priority of $7.4 million in additional aid to systems and $280,000 merger aid for previously merged school library systems.

        -The Contracts for Excellence were not amended this year to allow the funds given to high need school districts to be spent on hiring school librarians and buy library materials.  This did not happen despite the fact that the Syracuse study showed that schools with a certified school librarian scored 10 points higher on the 4th grade ELA exam then schools without a librarian.

 

 

Legislative Priorities 

Now we need to concentrate on Legislative Priorities.  The Leg. Committee moved our mini lobby day to May 19 (almost a month early) so we can deliver our message well before the end of session.  Of interest to SLMS are:

   -Sales Tax Exemptions for Book Fairs (S.1722A LaValle/A.3463ACahill) This bill would exempt bookfairs held by school and library organizations (PTA & Friends groups) from sales tax.

   -School Library Media Specialist (S.1686Farley/A.8543Galef) The bill would require library media specialists in K-6 schools.

   -BOCES Libraries Internet Partnerships (S>2082Larkin/A.6592Gunther)  Authorizes BOCES to enter into contracts with public libraries or library systems to provide internet access and communication services.

   -Knowledge Initiative (S2125Farley/A.7272Paulin)  The bill would amend state aid formulas to libraries to make permanent the $8 million increase in aid to library systems.  It would provide $10 million annually for Statewide Internet Library (NOVEL)

 

Unfortunately in this economic climate where the $5 million that the Legislature restored to NYLA was cut by $1.9 million (a 2% cut to aid across the board) any legislative initiative or bill that carries a price tag will not pass.  On the positive side, where other programs received huge cuts in the budget, libraries fared better by having aid restored by the legislature.

 

Lobby Day 

Lobby Day was attended by 1000 plus librarians from across the stateand many legislators came to the breakfast. I think our virtual lobby day and bring your child or student to Lobby day was effective too.  Diana W. and Ellen R. both brought their child/ students and Sue Rokos’s son brought down the house during the rally by taking part in the “play” part of the speeches.  Many legislators came to the rally and our big supporters Senators Farley and Saland, Assemblywoman Paulin and City Councilman Gentile gave rousing speeches.  Unfortunately the events of the day prevented the great day from receiving too much press attention.

 

We need to build on what we have achieved this year and hope for better economic times.  I urge everyone to help promote their school’s budget and help them to pass.

 

Useful talking points:

  • School Library Systems need a larger increase in funding (50%) because the total amount of their funding is so low in relation to the mandated services to the more than 4,500 schools they serve.

  • Library Systems are the equalizer.  They provide a wealth of resources to even the poorest library.
  • Five million dollars for Statewide Internet Library (NOVEL) would give all full access to thousands of resources that a single library or school system could not afford.
  • Statewide Internet Library should be free to all.
  • It is a great savings to Libraries – for every $1 invested in NOVEL a library would pay $35 to buy the same resources.
  • Library Materials Aid has been increased to $6.25 per student (the cost of a library book has risen 30% to $21.60 per book).
  • Low spending, high achieving schools spend $17 per student on Library Materials.
  • The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) decision urged funding for up-to-date libraries as an important way to give students in low-income communities equal access to a basic education.
  • Sixteen different studies show that school libraries that are staffed by a certified school librarian; have large and diverse collections; and have expanded Internet access; raises student scores by 10 – 20%.

Talk to your Legislator:

1. At their district offices.

2. In letters (go to NYLA’s homepage and click on "Contact Your Elected Official").

3. On Library Lobby Day.  For a schedule of events click here.

 Cllick here for "USEFUL TALKING POINTS."


Contact Your Elected Officials

   

  It is important to contact your legislators. You can do this in many ways.

 

  1. Go to www.nyla.org to send an already drafted letter.  Click on “Contact your Elected Officials” button and follow the directions.  Your letter will be faxed to your appropriate officials by NYLA.
  2. Write a personal letter to these same officials on this site or the chairs of the library committees.  Senator Farley is the Chair of the Senate Library Committee and Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington is the new Chair of the Library Assembly Committee.  Use the above information to highlight the issues that affect SLMS.  Also include a personal anecdote or information from School Libraries Work! (updated 2006 Edition) that includes studies from 16 states and talking points that support the impact SLMS have on student achievement. (www.scholastic.com/librarypublishing)

Check out talking points for the NYLA Legislative Priorities at: http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=956 and add your  own story


Sample note to send to your legislator! (WORD)

 

Pictures from 2006 Library Lobby Day in Albany. 
Continue the fight for libraries fair share of the State Budget!
.       .

SLMS Past Pres., Pat Shanley and 
SLMS and NYLA Past Pres.,
Rocco Staino enjoy Library Lobby Day.

SLMS Board Members, Jill Leinug,
Sara Kelly John, Fran Roscello 
Marcia Eggleston with their,
"Libraries Need Their Fair Share"
t-shirts at the Legislative Breakfast.

SKILLS ACT

The American Library Association is requesting library advocates to contact their Congressional representatives to ask them to co-sponsor the SKILLS Act.
 
The SKILLs Act (H.R. 2864, The Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries)

* Requires school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the district employs at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in each school library;

* Defines highly qualified school library media specialists as those who have a bachelor's degree and have obtained full state certification as a school library media specialist or passed the state teacher licensing examination, with state certification in library media
in such state;

* Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every public school no Later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year;

* Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists;

* Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students; and

* Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the interest of students in all grade levels and students with special learning needs, including English language learners.
 
Go to ALA's website http://www.capwiz.com/ala/home/ to contact your representatives and find out more about the SKILLS Act.

   

 

 

    

Last modified on 08/10/2009 at 1:31:29 pm  
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