Writing to Legislators: Be Specific & Include Your Story

Here is the latest letter that I sent to legislators, specific to the Council, after getting a very generic letter back from one of the senators......

Dear Senator/Assemblyman/Assemblywoman:

I am writing to you regarding our funding situation. We are missing $119,724 in library aid – that is over 22% of what we were supposed to receive. Our missing aid is part of the $20 million cut in Library Aid proposed by the Department of Budget to resolve the funding gap. That would place Library Aid at a level not seen since 1993 and devastate the services we provide.

Indeed, libraries have already contributed their fair share toward reducing the state’s budget deficit. Library Aid has already been reduced twice this year from $102 million to $99 million. Between 1998-2006, libraries and library systems received no increases, while other educational institutions received generous increases.. When we finally received increases, the funds barely made up for eight years of inflation. Now -- when libraries are needed more than ever, when libraries are being used more than ever – more cuts are being contemplated.

We are a multi-type library system, comprised of hospital libraries, academic libraries, museums, specials, school library systems, and public libraries and systems. Some of our resources are used by health care professionals to improve patient care. Other resources are used by students at all levels and in all settings for their research and projects. We also support resource sharing and initiatives to improve access to information for all citizens. We also keep library workers trained and up-to-date in this ever-changing information and technology environment, which in turn helps them serve the public and work smarter, saving taxpayer dollars.

Then there is the situation with the Coordinated Collection Development Library Aid, which is funding legislated by the State and distributed to college libraries to purchase library materials in designated subject areas. The materials are then shared with other libraries of all types – schools, publics and other academic libraries – throughout the state, which increases the benefit for all New York State residents. Non-receipt of this funding would be devastating to the academics.

Our library system is a backbone for our libraries and information infrastructure. We are an example of how the library community has long been a champion and role model for regional cooperation, resource sharing and providing services in a cost-effective and efficient manner, which saves libraries of all types and their users money.

There have been various suggestions for alternatives to further reductions, and some of them seem very reasonable, including:

Impose Temporary Tax on Millionaires;

Use the State's Tax Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund of approximately $1 billion);

Expand the Bottle Bill to include water/juice bottles - approximately $250 million more in revenue;

Eliminate State Empire Zones - state incentives for businesses to locate in certain parts of the state;

Obtain Emergency Funding from US Government.

Thank you so very much for your continued help and support for libraries and library systems. I appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Mary-Carol Lindbloom

Mary-Carol Lindbloom

Executive Director

South Central Regional Library Council

Clinton Hall

108 Cayuga St.

Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone: 607-273-9106

Fax: 607-272-0740

Email: mclindbloom@lakenet.org

Website: www.lakenet.org

"The South Central Regional Library Council leads, advocates for, and challenges libraries, promoting collaboration in a changing information environment."