Library Advocacy Day is a coordinated day of action for library champions across New York to come together and make sure our voices are heard by lawmakers in Albany.
On February 6th and 7th, I had the opportunity to visit our state capital in Albany where I networked with colleagues across New York State and represented the Mattituck-Laurel Library in meetings with our elected officials who represent the 1st District: Senator Anthony Palumbo and Assemblymember Fred Thiele.
This was my second year attending Advocacy Day. Libraries are well-received by our elected officials, and the New York Library Association (NYLA) always does a great job of prepping library champions so we all have a common voice.
Our meetings were productive; we took our time explaining to our legislators all the things that libraries do for their communities beyond circulating books and other items: providing safe spaces, Wi-Fi access, computers and technology, tech assistance, a library of things, social work interns, classes and programs, notaries, a seed library, eBooks and digital resources, streaming services, community meeting spaces, and so much more!
Your community library provides so much, and it’s important for our lawmakers to keep funding budget items like library aid and library construction. Construction grant funding is vital for libraries like Mattituck-Laurel as it allows us to address aging infrastructure without taking away from budget monies or completely draining our capital reserve funds.
As a library champion, I’m thrilled that the Executive Budget includes funding for NOVELny (online databases available to every New Yorker, free of charge), which is a new allocation for 2025. I hope to see an increase in library aid, library construction, and library materials aid. I also hope that the legislators focus their priorities on protecting patron access to library materials and services.
Though Advocacy Day has concluded, there is always time to take action by clicking here.
A complete listing of NYLA’s 2024 legislative priorities can be found here.
I’m looking forward to the Governor’s final budget and Advocacy Day 2025!
Can’t wait to see you at the Library!
Warm regards,
Shauna Scholl, Director
