Assemblymember Cahill: Legislation will help stabilize library funding

June 22, 2004

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) announced Assembly passage of legislation he supported that will effectively provide areas with growing population with their fair share of library aid, while protecting areas with declining population from funding cuts (A.8365-B).

"Libraries play a crucial role in our communities," Assemblymember Cahill said. "That’s why it’s so important to make sure funding for libraries remains fair – so they can continue to provide our families with free access to invaluable services."

Library funding is determined in large part by census data, but in recent years the formula has been based on the outdated 1990 census. Because some areas have seen a population decrease, many libraries stand to lose a significant amount of funding if 2000 census data were used.

This measure would permit the 2000 census data to be used without harming any library systems in the state by ensuring they receive no less aid than they received in 2001. And by using 2000 census data – as this bill assumes – library systems in areas with a rising population would receive their fair share of aid.

Assemblymember Cahill also noted that he will fight the governor’s proposed five percent cut to library funding.

"Our libraries need state aid to maintain and improve the services they provide our communities," Mr. Cahill said. "I will continue working to make sure our libraries have the resources they need to help New York’s families succeed."

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