Allows all libraries of public institutions of higher learning, the state library, and Indian libraries to be open to the public for providing census-related services including the use of computers, secure internet access, census information services and translation services.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6884
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
December 4, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to allowing all libraries
of public institutions of higher learning, the state library, and
Indian libraries to be open to the public for providing census-related
services; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
tion thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 249 of the education law, as amended by chapter 261
2 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 249. State library, when open; use of books. 1. The state library
4 shall be kept open at least eight hours each day on five days every week
5 in the year except the legal holidays known as Independence day, Thanks-
6 giving day and Christmas day. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the
7 regents from opening the state library on other days and times. Members
8 of the legislature, judges of the court of appeals, justices of the
9 supreme court and heads of state departments may borrow from the library
10 books for use in Albany, but shall be subject to such restrictions and
11 penalties as may be prescribed by the regents for the safety or greater
12 usefulness of the library. Under such rules and conditions as the
13 regents may prescribe, the state library may lend its books and printed
14 material for a limited time to other individuals and institutions
15 conforming to said rules and conditions. Such service shall be free to
16 residents of this state as far as practicable, but the regents may, in
17 their discretion, charge a proper fee to nonresidents or for assistance
18 of a personal nature or for other reason not properly an expense to the
19 state, but which may be authorized for the accommodation of users of the
20 library.
21 2. The state library shall be open to the public, during operational
22 hours, for purposes of providing the public with census-related
23 services. Census-related services shall include, but not be limited to,
24 the use of computers, secure internet access, and translation services
25 if such services are provided. The state library may coordinate their
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14184-03-9
S. 6884 2
1 census-related services with any relevant state agencies. The state
2 library, in a manner determined by such institution, shall advertise
3 these census-related services within their facilities. Advertising shall
4 include, but not be limited to, displaying signage, providing brochures,
5 and including information on census-related services in any digital
6 communications.
7 § 2. Section 249-a of the education law, as added by chapter 1048 of
8 the laws of 1974, is amended to read as follows:
9 § 249-a. Libraries of public institutions of higher education; access
10 and use. 1. The state university trustees and the board of higher educa-
11 tion of the city of New York are hereby authorized to establish such
12 rules and regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to make
13 provision for access and use by the residents of the state of the
14 libraries and library facilities of the public institutions of higher
15 education under their respective jurisdictions.
16 2. All libraries of public institutions of higher education shall
17 permit the public access, at times determined by the institution, for
18 purposes of providing the public with free of cost census-related
19 services. Census-related services shall include, but not be limited to,
20 the use of computers, secure internet access, and census information
21 services, if provided. In addition, all libraries of public institutions
22 of higher education shall allow the public similar access to translation
23 services, as available to students, in a manner determined by the insti-
24 tution. Libraries of public institutions of higher education may coor-
25 dinate their census-related services with any relevant state agencies.
26 Libraries of public institutions of higher education shall advertise
27 these census-related services within their facilities, in a manner
28 determined by the institution. Advertising shall include, but not be
29 limited to, displaying signage, providing brochures, and including
30 information on census-related services in any digital communications.
31 § 3. Section 262 of the education law, as amended by chapter 476 of
32 the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
33 § 262. Use of public and Indian libraries. 1. Every library estab-
34 lished under section two hundred fifty-five of this [chapter] part shall
35 be forever free to the inhabitants of the municipality or district or
36 Indian reservation, which establishes it, subject always to rules of the
37 library trustees who shall have authority to exclude any person who
38 wilfully violates such rules; and the trustees may, under such condi-
39 tions as they think expedient, extend the privileges of the library to
40 persons living outside such municipality or district or Indian reserva-
41 tion.
42 2. All public and Indian libraries shall be open to the public, during
43 operational hours, for purposes of providing the public with census-re-
44 lated services. Census-related services shall include, but not be
45 limited to, the use of computers, secure internet access, translation
46 services, and census information services, if provided. Public and Indi-
47 an libraries may coordinate their census-related services with any rele-
48 vant state agencies. Public and Indian libraries shall advertise these
49 census-related services within their facilities, in a manner determined
50 by the institution. Advertising shall include, but not be limited to,
51 displaying signage, providing brochures, and including information on
52 census-related services in any digital communications.
53 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
54 deemed repealed on January 1, 2021.
