New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Libraries and Education Technology, will convene a public hearing today on issues and challenges impacting libraries across the state. Libraries serve as critical community hubs, providing educational resources, public services, and access to information. As these institutions continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of their communities, it is essential to examine the current landscape and explore ways to support their growth and sustainability.

The hearing will feature invited testimony from key library professionals and experts from various regions of New York, focusing on the issues libraries face in delivering resources and services. Topics will include funding, infrastructure, technological advancements, and strategies to improve and support libraries and library systems across the state.

Expected to be a topic of discussion is the Schenectady County Public Library's recent decision to withdraw from the Mohawk Valley Library System (MVLS).

What: Public Hearing on Improving and Supporting New York State’s Libraries

When: Monday, October 21, 2024, 10:00 A.M.

Where: Hearing Room C, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY

The Witness List Includes:

• New York Library Association Panel: AnnaLee Dragon, Executive Director, Lisa Kropp, President, and Max Prime, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy
• Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System
• Eric Trahan, Executive Director, Mohawk Valley Library System
• Madelyn Thorne, President of the Board of Trustees, Schenectady County Public Library
• Joseph Burke, Library Director, Altamont Free Library