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Please note: This summary is not intended to be all inclusive. Its purpose is to highlight issues of statewide importance discussed by the Regents Advisory Council that will significantly impact the New York library community.
2008 Regents Legislative Priorities/Statewide Internet Library: TheRegents have requested future legislative priorities be narrowed down to one or two bold (but doable) initiatives. (i.e. "no more shopping lists") At their suggestion, NOVEL has been repackaged as the "Statewide Internet Library" in their continuing effort to obtain state aid for this federally supported pilot program. They again endorsed the $14 million Library Construction Aid Program. (The State Library has proposed reducing the required "match" for this program for libraries in high need communities.) The "one time" $8 million increase in System Aid has been added to the base funding package as a permanent increase rather than as a separate initiative.
2009 Legislative Priorities: The Council discussed legislative priorities for the ensuing year (2009) with the understanding that the Regents will expect a different initiative than NOVEL/Statewide Internet Library. (Either because it will be funded in 2008 or because it fails to get funded and we should move on.) The possibility of a New York Digital Library that would be both a statewide platform and a funding source for local libraries was discussed. (A possible model: www.ncecho.org). Such an initiative could potentially be expanded to other Cultural Education partners as the New York Digital Museum or New York Digital Archive. It was also considered a viable LSTA priority in the event the state funds the Statewide Internet Library in the 2008 legislative session.
Regents Commission Recommendations: At their October 2007 meeting the Board of Regents will be presented with an assessment by the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries of the progress made toward the implementation of the 2000 Regents Commission Recommendations and a review of current and suggested strategies for their accomplishment.
Gates Grants: The State Library is completing the complex application process for a Gates Online Opportunity Hardware Grant for New York State public libraries located in high need areas. This will be the last Gates grant program of its type for New York.
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