Regents Commission on Library Services

Key Issues for Further Action

The Regents Commission on Library Services has identified the three following draft recommendations as key issues for further action:

NOVEL/Statewide e-Library Card

• Meeting as a whole, the Commission formally endorsed the proposal for a statewide virtual library and statewide e-library card, labeled NOVEL, the New York On-Line Virtual Electronic Library. The Regents have expressed interest in including the NOVEL initiative in their upcoming legislative recommendations.

Information Literacy for School Children

• The Commission also received a proposal from Deputy Commissioner Jim Kadamus addressing the Commission's concern for improving the information literacy of school children throughout the state. The proposal links learning standards, state aid and the Commission's goal of ensuring that all students are information literate at the time of their graduation.

Library Service for All New Yorkers

• Promote public library districts coterminus with school district boundaries to ensure the availability of library service to all New Yorkers.

Additional Proposals for Further Action

In addition, the Commission agreed to work further to refine the following proposals:

• Promote quality library service through aid incentives to libraries striving to achieve the Commission's goals;
• Promote fairness by using a wealth-based formula for allocating future aid;
• Propose much-needed funds for library construction, expansion and renovation to ensure that New York's libraries are accessible to all library users and can accommodate advances in information technology;
• Create a world language program to make library resources available to meet the language needs of all New Yorkers;
• Address the urgent needs for life-long learning through programs dealing with promoting literacy and information skills;
• Support and continue to advance the expertise of a highly skilled library workforce to meet the needs of all New Yorkers;
• Strengthen library systems to provide 21st century library services and to support implementation of other Commission recommendations;
• Strengthen the role of the New York State Library to ensure the delivery of 21st century resources and programs in libraries throughout the State;
• Establish a statewide advocacy program to speak out for libraries and more effectively channel the widespread community regard for libraries.

Future Meetings

There will be a forum to discuss the work of the Commission on October 29 at the New York Library Association Annual Conference in Buffalo. Commission members will be available to discuss these proposals with conference participants.

The next meeting of the Commission will take place on January 26 at which the working groups developing details of the Commission proposals will report. The Commission will present a draft report in February 2000, followed by a series of regional hearings to discuss the draft.

October 22, 1999

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