Regents Commission on Library Services
Vision: All New Yorkers will have convenient on-line access to a collection of well-organized information, carefully selected for accuracy, reliability and relevance to their needs.
Draft Proposal: to build and expand on existing services (such as the EmpireLink statewide database project, online library catalogs and digitized collections of images and documents) to provide a gateway to a world of information resources and research materials for New Yorkers of all ages. E-Library cards (e-cards) would provide New Yorkers, regardless of financial, physical or geographic limitations, with access to these services from libraries and other locations.
Status: The Commission has urged the Board of Regents to act on this draft recommendation in advance of the Commission report; implementation is expected to begin this year.
Vision: All school students of New York State will be information literate.
Draft Proposal: to link learning standards, state aid incentives and the Commission's goal of ensuring that all students are information literate. The Commission is considering using aid to schools to provide equitable access to school library media programs that include resources, technology and appropriately certified professional staff.
Status: The Commission has urged the Board of Regents to act on this draft recommendation in advance of the Commission report; implementation is expected to begin this year.
Vision: All New Yorkers will live in a jurisdiction that has access to, and supports, a public library.
Draft Proposal: to provide incentives to encourage public libraries to adopt service areas that are coterminous with school district boundaries and to enact a public vote for library budgets and trustees. Since school districts cover every square inch of New York State, this would solve the problem of unserved areas and ensure the availability of library service to all New Yorkers. A public vote for library budgets and trustees will increase citizen support and involvement while encouraging libraries to be more accountable to the public. The Commission is considering a plan which would result in residents of every school district in New York State, with the exception of those already served by a consolidated system, to be served by: a) a school district public library, or b) a chartered library acting in that capacity.
Vision: All New Yorkers will have access to high-quality library service.
Draft Proposal: to provide incentives to recognize and reward high-quality library services. The Commission is considering establishing three levels of service and providing rewards for public, academic or school libraries that demonstrate improvement or excellence according to these measures.
Vision: New York's public libraries will receive a fair allocation of state funds based on financial need.
Draft Proposal: to promote fairness and improve library service by allocating future state aid for public libraries based on a wealth-weighted formula, similar to the one used to allocate state aid for schools in New York State.
Vision: All New Yorkers will have convenient access to libraries and information technology, regardless of financial, physical or geographic limitations.
Draft Proposal: to provide support for pubic library construction, expansion and renovation to ensure that New York's libraries are accessible to all library users and can accommodate advances in technology.
Vision: All New Yorkers will have convenient access to library programs and materials that will prepare them for productive lives and enable them to maintain contact with their heritage.
Draft Proposal: to create a cooperative world language program in libraries that meets the needs of new Americans.
Vision: All New Yorkers will have the skills to use technology and traditional information resources and are able to determine if the information they gather is accurate, authoritative and relevant to their needs.
Draft Proposal: to establish library programs that address the urgent needs for life-long learning by promoting literacy and information skills.
Vision: New Yorkers will be served by skilled library personnel who are able to use, and assist in the use of, technologies and a wide range of information resources.
Draft Proposal: to establish programs that will support and continue to advance the skills of the library workforce in New York State. In an age of rapidly changing technologies, continuing education and training for all levels of library staff is needed to equip the library workforce to meet the needs of New Yorkers in the 21st century.
Vision: Strengthened library systems will support and enhance the delivery of 21st century resources and programs to New Yorkers in libraries throughout the State.
Draft Proposal: to strengthen systems for 21st century library services so that they can extend services, provide new programs and engage in partnerships and cooperation to raise the level of library service for all New Yorkers.
Vision: A strong State Library will support and enhance the delivery of 21st century library resources and programs to New Yorkers in libraries throughout the State.
Draft Proposal: to strengthen the role of the State Library in leading and supporting new directions for library services and to increase the support for library services from the Board of Regents and the State Education Department.
Vision: A statewide advocacy program will actively promote awareness of libraries and library systems, focus on the information and education needs of library users, and work through partnerships to channel the widespread community regard for libraries and to increase the levels of support for library services.
Draft Proposal: to establish a statewide advocacy program with connections to all possible partners, such as the New York Library Association (NYLA) and other library organizations, community groups, professional organizations and prominent citizens.
October 22, 1999
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