By SERIAH SARGENTON Assistant Editor
Services in libraries across New York, including in the Pine Hills are threatened under the 2019 budget proposal from Governor Andrew Cuomo. Librarians will come together to advocate for improved funding on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Legislative Office Building in downtown Albany for Library Advocacy Day.
Library Advocacy Day is an annual event hosted by the New York Library Association where librarians and supporters meet with state representatives to discuss issues facing libraries.
The Pine Hills library is one of the anchor branches in Albany, according to Stephanie Simon, public relations officer for the Albany Public Library.
Of all the books, eBooks, movies, music, and other resources that the library circulates, the Pine Hills branch had 22 percent of the city’s total circulation compared to the 30 percent accounted for by the Washington Avenue branch. In addition, the Pine Hills had 14 percent of total visits compared to 42 percent for the Washington Avenue branch.
“The Pine Hills Library is the second most used library (after Washington Avenue) in the system. Like all library branches in the city, it functions as a community center as well as a place to borrow all kinds of media. It has rich programming for all ages—from exercise to art to games to cultural programs,” said Virginia Hammer, president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association in an email.
Hammer said that even though the Albany Common Council supports the seven Albany Public Library branches by including the libraries into the city budget.
The library is such a staple that the neighborhood association has a vested interest in its funding, said Marilyn Douglas, vice president of the group.
“A lot of people in our community are older, I think they would benefit from training classes such as learning how to use an iPad or smartphone,” said Douglas.
“Everyone uses the library for something. Parents with young children think about story time. Older people think about services. Young adults think about job searching.”
Douglas said that the Pine Hills Branch needs funding to better serve the community. The library has a lot of computers that can be used for several reasons including research and entertainment. However, you must sign up to use them. Enough funding means that there is a possibility that the library could afford to purchase more computers so that the community could use them immediately.
“Cuts to aid directly affect the library systems,” said Jeremy Johannessen, executive director of the New York Library Association.
The association intends to lobby to state senators and legislators to persuade the governor to put money back into the budget for state funds because libraries need funding to function and provide programs in the communities.
Programs such as interlibrary loan, library delivery, continuing education, and free internet access are in jeopardy. Without state aid, libraries find themselves unable to adequately support their communities.
The Library Construction program was designed to give supporting funds to public libraries for acquisition, construction, renovation, and rehabilitation of libraries in New York. Both programs ensure that libraries are functioning the way they should.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. where buses begin dropping off librarians, students, and supporters from across New York to register and pick up their materials in front of the Legislative Office Building on 198 State St in downtown Albany. Throughout the morning, the advocacy day participants attend meetings where they explain what this event is for and why libraries are important to the community.
Elected officials speak to librarians, students, and supporters about the issues facing libraries at the artificial waterfall, The Well, inside the legislative office building in downtown Albany. Throughout the morning and the late afternoon, participants meet with state representatives to discuss what can be done to deal with the issues.
“For better or for worse, the current level of political discourse has definitely raised people’s level of awareness,” said Johannessen.
Now that Cuomo has proposed his 2019-2020 state budget, Johannessen believes that this is when they should vocalize their voices the most. One local librarian plans to use his voice to advocate for the rights of students and faculty at the College of Saint Rose who uses the Neil Hellman Library.
“I think of the library as a counterbalance. If a student needs to take a break from work, then he/she can attend events or play board games. At the same time, a student can rely on the library to be a good place for getting their work done,” said Andrew Urbanek, Hellman library director and a member of the board of trustees at the Capital District Library Council.
Librarians from Hellman have attended the advocacy day in the past, however, this will be Urbanek’s first time. This year, he hopes to learn something from his fellow advocates and peers who attend with him.
Urbanek wants libraries to continue to be a marketplace of free ideas where students are exposed to different thoughts that may be different from their own, and it’s something that people need.
“The library is a good great place. It’s a real community thing,” said Douglas. “I can’t imagine living in a community without a library.”
