New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor), Chairman of the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Libraries and Education Technology, announced that the 2014 Libraries and Education Technology Report is now available.

The Committee on Libraries and Education Technology is dedicated to working to increase resources for the libraries of New York State. The enacted budget for 2014-15 fiscal year provided $87.927 million in state aid for libraries and library systems. This is an increase of $1 million from the 2013-14 budget allocation of $86.927 million. The budget also maintained funding for the Conservation and Preservation Program and the Talking Book and Braille Library making their total funding $693,000. Finally, the budget provided $14 million in funding to continue statewide library capital projects for the ninth consecutive year.

The Committee was able to advance some very important legislation this session. A main legislative priority for the Committee was a measure that required the Queens Borough Public Library to amend its by-laws, in relation to the membership and duties of the board of trustees and provide additional oversight of the executive director and key library personnel. Additionally, this law authorizes the Mayor and Borough President to remove any trustee for misconduct, incapacity, neglect of duty, or where it appears to the satisfaction of the appointing party that the trustee has failed or refuses to carry into effect its educational purpose. Another priority for the Committee was legislation that helps provide aid to libraries.

“I am proud that we were able to secure funding necessary to maintain and improve library internet access, literacy programs and research materials, and effective employees to support these services. It is my privilege to serve as Chair of this Committee and I look forward to working with my colleagues to provide additional support and assistance to New York’s library community,” stated Assemblyman Thiele.

The full report is accessible at: http://assembly.state.ny.us/comm/Library/2014Annual/index.pdf