THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	Carole F. Huxley
COMMITTEE:	Cultural Education
TITLE OF ITEM:	New Century Libraries:  Status and Plans
DATE OF SUBMISSION:	July 30, 2004
PROPOSED HANDLING:	Discussion
RATIONALE FOR ITEM:	Implementation of Regents Priorities
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2, 3, 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY:

 

          The State Library and its partner organizations continue to develop plans that will help raise awareness of New Century Libraries and the need to make this Regents priority legislation a reality.  New materials reflect recent developments and timely issues (e.g., increased numbers of libraries becoming public library districts and the soaring use of NOVEL).

 

          Highlights of the upcoming months include:

 

·       Commissioner Mills will hold three statewide leadership meetings to discuss the New Century Libraries legislative initiative and its potential to: enhance library services and raise the quality of education in all communities of New York State.  (The meetings are scheduled for September 16 at Clarkson University in Potsdam, November 10 in Bath and November 29 at the New York Public Library).

 

·       The Annual Conference of the New York Library Association (October 20-23 in Rochester) will include programs on New Century Libraries, public library districts and NOVEL, as well as an exhibit of the Friends of the New York State Library and a NOVEL poster session.

 

          The State Library is seeking more partners in support of New Century Libraries and is actively promoting NOVEL with various stakeholder groups.  Targeted NOVEL demonstrations for key partner groups and members of the Legislature and their staffs are ongoing.