[SCLA] SCLA Advocacy Update: Act Now - NYS Budget Temporary Extender

[Anthony Giansante]

Colleagues and Friends,

As budget negotiations for the New York State  FY 2026 budget continue, the
State Legislature has passed a temporary extender, allowing state
operations to continue through next Tuesday. This means there is still a
small window of time to raise your voice – but we must act now!

Take action now: Increase NYS library funding in the FY 2026 Budget and
stop proposed cuts!
<https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=23437>

In addition, you can also still send a message to help protect $8.1 million
in federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS), which supports:

   -

   The distribution of State Aid to over 7,000 libraries and 72 systems
   -

   The management of $45 million in Public Library Construction Aid
   -

   Librarian certification, trustee education, and technical assistance
   -

   Programs like Ready to Read, Summer Reading at NY Libraries, NOVELny,
   and DHPSNY
   -

   Preservation of historic collections, including George Washington’s and
   Abraham Lincoln’s original writings
   -

   This funding supports 55 of 84 positions at the New York State Library
   and enables countless statewide services that would otherwise be impossible
   to sustain

Without it, essential services may be cut and communities throughout the
state, including our communities in Suffolk County, will be impacted.

Please reference the above when you write your Federal Congressperson. It
outlines in detail what’s at stake and why we must act quickly. Share this
information with your friends, family, and others who may be interested in
joining the cause. Below is the information of the congressmen whose
districts comprise the majority of Suffolk County:

Andrew Garbarino

31 Oak Street Suite 20

Patchogue, NY  11772

Phone: (631) 541-4225

https://garbarino.house.gov/contact

Nicholas LaLota

515 Hauppauge Road Suite 3B

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Phone: (631) 289-1097

https://lalota.house.gov/contact

We get it - we know you are busy and that these are scary times, but your
voice matters. We ask you to take just a few moments to contact your state
legislators regarding the NYS budget and your local congressperson about
IMLS

We encourage you and your support network to contact the relevant state and
federal representatives. Remind our representatives that libraries are not
luxuries - they are lifelines. Share with them that this is a quality of
life issue and that our work enriches our communities and populations.

Join us and stand in solidarity with our fellow professional associations
that have spoken in defense of our industry, the continuation of library
and museum services, and the enrichment of our communities.

Thank you for your time and attention.

On behalf of the Suffolk County Library Association Board,

Anthony Giansante

President

Suffolk County Library Association

-- 

Anthony Giansante (he/him)

Head of Emerging Technology
631-725-0049  // www.johnjermain.org
201 Main Street, Sag Harbor NY
<https://www.youtube.com/@jjmemlib>
<https://www.tiktok.com/@johnjermainlibrary>
<https://www.facebook.com/john-jermain-memorial-library>
<https://www.instagram.com/jjmlibrary/>
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