<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span id="m_3780124491962682842gmail-docs-internal-guid-c7e67fb1-7fff-3af5-ab23-82c47c9ad385"><br><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd0O0ucvxSXAnzHCGOS0N2JZz64NplLjOnpDcL1yUz1a-TN4L5BdKv-r5neVGlKHwTJSOyNrXuKSEBgBgw651QuEsULo8rgMckRQPQCQ8payGTlTvZEtG8I-CU48aiUtIMIzSp0OQ?key=bYfqHEAP6IEDqyQuPmkX8gBu" width="521" height="157" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Colleagues and Friends,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Take action now:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><a href="https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=23437" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Increase NYS library funding in the FY 2026 Budget and stop proposed cuts!</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The distribution of State Aid to over 7,000 libraries and 72 systems</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The management of $45 million in Public Library Construction Aid </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Librarian certification, trustee education, and technical assistance</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Programs like Ready to Read, Summer Reading at NY Libraries, NOVELny, and DHPSNY</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Preservation of historic collections, including George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s original writings</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Without it, essential services may be cut and communities throughout the state, including our communities in Suffolk County, will be impacted.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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: </span></p><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left:0pt" align="left"><table style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse"><colgroup><col width="312"><col width="312"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:69pt"><td style="border-width:0.75pt;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Andrew Garbarino       </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">31 Oak Street Suite 20</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Patchogue, NY  11772</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Phone: (631) 541-4225</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://garbarino.house.gov/contact" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https://garbarino.house.gov/contact</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> </span></p></td><td style="border-width:0.75pt;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Nicholas LaLota</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">515 Hauppauge Road Suite 3B</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Hauppauge, NY  11788</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Phone: (631) 289-1097</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://lalota.house.gov/contact" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https://lalota.house.gov/contact</span></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Thank you for your time and attention.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">On behalf of the Suffolk County Library Association Board, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Anthony Giansante</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">President</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Suffolk County Library Association</span></p><br></span></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><span><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left:0pt" align="left"><table style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse"><colgroup><col width="96"><col width="429"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:0pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:82px;height:94px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfYgTLhYr_4LMdoLXuHhOY8_Kzfs0re5Q2XldtDfOOtKSkm-urHwSW2IaHe8BJfLLgG_i6vbj35F1pZN7iAfQQ_9ByONEUEaE4hJOhTWHiqOWlDnPvNaehaIHqjyrtWtwMt2TOK2ft2nglf0u3dDkyvxwDi?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="82" height="94" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline">Anthony Giansante (he/him)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline">Head of Emerging Technology</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">631-725-0049  // </span><a href="http://www.johnjermain.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">www.johnjermain.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">201 Main Street, Sag Harbor NY</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:27px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfRcomXcfJMH03GX44PxH0axCAy7fNDeYU6v7UyBY8QLHufzPn-Y1T_gTemfXpFf2Avk0CVj5HBLkEwyomRg1gWtVwlpwEfmHwDDLdvHA8avFKa1-7H255RvTm3WDkSgyYNdkZtUY7kcTjDPTmRpVUPvNFJ?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="70.78991596638656" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@jjmemlib" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:29px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfcQnj0qyqxqKSaR3h1HWphIC1hp9g73Ppnq-d3W3cjXSpR4iDU5m9IArhlgTHGc5mjSvFC12nri4fcjpUyKGCQdbvUU-nNaNS3U7ZrPjMUCFTuCrqBj5dKcyA2NuNivvV1zkyPEGj3ECl8lt0nPJ8nuFQ?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="29" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@johnjermainlibrary" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:29px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeWjwUjeZ0KJ3IdFu_pcu2t6O-Sfb_ERpG3B7IBOJn2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