2009 - A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR LIBRARIES & LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Needless to say, 2009 has been a tough year.  Can we look for any good news amidst the budget cuts, library branch closings, layoffs and economic disasters? The good news is that the economic downturn has accelerated the already existing trend of increased library use.  Public library circulation in New York increased by 9 million to 155.8 million and public library visits increased by 4.3 million to 117.2 million in 2008 and both are expected to continue to rise dramatically in 2009 and 2010.

The bad news of course is that many libraries and library systems across the nation are facing decreased government support.  Despite the tough times, through cooperation and collaboration, the New York State Library and our library, library system and many other partners across the state, the nation and the globe accomplished a great deal in 2009.

Facing tighter budgets, the library community continues to do more with less. Together, we have again met or exceeded many of our goals and have much for which we are proud.

It has been a year of remarkable accomplishments and numbers do tell the story.

For example, with the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the State Library sponsored - The Magic of Broadband and Libraries - in June 2009. More than 300 library leaders, trustees and public influencers came together to discuss strategies for attaining a vision where New Yorkers have free access to 100 mbps broadband connectivity at every public library building in the State.

Another memorable highlight was the September 2009 visit of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands to the State Library in celebration of the Quadricentennial.  The Dutch government provided 200,000 euros ($190,000) to support the State Library’s critically acclaimed New Netherland Project for the next three years.

Other selected highlights include:

• Summer Reading at New York Libraries attracted 1.5 million young participants in 2009.  Participation has grown 440% since 2000!
• Federal E-rate discounts of $10.5 million to 319 New York libraries and systems.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Online Opportunities Hardware Grant funded 2,023 computers installed in 419 public library buildings in high need communities.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $947,517 to the State Library to increase broadband connectivity at 70 libraries, bringing connectivity speeds to at least 1.5 mbps.  Some of these libraries had only dialup connections.
• Public libraries and systems will receive $14 million in capital funds for more than 170 public library construction projects for 2009-2010.
• The Board of Regents approved 91 library charter actions.  Two new public library districts were formed and 346,630 formerly unserved New Yorkers now have a local public library.
• NOVELNY pilot project annual searches exceeded 35.5 million, and usage continues to grow; over 5,600 libraries are registered for NOVELNY.
• Public librarian professional certificates were issued to 880 librarians in 2009, a 54% increase. Beginning January 1, 2010 new certificate holders will be required to complete 60 hours of professional development every five year period.
• The State Library provided free access to the College of DuPage teleconferences; timely professional development opportunities for staff in all New York libraries.
• The State Library’s www.librarycareersny.org site now has a calendar of onsite and online training sessions offered by New York’s library systems as well as other state and national providers.
• “Training on the Go” was launched in partnership with the New York Library Association and will provide reduced cost WebJunction online courses for library staff statewide.
• The Division of Library Development made 179 site visits, managed 903 grants to libraries and library systems and sponsored 92 education events for 3,628 people.
• The State Research Library held 61 programs and classes for 1,657 people; 29 were public programs at the library, 32 were customized offsite training classes for not-for-profits, education organizations and state agencies.
• The State Research Library’s digitization project scanned 204,836 pages of New York State documents and historical collections and provided links to the digital collections through its online catalog.
• The State Research Library responded to 30,097 interlibrary loan requests (a 43% increase from last year), with 153,000 pages sent electronically.
• The State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) served 37,000 registered users with visual or reading disabilities in 55 upstate counties; and TBBL is now offering new digital talking books and players.
• The State Research Library provided information to inmates in New York's correctional facilities; nearly 25,000 requests were completed, a 31% increase from last year.
• The State Library totally revamped its website as part of a major State Education Department redesign initiative. There were more than 7 million page views in 2009, on average 20,000 page views each day.

I am proud of New York’s library community and the collaborative spirit that you all demonstrate as we continue to develop innovative ways to serve New Yorkers. In the final days of 2009, please accept my thanks for your efforts.

I look forward to our continuing success together in 2010.

Bernard A. Margolis
New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries