NYLA's FY 2026 State Budget Requests

NYS Library Operating Aid: $176.8 million

Increased aid is needed to support the foundational framework of New York State libraries, improving the lives of residents of all ages, abilities and economic status. Adequate funding is needed to support school, public, and academic libraries and library systems.

Library Operating Aid 1 Pager

History of Library Aid Chart

Impact of Underfunding

NYS Library Construction Aid: $175M

Increased investment is needed to maintain and develop the physical infrastructure of New York State’s libraries, in order to ensure a safe, accessible and sustainable environment for the future.

The New York State Library estimates the deferred maintenance need at over $1.75B.

Over half of New York’s libraries are over 60 years old. Investments allow libraries to invest in energy-efficiency and support the local construction industry.

Library Construction Aid 1 Pager

History of Construction Aid Chart

NYLA Testimony - Public Hearing on Construction Aid 

 

Library Materials Aid: $11.33/pupil

The per pupil rate of $6.25 has remained stagnant since 2007. We are seeking an increase to the rate to reflect general inflation and the rising costs of materials in school libraries.

Library Materials Aid 1 Pager

 

NOVELny: $3.1M

Building on the successful campaign to save NOVELny from funding-related termination via the inclusion of $3 million in the FY 2025 budget, NYLA is advocating for $3.1 million in FY 2026 to ensure no resources are lost due to annual cost increases.

NOVELny 1 Pager

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 NYLA's 2025 Policy Initiatives 

Freedom to Read Act

S.1099 (May) - NYLA Memo of Support

Libraries across our state face rapidly expanding efforts to censor materials and programming they deem objectionable based on subjective personal sensibilities and partisan ideologies. We require legislation that empowers library professionals to exercise their expertise and ensure public access to materials, services, and programs that represent their interests.

If enacted, this bill would require the commissioner of education to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available.

 

Open Shelves Act

S.1100 (May) A.3119 (Kelles)- NYLA Memo of Support

Multiple pieces of legislation intended to curb threats to patron access to materials and services in the public library setting have been introduced in the State Assembly and Senate. NYLA has helped craft the above legislation that would include in the state's Standards of Library Service a requirement that libraries adopt policies and procedures that that ensure library staff are able to curate and develop collections, services, and programming that reflect the interests of all people of the community that the library serves.

 

eBooks Licensing Reform

A.3589 (Carroll) - NYLA Memo of Support

This bill would help ensure libraries are able to provide patrons access to electronic books and digital audiobooks, providing requirements for contracts between libraries and publishers that involve electronic library materials.

Failed

A.10544 -- The ebooks bill had passed Senate, but stalled on the floor of the Assembly. Thank you to everyone who advocated at the last minute for the passage of this bill. Publishers pushed back causing the stall. At this time I am unsure as to whether the sponsor intends on introducing the bill next year.

S7677A (May) / A7843B (Kelles) -- The "Freedom to Read" bill focused on public libraries did not advance beyond committee in each house. I will be communicating a plan to further ramp up efforts of this bill if it is introduced next year (I will be stating this is a priority bill for 2025). Please be aware that advocacy of this bill will need to be widespread among all library champions—​administrators, staff, Boards, Friends, ​and beyond.

Passed and Waiting to be Delivered

S7093/A9076--  Elimination of construction cap. This bill has passed both houses and is awaiting delivery to the Governor. This would eliminate the 50% cap to ensure that libraries serving economically distressed communities and libraries in rural regions will be able to make use of the library construction aid intended to benefit these communities. More information to come.

S8551 /A9349  - Provides that the state civil service department shall review and update the questions contained within the examination, as deemed appropriate by the department, no less than every five years. This bill has passed both houses and is awaiting delivery to the Governor.

S8557 /A9386  - Provides for crediting of time spent as a provisional appointee for promotional examinations and eligibility for appointment from the resulting eligible lists. This bill has passed both houses and is awaiting delivery to the Governor.

S3112A /A1588A- Requires public institutions and buildings to be equipped with opioid antagonists. This bill has passed both houses and is awaiting delivery to the Governor. More information to come as to how this will affect libraries—this will not happen quickly as Commissioner of General Services AND Commissioner of Health need to become involved.