Library Advocates Grade Legislators on Voting Records

ALBANY, NY (10/21/2010)(readMedia)-- 2010 Voters Guide for Library Advocates Released

The New Yorkers for Better Libraries PAC has released its 2010 Voters Guide: The Library Advocate's Guide to the Voting Records of the New York State Legislature.

"The 2010 Voters Guide is the first effort by the New Yorkers for Better Libraries to grade legislators on their actual voting records on library funding and legislative issues," stated John Hammond, Chairman of the New Yorkers for Better Libraries.

"I have not met a legislator who does not support libraries and recognizes the important role they play in our democracy, in providing access to unbiased and uncensored information, for their role in promoting literacy and reading at all age levels, and for helping the unemployed in our communities search for jobs, start new careers and improve their skills sets", continued Mr. Hammond.

"Yet there is often a disconnect between the rhetoric and their voting records, often due to no fault of their own as the legislative system in which they operate limits their ability to act on their support for libraries", said Mr. Hammond.

"The state Senate and especially Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, Chair of the Senate Education Committee demonstrated this year, despite all the distractions, that they were able to match their words with actual deeds and passed four of the library community's legislative priorities, one of which was signed into law and the other vetoed by the Governor."

"For this reason, Senator Suzi Oppenheimer receives the 2010 Ex Libris Award for her outstanding leadership and determination in moving forward many of our legislative priorities," continued Mr. Hammond.

"Although we appreciate the Assembly passing two of our priority bills, they missed the opportunity to match the Senate's progress on other bills that could save libraries and their taxpayer's money and more equitably distribute existing funds. This inaction came despite the valiant efforts of Library Committee Chair Jonathan Bing and former Committee Chair Amy Paulin."

"Therefore we reluctantly present the Assembly with the Fahrenheit 451 Award for allowing a convoluted and bureaucratic system to operate that stymies their own member's interests and prevents common sense legislation from even coming up for a vote", concluded Mr. Hammond.

A copy of the 2010 Voters Guide can be found at www.nylibs-pac.net and at the New York Library Association's website at www.nyla.org The 2010 Voters Guide is being distributed to legislators, the media and the library community throughout New York.