New Money for New York
Staff -- School Library Journal, 4/1/2000
Tucked away in next year's huge New York school-aid package is a small but significant proposal for the state's school libraries. The aid plan submitted to the state legislature includes $15 million targeted to school library media centers, an amount that would increase to $29 million in five years. Though that's a tiny figure in a school-aid budget of some $13 billion, it's "revolutionary" in terms of the history of state aid for school libraries in New York, says Patricia Webster, an associate in school library services for the state's Department of Education. "It's the first time there's been specific money allocated within a state-aid proposal to address school library media programs across the state," Webster says. Currently, the only money school libraries get from the state is a materials budget of $6 per student. The school-aid budget is a separate pot of money that provides the bulk of state funding for schools. Library advocates hope the proposed new money will address the severe lack of certified librarians in New York's elementary schools. Under state regulations, only schools serving 7th to 12th graders are required to have librarians. Though the proposal wouldn't mandate certified librarians in elementary schools, supporters hope any final legislation would give priority to helping districts hire them.--A. G.
