By Jasmyn Belcher
Oswego, NY – Central New Yorkers are in support of libraries planning to rally in Albany tomorrow.
Over 1,000 advocates from groups such as the Central New York Library Resources Council and the are expected to call for a restoration in state funding. According to NYLA, Gov. David Paterson has proposed a 2.7 percent cut to the current level of library funding.
"People are still suffering, still looking for jobs and people are going to libraries more and more to find jobs," said Kathy Miller, president of NYLA, "They need to apply online and many of them don't have Internet access at home any longer. Libraries are really supporting that search to bring our economy back by providing internet access, job search, resume help, plus the usual things we do in terms of free programming, free books, free DVDs that kind of thing."
Miller said that it is the fifth cut in funding that libraries have had in the last two years, meanwhile library use is up across the state, anywhere from four to 10 percent over previous years. About 2/3 of New Yorkers have a library card.