Focuses On Boosting Aid To Branches
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo has been appointed to serve on a new, bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Libraries to explore how New York can improve its support and provide assistance to the more than 7,000 libraries that are located throughout the Empire State.
“Here in the Borough of Queens, where we are served by a truly topnotch local library system, the importance of libraries is clear and cannot be overstated,” said Addabbo. “They are places to check out books, do homework, surf the Internet, search for jobs, take advantage of innovative programming serving many different interests and groups of people, provide jobs and much, much more. I am delighted to join this special committee and work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to provide New York’s libraries with the support they need to prosper and continue their vital role in our society.”
The senator noted that he is also a member of the Senate Committee on Education, and that his appointment to the special panel on libraries will complement his efforts to improve learning opportunities for all New Yorkers.
“Our libraries are truly democratic institutions, serving people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes. They seek to provide everyone with an equal opportunity to gain knowledge and more easily participate in a society that is becoming more technology driven every day,” said Addabbo. “Libraries make unique contributions to our neighborhoods and to our overall economy, and deserve special attention from the New York State Senate.”
Addabbo stated that he understands the dire fiscal situation facing the Queens Library system, despite its high volume of users and book circulation. The senator frequently holds mobile office hours in the senate district’s libraries.
“I found that spending time at the library is a great way to meet my constituents and highlight the importance of our libraries in the community,” he said.
The first meeting of the Senate Select Committee on Libraries will be held in Albany on Monday, Mar. 5, and is expected to focus on public library funding issues.
