This week, Assemblymen Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) were pleased to meet with officials from the Southern Tier Library Association. They discussed their shared priorities, including increasing public library aid and continuing to invest in badly-needed capital construction grants.

“Libraries are for everyone. Libraries are education. Particularly in rural areas, libraries are our community centers. That’s the message we stressed at advocacy day, and that’s the message we’re taking to our colleagues during budget negotiations. Our libraries are already operating on tight margins, they’re already sharing services and they’re serving more patrons than ever. Libraries should see the same funding bump that public schools are projected to see in the upcoming budget,” said the lawmakers.

Palmesano and Friend thanked the representatives for their advocacy and their service.

“We’re so grateful for everything these dedicated people do to deliver quality services and implement thoughtful programming for library patrons. We’re so happy they came to Albany to fight for needed resources. We’re working to restore the cuts the governor proposed in his budget, and we’re going to fight for the funding increase required by the formula in state statute,” said the legislators.