Statewide Internet Library

Empowering literacy, learning, innovation, and growth

 

 

Why Invest in a Permanent Statewide

Internet Library for New York?

 

Benefits

 

·        Free library online – The Statewide Internet Library provides free access to thousands of current publications, plus health, business, news and consumer information, authoritative copyrighted information that is not freely available on the Internet.   

 

·        Saves Tax Dollars – Cost savings for taxpayers are huge. Dollars invested in a Statewide Internet Library buy licenses and subscriptions that would cost local libraries up to 35 times.  

 

·        Local savings – The Statewide Internet Library provides resources many local libraries cannot afford on their own.  The Statewide Internet Library enables local libraries to provide their users with free access to hundreds of periodicals, as well as thousands of other age-appropriate research resources and e-books.

 

Needs

 

 

·        New York ranks 35th – in per capita spending for a statewide Internet library, behind states including New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, and California.

 

·        Powerful, up-to-date information – To be competitive New York must have a powerful Statewide Internet Library with current and high-end information as well as electronic science and math information that will enable students to meet the state learning standards and increase their academic performance.

 

·        Ongoing state support –New York has only limited and temporary federal dollars to support its Statewide Internet Library.

 

Users

 

·      All New Yorkers – New Yorkers can access the Statewide Internet Library from home, work, or school through their local library’s website using their library card or with a New York State Driver License or a Department of Motor Vehicles non-driver ID card at www.novelnewyork.org.

 

·       25 million searches – The Statewide Internet Library has been tested via the successful NOVELNY pilot project.  Searches have soared almost 1300% since 2001 to over 25 million per year. 

 

 

For More Information contact:

Janet M. Welch, New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries

Phone: (518) 474-5930   Fax: (518) 486-6880

Email jwelch2@mail.nysed.gov Web site: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/fundingproposals/