Relates to state aid to the conservation and preservation of library materials program

BILL NUMBER:S2856B

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the conservation and preservation of library research materials program

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to amend Education Law 273 (7) in order to streamline and modernize the conservation and preservation program for library research materials.

Summary of provisions

These amendments will replace the complex and competitive $350,000 coordinated conservation/preservation grant program authorized under subparagraph (c) for the Big Eleven Research Libraries. The bill will also amend subparagraph (a) to move the funds from (c) to (a) in order to increase the statutory amount available to each of the eligible Big Eleven research libraries from $126,000 to $158,000. The statutory amount available to the Big Eleven research libraries has remained the same since the program was established in 1984.

Justification

This bill will streamline and modernize the conservation and preservation program for the Big Eleven research libraries.

The proposed amendments to Section 273 of the Education Law will eliminate the competitive grant program and instead shift these State funds into the formula aid program. The State's administrative requirements for competitive grant programs have become increasingly stringent, with multiple and costly layers of review and approvals. These costly layers of review drain limited staffing resources and result in long delays in grant approvals by control agencies. The administrative burden consequently outweighs the benefits of these relatively small, targeted competitive grant programs.

It will be more efficient and beneficial to redirect the $350,000 from the coordinated conservation/preservation competitive grant program into the annual statutory funding for the Big Eleven research libraries. This will enhance the program to conserve and preserve unique and fragile library research materials.

The elimination of this under-funded and labor intensive competitive grant program will also result in operational efficiencies for the State Library, the State Education Department, control agencies, and local libraries.

The effective date of the elimination of the Coordinated Conservation/Preservation Grant Program is delayed, since this program is currently operating on a multi-year cycle.

Legislative history

This bill is similar to a provision that was in S.7237 of 2012. Passed Senate 60-0.

Fiscal implications

The bill is estimated to result in some administrative savings to the State Library by eliminating a competitive grant program which is costly to administer, especially in relation to the small amount of moneys provided under this program. The changes to the library aid program itself is fiscally neutral, as increases in the statutory amount are offset by the elimination of the competitive grant program.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect as of April 1, 2013, except that certain amendments shall take effect April 1, 2014.