WNYLRC supports a wide range of advocacy and awareness activities. They include increasing awareness of library funding at the state level, promoting the value of libraries, promoting librarianship as a profession and librarians as experts, and elevating the roles of all people working in libraries in the Western New York region.
Activities include:
- Planning and holding events to raise awareness of all types of libraries and their funding issues.
- Encouraging and increasing member participation in local and statewide advocacy efforts such as local legislative visits and communication campaigns as well as NYLA Library Advocacy Day.
- Connecting libraries and library systems with existing professional groups and programming that can help promote the value and relevance of libraries.
- Articulating the relevance of libraries to funders, policy makers, media, and other outside organizations.
- Encouraging and supporting libraries and library systems to be reflective of and relevant to the communities they serve.
- Supporting the work of the Library Education, Advancement and Partnerships (LEAP) Committee and other relevant WNYLRC committee initiatives.
Ready to get involved? Contact Caitlin Kenney for more information about how you can be a library advocate!
FY 2027 Budget Requests:
- State Aid for Libraries: $181.32 million (received $106M in FY 2026)
- State Aid for Library Construction: $175 million (received $44M in FY 2026)
- Library Materials Aid: $11.33/pupil (hasn't increased from $6.27 since 2007)
- NOVELny: $3.1 million (received $3M in FY 2026)
- Cultural Education Fee: $15 Increase (to $30/transaction)
2026 Legislative Priorities:
- Intellectual Freedom (Open Shelves Act)
- eBook Licensing Reform
- Civil Service Reform
- Media Literacy
Download the WNYLRC talking points for these priorities