Dear friends and colleagues:
Earlier this year I reported that the Electronic Doorway Library program
(EDL), S.2628-A, being supported by LLAGNY and AALL hit a roadblock in the
form of the Governor vetoing the funding for this vital program. The GRC
than asked that all librarians, library employees, and library partons send
email or letters to the Governor asking him to rethink his position. Below,
please find a reprint of a response the LLAGNY GRC received from the
Senate's prime sponsor, Senator Hugh T. Farley. As the letter clearly
outlines, it is not too late for the Governor to change his mind. The GRC
therefore asks once more that everyone send an email or written letter to
the Governor regarding the EDL program.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Eric M. Kaufman, Chairperson
LLAGNY GRC
This is a reprint of the letter the LLAGNY GRC received from Senator Hugh T.
Farley regarding S.2628-A, (EDL):
May 15, 1998
Eric M. Kaufman, Chair
Government Relations Committee
Law Library Association of Greater New York
P.O. Box 5296
New York, NY 10185
Dear Mr. Kaufman:
Thank you for your letter in support of Senate bill, S.2628A, the Electronic
Doorway Library bill (EDL).
As you are probably aware, I am the prime sponsor of S.2628-A in the Senate
and, therefore, am a strong supporter of the bill. I was pleased that in
the budget that the Legislature passed last month we included $5.9 million
to fully fund Chapter 917, and $3 million for the EDL program. As you are
also aware, the Governor exercised his veto prerogative this year and the
EDL funding was one of the lines in the budget that was vetoed.
The Governor has indicated that he may consider renegotiating certain vetoed
items. My Senate colleagues and I also would be open to renegotiating
certain budget items. I strongly support taking another look at the EDL
funding.
I am in the process of amending S.2628-A to include $3 million that was part
of the legislative budget agreement. I am also recommending that libraries
take the time to contact the Governor and provide him with information
relating to the EDL library programs that are directly attributable to the
$2 million that was available during the past two years.
Thank you again for your letter and your interest in this important area of
funding. I assure you that in my role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Libraries, my strong commitment to libraries will continue.
Cordially,
Hugh T. Farley
Senator
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Eric M. Kaufman, Senior Reference Librarian
New York County Lawyers' Association
14 Vesey Street, 3rd Floor
New York, N.Y. 10007
(212)267-6646, ext. 204
Fax: (212)791-6437
Email: ekaufman2@mindspring.com
"Any opinions expressed are my own and not thoses of my employer"
"Knowledge is happiness, because to have knowledge-broad, deep knowledge-is
to know true ends from false, and lofty things from low. To know the
thoughts and deeds that have marked man's progress is to feel the great
heart throbs of humanity through the centuries; and if one does not feel in
these pulsations a heavenward striving, one must indeed be deaf to the
harmonies of life". Helen Keller
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