Shortly after midnight during the September 10, 2009 session of the New York State Senate, the Academic Research Information Access (ARIA) act was passed.
ARIA has now passed both chambers of the state legislature, each time with unanimous support (Assembly 145-0, Senate 59-0). This is a significant event for all academic and research libraries in New York, and a banner day for the state’s fledgling innovation economy
ARIA is a first, bold step towards a statewide information infrastructure that provides direct support for high level research and innovation in science, technology, engineering and medicine. When fully funded ARIA will lower library costs, expand collections, support faculty recruitment and retention and bolster job growth.
Specifically, the ARIA legislation establishes the administrative framework this new information infrastructure. Under ARIA, Empire State Development, the state’s leading economic development agent, will utilize a new funding stream exclusively for the procurement of statewide contracts and licenses of high-end digital information resources. To ensure that the procurements are of the greatest advantage to students, faculty and entrepreneurs, the NYSHEI Board of Directors will serve as an advisory body to Empire State Development.
Before ARIA can become law, it must gain the signature of Governor Paterson. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law later this year.
NYSHEI now turns its attention to securing full funding for ARIA in the forthcoming state budget.
More information about ARIA is available.
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