Assembly Jonathan Bing (D-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Educational Technology has introduced legislation (A.10884) to adjust the formula that sets coordinated collection development aid for academic libraries.
Mr. Bing said, “I am proud to introduce legislation to update the funding formula for state aid to public and private academic research libraries. The formula has not been adjusted for over 25 years and, during this time, prices of some published materials have outpaced inflation by 300 percent. This legislation is needed to ensure that our higher education sector is able to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.”
NYSHEI Executive Director Jason Kramer applauded the action. “NYSHEI is extremely grateful to Mr. Bing for recognizing and addressing this issue. From the moment of our first conversation on the matter, Mr. Bing showed a clear understanding of the importance – to quality of higher education institutions and to their role in supporting the state economy – of CCDA. Clearly, he values the academic library community and is committed to doing everything he can to ensure their success.”
Established in the state Education Law, CCDA provides some state support to public and non-profit institutions of higher education in securing valuable information collections in a cost-effective manner. Driven by a funding formula set in statute in 1984, CCDA has not been updated or indexed to the Consumer Price Index.
“This legislation,” said Kramer “addresses the neglect of a long overlooked CCD aid formula. During these difficult economic times modernizing aid apportionment is more important than ever before. I am thankful for Mr. Bing’s leadership and look forward to working with him towards passage of this bill.”
Assembly bill 10884 would increase the CCDA formula by 25 percent in the first year, and provide for the formula to be indexed to the CPI by 2014. Currently the total state appropriation toward CCDA is under $2 million for the 270 eligible academic libraries of New York. In recent years the 1984 formula has been underfunded by state budgets.
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