NYSHEI today released its memorandum of support for the Taxpayer Access to Publicly Funded Research (TAPFR) act.   The text of the memorandum is below. NYSHEI thanks Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi for sponsoring this important legislation and looks forward to working with him to make New York the first open access state in the nation. The New [...]

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The SUNY Librarians Association is partnering with NYSHEI to enhance both organizations. Roseanne Humes, President of SUNYLA and librarian at Nassau Community College said, “the State University of New York Librarians Association (SUNYLA) has formed a collaborative partnership with NYSHEI. SUNYLA supports NYSHEI’s role as an advocate of Academic Libraries and higher education, and looks forward to working with them.” [...]

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Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Silver announced final agreement on a 2012 state budget.  Formal adoption will begin shortly.  This soon-to-be state fiscal plan contains significant changes to the state procurement law that will positively affect the ability of academic and research libraries to save money, improve collaboration, and gain needed [...]

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The “taxpayer access to publically funded research act” (TAPFR) is now active in the New York State Legislature.  TAPFR is supported by the New York State Higher Education Initiative (NYSHEI) and sponsored by Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens) – pictured above. TAPFR establishes that the published results of publically funded research be openly and electronically accessible [...]

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New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) recently introduced the “Research Works Act.”  This federal legislation (H.R. 3699) would undo much of the open access progress made in recent years. In direct opposition to the open access policies of the administrations of both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Ms. Maloney, seeks to prohibit federal agencies [...]

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The New York State Board of Regents Advisory Council on Libraries recently released the first draft of “Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision and Plan for Library Service in New York State.” NYSHEI, along with allied organizations has been asking the advisory council to be more mindful of the challenges and value of academic and [...]

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Governor Cuomo’s August 17th veto of the Academic Research Information Access (ARIA) act, the most prominent object of NYSHEI advocacy, was unexpected.  Though disappointing, our near-miss has opened a door on new paths to continued progress. **How Did We Get Here? In its short history, ARIA gained the support of Governor Spitzer, the Commission on [...]

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The Academic Research Information Access (ARIA) act now has the full approval of both houses of the State Legislature.  Shortly, ARIA will be transmitted to the Governor.  With his signature ARIA will be law. On Monday, June 6, 2011 the State Assembly held a vote on ARIA.  With unanimous, bipartisan support ARIA was approved.  Three [...]

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Under the leadership of Senator James Alesi (R,C,I – Perinton) the State Senate on May 17, 2011 approved ARIA by a vote of 61-0. To call attention to the passage Senator Alesi issued the following press release and offered this video testimonial. In a strong display of bi-partisanship, the New York State Senate today unanimously [...]

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The SUNY Council of Library Directors approved a new strategic plan at the April 15th SCLD Spring Conference. “The Power of SUNY Libraries: A Strategic Plan for 2011- 2014” was developed by the SUNY Council of Library Directors, with input from the SUNY Librarians Association, the SUNY Office of Library and Information Services and other [...]

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