Legislature Passes Abinanti Bills Supporting Libraries in the 21st Century

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology, today announced passage of two pieces of legislation that he sponsored to help libraries utilize funding for broadband services and increase access to electronic books.

Assembly bill 8168, sponsored in the Senate by Senator O’Mara, would allow libraries to access funds from the Public Library Construction Grant Program and use those funds for broadband installation. Currently under the Public Library Construction Grant Program, $14 million is appropriated annually for the purpose of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of public libraries.

“Libraries are increasingly becoming the primary internet access point for so many New Yorkers,” said Abinanti. “This bill will provide support for libraries to install, update and repair broadband infrastructure – meeting the demand for library internet access in the 21st century.”

Assembly bill 7626, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Farley, would direct the State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan for increasing access to and lending of electronic books in public libraries across New York State. Over the last five years, the demand for electronic books has increased significantly.

“As this shift from print books to electronic books has occurred, library users have been increasingly eager to access electronic books to read on mobile devices,” said the Westchester Assemblyman. “We need a comprehensive review of how electronic books are currently being sold and what we can do as a State to increase access and lending.”

In February, Abinanti was appointed Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology by newly-elected Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie.

The bills now await the Governor’s action.