S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5854

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              June 18, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  FARLEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT relating to studying the economic impact of public libraries  and
  public library systems in New York state

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Study of the economic impact of public libraries and public
library systems. The empire state development corporation, in  consulta-
tion  with  the state education department, shall conduct a study on the
economic impact of public libraries and public library  systems  in  New
York state. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, the follow-
ing:
  a.  The  return  on  investment  New  York state and local governments
receive from public libraries and public library systems;
  b. The direct, indirect, and induced economic  impact  of  all  public
library expenditures on the state and local economies;
  c. An examination of the resources, services, and programs provided to
library patrons for career development;
  d. An examination of the resources, services, and programs provided to
current and prospective business owners; and
  e.    An analysis of public library systems and the value they provide
to public libraries.
  S 2. For the purposes of  this  act,  the  following  terms  shall  be
defined as follows:
  a.  "public  library"  shall  mean  any public or association library,
other than professional, technical or public school library, established
for free public  purposes  by  official  action  of  a  municipality  or
district  or  the  legislature,  where the whole interests belong to the
public; the term "association" library shall  be  construed  to  mean  a
library  established  and controlled, in whole or in part, by a group of
private individuals operating as an association, closed  corporation  or

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11296-04-3
              

S. 5854                             2

as  trustees  under  the  provisions of a will or deed of trust; and the
term "free" as applied to a library shall be construed to mean a library
maintained for the benefit and free use on equal terms of all the people
of the community in which the library is located.
  b. "public library system" shall mean:
  (1) A library established by one or more counties.
  (2)  A  group of libraries serving an area including one or more coun-
ties in whole or in part.
  (3) A library of a city containing one or more counties.
  (4) A cooperative library system established pursuant to  section  255
of  the education law, the plan of library service of any of which shall
have been approved by the commissioner of the department of education.
  S 3. The empire state development corporation shall conduct such study
at least once every five years beginning on January 1, 2015.  Such study
shall be provided to the governor, the  speaker  of  the  assembly,  the
temporary  president  of the senate, the chair of the assembly libraries
and education technology committee, and the chair of the  senate  select
committee  on libraries. Such study shall also be posted on the New York
state library's website.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.