THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	Carole F. Huxley
COMMITTEE:	Cultural Education
TITLE OF ITEM:	New York State Library Borrowing Privileges
DATE OF SUBMISSION:	May 28, 2004
PROPOSED HANDLING:	Discussion
RATIONALE FOR ITEM:	To discuss expansion of borrowing privileges of the New York State Library collections for all New Yorkers
STRATEGIC GOAL:	4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY:

 

The New York State Library’s Research Library proposes to expand its borrowing privileges to include the following:

 

• Direct borrowing from the New York State Library’s circulating collection for all New York State residents who are at least 18 years of age.

 

• Direct remote access to the collection of NOVEL databases through the New York State Library website.

 

• Direct remote access through the New York State Library website to an additional group of databases to be selected on the basis of appropriateness, availability, and affordability.

 

The Regents adopted the recommendations of the 1998–2000 Regents Commission on Library Services as their public policy. The overall thrust of the recommendations was to strengthen library services and improve New Yorkers’ access to high-quality, reliable information resources, including electronic resources.

 

Borrowing from New York State Library collections is currently limited to state officials/employees, members of the New York State bar, New York State licensed physicians, and local government historians, as well as other individuals for limited periods of time by special permission of the Assistant Commissioner for Libraries. The proposal would extend borrowing privileges to all New Yorkers 18 years of age and older.

 

The State Library would implement the new policy as a six-month pilot project and review the project at the end of that period. If, at the end of the pilot project you choose to extend the borrowing privileges permanently, the Commissioner’s regulations will have to be amended.

 

During the discussion, Janet Welch will provide more information on the proposal. We would appreciate hearing your comments on policy implications, including the impact of an expanded role of the New York State Library’s Research Library on local libraries whose customers cannot now borrow directly from the State Library.