|     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 Cultural 
      Education Committee   | 
| FROM: | Carole F. Huxley | 
| SUBJECT: | Recommendations of the Regents Advisory Council | 
| 
        DATE: |   April 22, 2005 | 
| 
        STRATEGIC 
      GOAL: |   2, 3, 4 and 5 | 
| 
        AUTHORIZATION(S): |   | 
 
Issue for 
Discussion
 
How can the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries (RAC) and the Regents work together to reverse the decline in library funding?
 
Proposed Handling
 
This question will come before the Cultural 
Education Committee on May 17, 2005 for discussion. The Regents Advisory Council 
chair will present the RAC report. Following that presentation, the Committee 
will have the opportunity to question the Council members and to discuss their 
recommendations in detail.
 
Procedural History
 
The Regents Advisory Council 
on Libraries, the oldest continuing Regents advisory council, advises the Board 
on issues concerning library policy, works with the officers of the State 
Education Department in developing a comprehensive statewide library and 
information policy, and makes recommendations to the Regents for implementing 
library programs and initiatives.
 
 
Each year the members report 
directly to the Board on their activities, concerns and recommendations. 
Your Regents Advisory Council 
on Libraries includes community leaders and library leaders who study and review 
library services to New Yorkers, discuss options with elected officials and 
engage the Regents in establishing priorities. A list of the RAC members is 
attached.
 
Recommendation
 
The Regents should accept the RAC report and 
work with its members to implement it.
 
Timetable for Implementation
 
Implementation should begin immediately 
leading up to the Regents Summit, and to the 2005-2006 budget and legislative 
priorities.
 
 
Member (term 
expires)
 
 
 
Ms. Ellen 
Bach (2009)
Attorney
Whiteman, 
Osterman, & Hanna, LLP
One 
Commerce Plaza
Albany, 
NY  12260
(518) 
487-7736  Fax:  (518) 487-7777
E-mail:  
ebach@woh.com 
 
Ms. Mary 
Lou Caskey 
(2008)
Director, 
Mid-York Library System
1600 
Lincoln Avenue
Utica, 
NY  13502
(315) 
735-8328  Fax:  (315) 735-0943
E-mail:  
mcaskey@midyork.org 
 
Dr. Louis 
A. Ciota* (2005)
Principal
Middle 
Hope Elementary School
62 
Overlook Drive
Newburgh, 
NY  12550
(845) 
565-9620
E-mail:  
louciota@yahoo.com 
 
Ms. 
Ginnie Cooper (2009)
Executive 
Director
Brooklyn 
Public Library
Grand 
Army Plaza
Brooklyn, 
NY  11238
(718) 
230-2403  Fax:  (718) 398-3947
E-mail:  
g.cooper@brooklynpubliclibrary.org
 
Mr. 
Norman J. Jacknis (2009)
Chief 
Information Officer
Department 
of Information Technology
148 
Martine Ave.
White 
Plains, NY  
10601
(914) 
995-2976  Fax:  (914) 995-2999
E-mail:  
norm@jacknis.com 
 
Mr. 
Timothy V. Johnson (2007)
Assistant 
Director for Programs and Services
Metropolitan 
New York Library Council (METRO)
57 E. 
11th Street
New York, 
NY  10003
(212) 
228-2320  Fax:  (212) 228-2598
E-mail:  
tjohnson@metro.org 
 
Ms. 
Lucretia McClure (2006)
Special 
Assistant to the Director
Countway 
Library of Medicine -Harvard Medical School
10 
Shattuck Street
Boston, 
MA  02115
(617) 
432-2635  Fax:  (617) 432-0693
E-mail:  
lucretia_mcclure@hms.harvard.edu
 
Ms. 
Cerise Oberman (2006)
Dean of 
Library and Information Services
Feinberg 
0211
SUNY 
Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, 
NY 12901
(518) 
564-5180  Fax: (518) 
564-5100
E-mail:  
obermacg@plattsburgh.edu
 
Mr. 
Samuel L. Simon (2005)
Trustee, 
Ramapo Catskill Library System
2 
Salisbury Point 6C
South 
Nyack, NY  
10960
(845) 
358-1825
E-mail:  
snesimon@optonline.net
 
Dr. Karen 
Patricia Smith (2007)
Professor, 
Queens College
Graduate 
School of Library and Information Studies
Rosenthal 
Library – Room 254
65-30 
Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, 
NY  11367
(718) 
997-3790  Fax:  (914) 997-7197
E-mail:  
Alice31smith@optonline.net 
 
Ms. Carol 
Tauriello  (2008)
Director, 
Erie 1 BOCES School Library System
355 
Harlem Road
West 
Seneca, NY  
14224
(716) 
821-7070  Fax:  (716) 821-7292
E-mail:  
ctauriello@e1b.org 
 
Mr. 
Irving Toliver (2007)
Director. 
Human Services Department
Town of 
Huntington
Huntington, 
NY  11743
(631) 
351-3067  Fax: (631) 
425-0746
E-mail:  
Itoliver@Town.Huntington.ny.us 
 
 
*Chair
 
Staff: 
Janet M. Welch                                     
State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries                      
(518) 474-5930
Mary 
Redmond                                     
Interim Director, New York State Library                                            
(518) 473-1189
Carol Desch                                          
Coordinator, Statewide Library Services                               
(518) 486-4862
Pat 
Webster                                          
Associate, School Library Media Services (EMSC)               
               
(518) 
486-2228