Politics & Government

State Senate Passes Library Bill Co-Sponsored by Avella

Legislation would allow public libraries to apply for funds for adult literacy services.

The State Senate has passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, that would allow public libraries to apply for and receive funds for pre-GED and other adult literacy services.

Avella, who co-sponsored the bill with Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Schenectady, said the bill would enable the Queens Public Library system to bring in education services for adults.

“Many of our libraries already provide many of the same programs that EPE (Employment Preparation Education) does and offer a more comfortable and accessible environment to learn,” Avella said. “Unfortunately, our public libraries are already dramatically underfunded and do not have the resources to meet the demand for EPE-style training in larger cities."

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"As it stands, funding for public libraries as a whole is less than a quarter of EPE funding," he added. "By providing grants that will go to larger cities, we help those libraries that are in desperate need of resources to assist the growing demand of adults who don’t have a high school degree better themselves.”

The EPE is a $96 million program that is currently only available to schools and Board of Cooperative Educational Services to provide service to adults who are age 21 or older and have not received their high school degree or GED.

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The services include employment skills, English as a Second Language courses and pre-GED classes.

Under Avella and Farley’s bill, the state would set aside $3 million to be provided in competitive grants to public libraries. 

At least half of that amount would go toward libraries in cities with a population over one million.

In a statement, the Queens Public Library praised the bill’s passage.

“Queens Library has a robust program in adult literacy and education, serving thousands of learners every year and helping them on their way toward a high school degree and beyond,” the statement read. “We applaud the efforts of Sens. Avella and Farley and the whole legislature to expand access to education through public libraries.”


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