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

                                 7621--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 20, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. ABINANTI, ARROYO, CAHILL, KEARNS, MARKEY, McDO-
  NALD, SIMON, BARRETT, THIELE, COLTON, RAIA, RA,  OTIS  --  Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M. of A. COOK, DiPIETRO, GUNTHER -- read once and referred
  to the Committee on Libraries and Education Technology -- reported and
  referred  to  the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee discharged,
  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
  committee

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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD08532-03-5
              

A. 7621--A                          2

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
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
which  shall  be  completed  by  January  1, 2017.   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 educa-
tion 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.