Assembly Bill A11092

                                BILL NUMBER:A11092

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
providing funding for the library of The General Society of Mechanics
and Tradesmen of the City of New York

PURPOSE:  This bill would provide annual funding to support the library
of The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New
York.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  Adds a new paragraph 0 to subdivision 1 of
section 273 of the Education Law to provide $200,000 annually for the
library of The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of
New York.

EXISTING LAW:  Current law provides annual funding for a number of
specialized libraries. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black
Culture ($734,000), the Business Library of the Brooklyn Public Library
($350,000), The New York Historical Society ($250,000), and the Center
for Jewish History ($200,000) are currently enumerated in the Education
Law.

JUSTIFICATION:  The library of The General Society of Mechanics and
Tradesmen of the City Of New York was founded in 1820 by master crafts-
men for the apprentices of New York. It is the second-Oldest continuous-
ly operating library in the city.
              

The collection began as books donated or purchased for the general
education of working people. By the end of the 19th century, it was the
largest circulating library in the city. Between 1886 and 1898, the
library received public funds from the State of New York and was called
the Free Library.

Today, the library continues in its 186th year as an institution with
the mission to provide educational and cultural opportunities for work-
ing people in New York. Its collections are open to the public for a
small annual subscription. Its books and periodicals support the educa-
tional programs of The General Society, including the Mechanics Insti-
tute, a tuition-free school for working adults, and the Small Press
Center, an educational resource for people interested in publishing and
its history.

The library's collection celebrates urban work and its history. Its
older books are a legacy from the 19th century, and are available to
scholars and other researchers. In 2005, the Society opened its archival
records from 1785-1955 to researchers with support from the National
Historic Publications and Records Commission. These records document the
role of New York's master craftsmen in creating and sustaining The
General Society as an educational institution for the past 223 years.

The library also serves a larger public by hosting the "Labor, Litera-
ture, and Landmarks" lecture series and the annual Small Press Center

book fair for independent publishing. The Library collaborates with
Empire State College, serving as a resource center for faculty and
students of The Harry Van Arsdale Center for Labor Studies. In recent
years, The Van Arsdale Center has contributed to the support of the
Library and its programs, as 11.SR the New York City Department of
Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Humanities. The
Library's operating budget is supported solely by The General Society.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2006: A11413 - referred to Libraries
2007: A2052-A - reported to Rules
2008: A2052-B - reported to Ways and Means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  $200,000 if appropriated in the 2010-11 budget.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2011.