Monday, May 19, 2025
National Library Week finished on April 12, and to celebrate, State Sen. Siela Bynoe put forth several bills to help local libraries.
Bynoe is the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Libraries, which met for the first time this year on April 8.
“I am proud to advance this set of bills that strengthens (libraries’) ability to serve, protect intellectual freedom, and bring critical services directly to the people who need them most,” she said in a news release. “I encourage everyone to explore their local library!”
The new bills are meant to support local libraries’ expanding roles in Uniondale, Bynoe said.
“The local library is often our most accessible and trusted resource in our communities,” she said in the release.
“Whether it’s connecting people to job training, helping our kids build their literacy skills early, or simply offering a safe space to learn and grow, libraries meet real needs every day.”
The seven bills put forward by the committee cover a variety of topics.
Three bills introduced by Bynoe would create pilot programs to hire social workers at some public libraries, dedicate $1 million in grant funding to public libraries offering employment preparation programs, and offer parents a library card for students who are being enrolled in schools.
The committee also put forward two important bills: the Freedom to Read Act and the Open Shelves Act. The first enables school libraries to offer the widest array of appropriate books possible, and the second would permit public libraries to curate themed book collections and programs to explore different perspectives.
“Libraries are essential institutions that foster equity in education, bridge gaps in access to critical resources, and serve as community anchors for the neighborhoods they serve,” said AnnaLee Dragon, executive director of the New York Library Association, in a release. “NYLA applauds the work of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Libraries and its Chair, Senator Siela Bynoe, for advancing legislation intended to support libraries, library users, and the field of librarianship in this crucial moment.”
Uniondale Public Library Director Mara Marin expressed her support for Bynoe’s proposals.
“We support Senator Bynoe in her efforts, we would absolutely love to see social workers in our libraries, because that’s something that’s very much needed,” she said.
The library is closed for repairs during April.
“The reason why we are closed is to actually have a construction of a new roof, because the old roof was beyond repair, and we had a lot of leaks in various places of the library every time it rains,” Marin said.
During the closure, no events for National Library Week were held.
Assistant Director Syntychia Kendrick-Samuel hopes to see Bynoe’s bills be signed into law.
“I’m always excited about the potential for support coming from the state level,” she said. “I know that Senator Bynoe has shown a commitment to the library, especially Uniondale, even from when she was a Nassau County Legislator.
“It just goes on to showcase how important libraries are, and on a community level, educationally and just even for the individual who needs access to information and other resources at no charge,” Kendrick-Samuel added.
