Pioneer Library System is asking community members to show their support for public libraries by visiting their OWWL (Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming or Livingston County) library the week of February 14. Show your support in Geneva by visiting the Geneva Public Library on Thursday, February 18.

Supporters who cannot visit the library are encouraged to share their library story or send an advocacy message. In Geneva, supporters can use the library's contact form. Suporters are also encouraged to use an online service such as downloading an audiobook or an eBook from OWWL2GO, or by exploring a library's online resources: discover new authors by using Novelist Plus or learn a new computer skill by setting up a personal account on Learning Express Library.

Libraries across Pioneer Library System have selected the week of February 14th to participate in a New York Library statewide advocacy effort known as SNAPSHOTNY: A Day in the Life of the Library. The System office along with libraries throughout NYS will select one day between now and February 24th to document what their library means to the community and those who use its services.

Jennifer Morris, Executive Director of the Pioneer Library System, states that the campaign grew out of frustration by libraries across NYS who are faced with over 18% in budget cuts over the past two years. The New York Library Association heard the frustration and suggested that the most positive way to demonstrate that libraries are part of our safety net— essential to lifelong learning, jobs and opportunity, quality of life and community empowerment –- is to invite community members to share support and testimonials on how the library has a made a difference in their lives.

“We are at a point where libraries and library systems need your protection,” she stated. “Residents are encouraged to speak up now before it’s too late.”

State funding for libraries has already been cut three times in the last 20 months -- from $102 million in 2007 to $99 million in 2008, to $91 million in April 2009 and now to $87 million with the latest round of deficit reductions. The cuts bring Library Aid down to 1998 levels and Governor David Paterson is proposing an additional statewide cut of $2.4 million in library aid for 2011-2012. For Pioneer Library System, cuts have already meant a reduction of $250,000 in aid that will have to be made up by cutbacks in service and new usage fees.

Please visit your library either in person, via your library's website, or via OWWL.org and check out the Take Action and Your Story Starts Here links to show your support!

Your library needs you.