NYSHEI News

At the request of Governor Spitzer’s office NYSHEI has issued a brief statement on the future of public higher education.

In the statement, NYSHEI argues that success of the developing “innovation economy” hinges on a recognition and elevation of the importance of academic and research libraries in the “information infrastructure” needed to support that economy.

An excerpt from the statement:

“NYSHEI libraries are a key to maintaining the collections needed to attract and retain leading research faculty.  In maintaining access for the community-at-large, these same libraries are an asset to small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

For a copy of the statement, contact nyshei@nyshei.org

We cannot allow this to happen in New York.

In September of 2006 a remarkably impressive commission, including educational and business leaders from across the country, reported to United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings on the future of higher education in America.

In the entire 76 page document you will not find the words “library” or “librarian.” Not once. Among the hundreds of groups and institutions providing comment to the commission, not a single one explicitly respresented libraries. Not one.

In its conclusion, the commission reached concensus on setting the following goals:
1. “a world-class higher-education system that creates new knowledge, contributes to economic prosperity and global competitiveness, and empowers citizens;
2. a system that is accessible to all Americans, throughout their lives;
3. institutions that provide high-quality instruction while improving their efficiency in order to be more affordable to the students,
taxpayers, and donors who sustain them;
4. a system that gives Americans the workplace skills they need to adapt to a rapidly changing economy;
5. institutions to adapt to a world altered by technology, changing demographics and globalization, in which the higher-education
landscape includes new providers and new paradigms, from for-profit universities to distance learning.”

All of these goals are central to the academic enterprise, and none of the are acheiveable without academic and research libraries.

New York’s academic libraries have a opportunity, and an obligation, that was neglected at the federal level. NYSHEI will ensure that this obligation is met, and the opportunity seized.

In meeting with key legislators, appropriate staff and – significantly – Manuel Rivera, Ph.D., Deputy Secretary for Education to Governor Eliot Spitzer, NYSHEI is moving its advocacy agenda forward. As you know, NYSHEI is taking a more activist role in promoting its concerns. I am happy to report that we are being well received at the Capitol. Your letters and phone calls urging the Governor to appoint an academic librarian have been noticed and are making my appeals more effective. For more ways to get involved please drop me a note at kramerj@nyshei.org.

Two NYSHEI regional meetings have been set. They are March 26 at LeMoyne College and April 2 at Sarah Lawrence College. These meetings will be a great opportunity to informally discuss the direction of our organization and for me to learn first-hand about the issues most important to you and your library. If you have already received an invitation please attend. If you would like to host a meeting in your region please email me at kramerj@nyshei.org.

I look forward to meeting you.

The fifth annual meeting of NYSHEI is approaching fast so mark your calendars.

This years event will take place on June 4, 2007 at beautiful Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. Watch this space for details including speakers, accomodations and other opportunities.