NYSHEI News

With the retirement date of State Librarian Janet Welch fast approaching, the New York State Education Department is undertaking a broad search for her successor.

To assist in finding the best person to lead in the information age, the State Education Department is asking NYSHEI, as well as other library groups, to offer a formal statement on the qualities, abilities and vision the next state librarian should possess.

Please help NYSHEI by offering your thoughts by adding a comment to this blog post or, if you prefer, by emailing nyshei@nyshei.org subject line “next state librarian.”

This is an important opportunity for academic and research libraries to contribute their expertise to an important decision. Please do not hesitate to add your two cents.

Governor David Paterson is attempting to do something that has not been done since Hugh Carey put an end to the “days of wine and roses.” Paterson is preparing a state budget proposal that will cut spending by 10 percent.

George Pataki proposed the occasional state budget cut, but once the Legislature got involved the best he could manage was 0 percent spending growth in 1997. Should Paterson succeed in actually reducing state spending he will do something that has not been done in decades.

It is hard to imagine real cuts that reduce the total level of spending, especially from Paterson whose own record as a legislator shows him to be no fiscal prude, and big battles will have to won in the legislature. But, as Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow, and NYSHEI Annual Meeting Speaker, E.J. McMahon points out, “it is a good start.”

Seemingly every day the fiscal outlook of New York State worsens. Now it appears the state may start getting serious about dealing with the problem – and not “serious” in the Albany way that declares a budget with 5 percent growth to be “bare bones.”

Governor Paterson is calling for a $12 billion spending reduction next year, an immediate hiring freeze and further cuts at state agencies. To do all this Paterson will need to address the addiction to pork barrel spending.

Accelerating the usual process and contributing to the sense of urgency, Governor Paterson has given agency commissioners until May 15 to come up with reduction plans in their departments.

Governor David Paterson has a drink named for him.

Invented at 74 State Street, an upscale downtown Albany hotel Paterson is known to frequent despite owning a home a few miles away, by head bartender Kevin Tighe, the “David Paterson” is based on the Bellini.

If you want to mix one for yourself Mr. Tighe provides the recipe: 4oz. of Glenora Brut, 1oz. Cortland Apple Puree, and 1oz. Simple Syrup infused with Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla.

No word yet on whether or not the Governor is a fan of the drink.

The Albany Times-Union describes a controversial state budgeting practice known as “sweeping.”

While the concept will be familiar to accountants, using public funds in this way promises to raise even more issues for beleaguered Governor Paterson.