The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (ARRP), commonly known as the federal stimulus package, is making it’s way to the states.

So what?

That is the big question.

Governor Paterson’s office has put together a useful website illustrating the various parts of New York’s share ($24.6 billion) of the stimulus package.  While the web site appears organized, media accounts paint a different picture.

What any of this means for your library is still unclear.  Paterson administration officials inform me that most of the stimulus money will go towards restoring cuts proposed in the executive budget and otherwise closing portions of the budget deficit.  This could result in the restoration of Coordinated Collection Development Aid (CCDA), currently slated for a 10.86 percent cut.  $2.5 billion is slated to restore education cuts, so restoration of the $250,000 that was to be cut specifically from CCDA seems probable.

For ARIA the results are more opaque.  Administration officials have indicated that ARIA funding for academic and research libraries is on the list of suitable projects for ARRP funding.  Potential funding lines under ARRP would be “enhanced education technology,” “science facilities, research, instrumentation,” or other pots of discretionary spending.

NYSHEI will continue to work with the Paterson administration to restore funding for proposed cuts (CCDA) and establish a line of ARIA funding through FY2010-11.

You can help – and many already have.   Last week, a number of you send emails urging state leaders to fund ARIA.  There is still time to tell the Governor that the job and research supporting information infrastructure we call ARIA deserves funding.