Central New Yorkers traveling to state capital to support libraries

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Dozens of people from the Syracuse ventured to Albany on Tuesday to support funding for libraries.

The Central New York Library Council says libraries have endured a 20 percent drop in state money over the last six years.

The money is used to help coordinate resources to make sure books and other materials can be shared between area libraries and to allow them to provide other services for Central New York communities.

"The communities are counting on us,” said Deirdre Joyce of the CNY Library Resources Council. “Sometimes the only way that you can apply for a job is online and not everybody has access to computers or broadband internet and that’s what their local libraries will provide for them.”

This year’s budget calls for library funding to remain flat at $18.6 million.