Senator Receives Public Official of the Year Award by Libraries of Middlesex County, New Jersey Library Champions Lifelong Dedication Award
MONROE TWP. – In recognition of her long-standing dedication to supporting New Jersey’s public libraries, Senator Linda R. Greenstein was recently honored by two distinguished library organizations that are in the forefront in consistently advocating for community-based libraries and the New Jersey State Library.
On Monday, December 13, 2010, Greenstein received the Public Official of the Year Award from the Libraries of Middlesex County at their 2010 Awards Reception held at the Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick. Last month, Greenstein was honored with the Lifelong Dedication Award by the New Jersey Library Champions, an organization aimed at supporting the New Jersey State Library and raising awareness about the benefits of public libraries.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by these great organizations that are at the forefront of protecting our local public libraries and State Library,” said Greenstein. “Public libraries are part of the heart and soul of our communities and need to be funded to the greatest extent possible in order to keep their doors open and information available to local residents. I deeply appreciate these honors and look forward to continuing to work with library advocates in the future.”
Earlier this year, Greenstein was a leader in the fight to restore funding cut under the Fiscal Year 2011 State Budget. Greenstein met with library leaders throughout the 14th District and State to identify ways to fight for funding restoration or potentially identify alternative funding mechanisms. The budget ultimately restored $4.3 million of the $10.4 million that was initially cut.
Greenstein, along with her district-mate Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), has introduced legislation (Senate Bill 2561) that would require telecommunications providers to provide free Internet service in at least one public library in each municipality in their coverage areas.
“With too many of our local libraries pinching every penny to maintain services, this legislation would guarantee that the community libraries would still be able to provide free Internet access to residents who need to look for a job, apply for assistance programs or identify other helpful programs. It’s a small bit of relief that can provide a world of benefit to our communities,” said Greenstein.
Greenstein serves in the State Senate representing the 14th Legislative District which consists of Cranbury, Monroe Township, Jamesburg, South Brunswick and Plainsboro in Middlesex County and Hamilton Township and West Windsor in Mercer County.