The New York State Complete Count Commission has announced seven public hearings across the state to gain public input and hear from Census experts and advocates. Each meeting of the Commission will be open to the public and webcast. The events will feature detailed presentations to the Commission by various entities involved in the census, as well as testimony from advocates, and the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional hearings may be scheduled at a later date.

This is a great opportunity to let the Commission know how the 2020 Census will affect your library and your community. In 2020 the Census will be administered digitally for the firs time, how important is your library to your community in terms of access to technology and digital inclusion? What kind of funding and resources will you need to support a complete count? Check out the New York Library Association’s Library-Based Complete Count Initiatives for some great talking points. We’re request $40M to support funding for cybersecurity measures, staff resources, IT infrastructure, and more.

To learn more about the public hearings and how to participate, click here. You must visit that website and register to make a public statement.