State lawmakers said Monday they will work to draft a bill to strengthen privacy and protections for library and other public workers after a reported increase in threats or acts of aggression toward public servants. 

Several library directors from across the state testified Monday they've seen an increase in members of the public targeting library staff when patrons are unhappy with decisions about the books or materials the library offers. 

Librarians at a public hearing in Albany recounted how their staff are often doxxed, or have their personal information published maliciously. 

"They're just doing their job," said Assemblyman Josh Jensen, a Republican from Western New York. "They shouldn't be on the receiving end of such vitriol and really such aggression from the community they serve."

Lawmakers said they will work to draft legislation to increase privacy and protections of library staff and other public workers similar to a state law that permits federal, state and local court officials and their immediate families to enroll in a program that keeps their address and other public information confidential. 

"We should protect public servants like library workers or staff in other public-facing institutions," Jensen said. "...They shouldn't be targets because someone made a decision about content they weren't responsible for."

Many panelists asked lawmakers to create a new state fund in next year's budget to make libraries more resilient to emergencies and natural disasters. The current budgeted construction aid for libraries is intended for expansions — not disaster relief.

"Almost every witness brought up some sort of damages by flooding or some sort of extreme weather," said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who chairs the Libraries and Education Technology Committee.

Santabarbara said libraries are often older buildings that may be more vulnerable to extreme weather. Questions about creating a separate funding stream and if the state can afford it will be answered during the next budget cycle.

Most librarians at Monday's hearing also asked for the state to revisit a previously vetoed bill that would save taxpayer dollars. Libraries pay 8 to 10 times more than a consumer does to keep electronic books — an issue Santabarbara said must be fixed next session.

When consumers buy a book electronically, they pay once and it's theirs for life. But libraries buy an e-book license that's only good for so many check outs, or a certain amount of time, and then have to pay over and over again to renew it.

"How long that paper book would last is a lot longer than the term of the license that they would actually give the libraries," Santabarbara said.

The assemblyman carries legislation that would require book publishers charge libraries a price on par with what individuals pay — making e-book licenses more equitable and affordable for libraries. About 20% of library patrons across the state choose electronic books or magazines.

Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a similar bill in 2021 over concerns it would violate the constitutional interstate commerce clause and copyright law.

The assemblyman said his bill addresses the copyright issues cited in Hochul's earlier veto.

"When we put public dollars into the libraries, do we really want them all going to publishers at higher rates than what you would normally pay?" he said.

Other librarians requested the state Education Department create a media literacy and misinformation curriculum for New York students and join 19 other states, including New Jersey, that have taken similar legislative action. 

Lawmakers may draft legislation to dictate a process for when a library decides to pull out of a larger library system. This is currently happening for the first time in state history as Schenectady County's nine branches work to vacate from the Mohawk Valley Library System.