N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 57.13

§ 57.13. Statement of legislative intent. The legislature finds that\npublic records are essential to the administration of local government.\nPublic records contain information which allows government programs to\nfunction, provides officials with a basis for making decisions, and\nensures continuity with past operations. Public records document the\nlegal responsibility of government, protect the rights of citizens, and\nprovide citizens with a means of monitoring government programs and\nmeasuring the performance of public officials. Local government records\nalso reflect the historical development of the government and of the\ncommunity it serves. Such records need to be systematically managed to\nensure ready access to vital information and to promote the efficient\nand economical operation of government.\n