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Welcome to the NYLA Voice October 2024 issue! Below is a quick links menus that will take you right to your favorite articles. When you are done simply click ‘Back to menu’ to return to the top. Happy reading!
Fall is here, and that means it is almost time for the NYLA Annual Conference!
I've been home for the past week recuperating from a retina issue, but thanks to audiobooks, I've been listening to Amanda Jones' book, That Librarian. I'm so looking forward to chatting with Amanda during the keynote session at conference. She is a true intellectual freedom advocate for all of us, and her book is truly horrifying and inspiring at the same time, when thinking of how libraries have become a target for a very scary agenda of hate.
I hope you have taken advantage of your membership and are registered to attend conference! If not- stop reading this and go register now before registration closes on October 11. I can't wait to see you in beautiful Syracuse!
Just under a month away from conference has the office busy, busy, busy!
Planning for our fall event is coming to a close as we are finalizing all things for the annual conference. Even though we are in the midst of getting everyone registered, we continue to add new/past members to our database every day. We are just over four months into our new fixed membership year, but if you have yet to get back into the system, you will want to do that as soon as possible.
WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER?
If you have yet to join, it’s not too late! The Join Form available on the NYLA homepage should be used to complete this. As in our past database, organizational members should make sure that the past rep (Key Contact in the new system) on their account completes the Join form their organizational membership. This should not be completed by any members that are included in the organizational membership.
Just a reminder, the office did not transfer any past member data into the new database. If you have not entered the new system and created any login credentials, you should be entering as a new user.
The Join Form will be creating your new account for the 2024-2025 year and a member fee is required even if you were a previous active member. Members with previous memberships expiring into the later months of 2024 would receive a prorate for the months they will not be receiving membership. All forms are being placed in a “pending” status for the office to review and provide any proration available. We kindly request 1 - 2 business days for the office to review your form. Accounts are made active. Organizational account included members will be sent a welcome email with their new username and instructions to create a password.
REMINDER - Members who have yet to pay outstanding invoices for Joining the new system, please complete payment of your membership. Failure to pay these invoices may result in the deactivation of your membership account. Invoices can be found in your profile and email reminders will include a link to access open invoices.
Proration for membership to the organization will be offered in December. Individuals who join during open renewal (approx. 45 days prior to the May 31st expiration date) will be rolled into the next membership year.
We appreciate our members’ flexibility as we continue to move through many changes within the organization. The next year is all about trial and error with the new system, so please feel free to email [email protected] with any thoughts, ideas, edits, updates, etc. We will do our best to accommodate!
JOINED THE WEBSITE AND WANT TO KNOW MORE?
The office has developed a Membership and Website Guide available in the Quick Links Menu and in the Form and Guide Center. We strongly recommend reviewing this guide as it provides information about new features of the website and how to use the new Join Form. This guide will continue to be updated as changes are made to the website.
The office is closed on October 14th in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Check out this reminder and other important dates in the new Calendar. Stay up to date on all events, webinars, office announcements and more using this new feature.
The new system provides automated reminders, announcements, etc. Keep an eye out for all communications in your inbox!
DEVELOPING LEADERS PROGRAM
Calling all those ready to take the next step in their careers! The Developing Leaders Program’s mission is to connect, educate, and empower rising leaders in the library profession. This comprehensive six-month program, running from January to June, is tailored for library professionals with a minimum of three years of experience looking to explore and strengthen their leadership skills. Applications now being accepted until October 31, 2024.
2024 CONFERENCE NEWS
Leadership at Every Level: Fund-Protect-Empower
This year's conference will be in-person at the Oncenter in Syracuse, New York on November 6-9.
The time is now to recognize that all library workers are leaders! Let's work together across our sections and roundtables as we strive towards sustainable funding; empowering library workers to advocate for their libraries and the communities they serve; and protecting our workers and institutions from continued assaults on intellectual freedom. Our academic, public, school and special libraries, and the people that work and volunteer in them, are the mentors and protectors of the core values of our profession.
Let's come together during our 2024 Annual Conference to not only network, but to support each other and continue growing and learning as leaders who show our communities that libraries are welcoming places for everyone, and that every story deserves to be heard!
Registration Closes on OCTOBER 11th!
Please note, to take advantage of member rates, you must have active membership in the system.
NYLA does not provide bulk registration options for organizational members. We require all members login to the registration form using their personal profile credentials to submit their registration form. New users will establish an account by entering their email on the login page.
Members that have their organization pay for their registration fee, can submit their registration form and select the “Invoice Me” option for payment. This checkout option will create an invoice, and an email field will be provided where the registrant can provide the contact of their billing entity. Registration and invoice information will also be available in each registrant’s profile.
REMINDER All presenters must register for the event. The discount code for this year's event was included in the speaker agreement you were provided. Primary presenters are responsible for making sure their co-presenters receive this information.
More information about our registration can be found on our website.
Looking to register, but you would like to see what this year’s conference will be offering?
Check out the Conference Schedule for all meetings, programming, special events and more!
2024 Scholarship Bash
Join us on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 7PM - 9PM as your fellow librarians use their wit, intelligence, and improv abilities to deliver hilarious and unscripted PowerPoint presentations – karaoke-style! We’ll have a panel of esteemed library world judges ranking the presentations and handing out cool prizes. Attendees must purchase a ticket to attend. Tickets will be sold at the registration desk prior to the event, but not at the door, so get your tickets ahead of time! All money raised from this event will benefit the NYLA Scholarship Fund, so you can help us put the FUN in fund!
TICKET PRICING
Scholarship Bash Ticket (No Food and Beverage Included) - $25
Scholarship Bash Ticket (Food and Beverage Wristband Included)- $45
On Site Ticket - $50
Hotel Accommodations
It is with our deepest apologies that we must inform our registrants that the reservations made at the Crowne Plaza, have been cancelled as of October 3, 2024. The hotel decided to close its doors with no notice to the organization and will not accept any reservations moving forward.
NYLA staff are diligently working with Visit Syracuse to find additional hotel(s) to offer those who need to find new accommodations for the event. We hope to have this information finalized by this week, so attendees can rebook their stay. We will provide this information as soon as we have it available. Attendees are welcome to find alternate accommodations on your own if preferred.
Conference hotel accommodation information is now available on the conference website. We have contracted with several properties that range from $146- $149 a night. We strongly suggest booking your room accommodation as soon as possible to be included in one of our blocks.
Shuttle Services and Parking
NYLA in collaboration with Visit Syracuse will be providing free shuttle services from all NYLA hotel accommodations. These will run on all days of the conference.
We also will have parking garage validation offered in the trade show at the Virco booth on Thursday and Friday.
Just a reminder for all membership, finance and general association inquiries to [email protected] and all event and continuing education inquiries to [email protected].
As always, we appreciate your continued membership with NYLA and stay tuned for more operational updates in the October edition of The NYLA Voice!
Happy October, library advocates! We are now just under one month away from Election Day 2024 and three months from the start of New York’s 2025 Legislative Session. With those key dates creeping closer, NYLA’s team has been busy laying the groundwork for a successful session next year.
As such, I am taking this opportunity to present to you NYLA’s 2025 budgetary and legislative priorities for 2025 to help guide your regional advocacy activities this fall.
NYLA’s 2025 Budgetary Requests and Legislative Priorities
Late this summer, NYLA’s Legislative Committee convened to decide our association’s budgetary and legislative initiatives for the 2025 legislative session. This year, the committee decided to streamline its approach and advance priorities that accurately reflect the scale and scope of library needs in the present moment. In the FY 2026 budget, NYLA is requesting:
Budget
State Aid for Libraries (Operating Aid): $176.8 million
This number represents the $76 million statutory value for State Aid for Libraries in FY 1991 – 1992, the first year of modern operating aid, adjusted for 2024 using the Consumer Price Index.
State Aid for Library Construction: $175 million
The New York State Library Division of Library Development estimates that New York’s library construction needs in the five-year period spanning 2023 to 2025 totals $1.75 billion dollars. This ask represents 50% of one year of that need, roughly the portion of funds needed from the State of New York to effectively leverage local funds in FY 2026 and make real progress on this issue.
Library Materials Aid: $11.30/pupil
NYLA is once again advocating for the first increase in Library Materials Aid since 2007. After an encouraging 2024 with full support for an increase to $11.00/pupil in both the Assembly and Senate one-house budget bills, we are growing our ask to reflect year-to-year cost changes in materials, as well as to account for the 2023 expansion of Library Materials Aid to include electronic and digital materials that occurred without a corresponding increase in funding.
NOVELny: $3.1 million
NYLA is again requesting the inclusion of dedicated funding in the state budget for NOVELny. This year, our ask is increasing by 3% to account for potential year-over-year increases in the costs of included resources.
Legislation
In 2025, NYLA is focusing its attention on three core priorities with the hope that concentrated attention and efforts on these issues will bring success in the coming year. Please know that this does not mean unrealized priorities from past legislative sessions will be shelved and forgotten, just that the NYLA’s messaging and materials will anchor around these three items. The core priorities are listed below, with more information available on NYLA’s 2025 Legislative Session page.
Freedom to Read
Libraries across our state face rapidly expanding efforts to curtail access to materials and programming they deem objectionable based on subjective personal sensibilities and partisan ideologies. We require legislation that empowers library professionals to exercise their expertise and ensure public access to materials, services, and programs that represent their interests.
Legislation:
- Freedom to Read Act (School): S.6350-B / A.6873-B
- Protection in Public Libraries: S.7677-A / A.7843-B
E-Books Licensing Reform
Legislation is required that will allow library access to electronic books and digital audiobooks, providing requirements for contracts between libraries and publishers for access to electronic library material.
Legislation:
Media Literacy
NYLA supports efforts to advance Media Literacy education in New York State schools and to ensure Certified Library Media Specialists are charged with using their unique training and experience to continue leading Media Literacy efforts in schools statewide. NYLA is working with representatives from its school librarian membership to shape these efforts and direct advocacy efforts in the coming year.
As always, thank you for your steadfast advocacy on behalf of our shared library community in New York. It is only through our combined efforts that we are able to secure funding increases and legislative victories in Albany. Whether your work supports public, school, academic, or special libraries, we are all in this fight together.
Please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected] or give me a call at (518) 432-6952 x102 if you have any questions about advocacy or ideas for how we can continue to hone our statewide advocacy efforts.
Richard D. Deverell published a comparative review essay in the Fall 2024 issue of Rochester History. The essay reviews two books that examine the history and legacy of segregation in Rochester, NY, placing them in their larger historiographical context. | |
Ray Hart is the new Youth Services Librarian at Utica Public Library. They have seven years of experience working in circulation at the Timberland Regional Library in Washington state and graduated with an MLIS from San Jose State University in December 2023. Ray is excited to support their new community and strengthen its connection with the library. |
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Benjamin L. Knowles promoted to Associate Librarian in Central Office Library Services from Senior Librarian in Central Office. |
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The Geneva Public Library in Geneva, NY is pleased to announce the promotion of Jessica Winum to Assistant Director, effective July 2024. Jessica has been a dedicated member of our team, bringing expertise in genealogy, digital literacy, and community outreach. We look forward to her continued leadership and contributions in this new role. |
Librarian Retires After 45 Years of Service Central New York celebrates Margaret Van Patten as she retires from the Baldwinsville Public Library after forty-five years of library service. Starting out working as a page in the branches of the Central Library in Syracuse, she got her Librarian’s Certificate and moved to the Baldwinsville Library at 43 Oswego Street (the old Woolworth’s store) in October of 1979. In 1995, she contributed to the planning and design of the current building at 33 East Genesee Street, where she worked as an Assistant Librarian and Reference/Adult Services Librarian. When Marilyn Laubacher retired, Meg became the director on August 31, 2012, and has continued to steer the ship for twelve years. An avid baker, Meg has won multiple awards for her baking at the New York State Fair. She has also decorated gingerbread houses with children as part of the library’s holiday programs and has made countless treats for the staff over the years. |
Breaking down library anxiety: How fun social content can help student chill
Let’s be real—college libraries can be a whole vibe… but not always the good kind for all that come and go. Between rows of books that seem endless, the pressure to be super academic, and librarians who students might think are judging them for not knowing what a “primary source” is, it’s no wonder students get library anxiety.
But it doesn’t have to be like that!
Here at UAlbany, we’re flipping that script and showing students that the library isn’t some scary academic dungeon (though that sounds like it could be really cool for an escape room idea!). One example? We had our very own Dean of Libraries jump on the viral “Gen Z Writes My Script” trend to highlight library resources, services, and spaces. Yup, the Dean went full-on trend mode, letting Gen Z slang and humor take over to explain how students can use our spaces and get research help. Not gonna lie—it was pretty hilarious seeing phrases like “slay” and “this gives me the ick” coming from the Dean.
And you know what? It works. That kind of fun, relatable content makes a huge difference for students who might otherwise be too anxious to ask for help or even step foot in the library. By showing librarians and staff as real, approachable people—who aren’t above a good meme or TikTok trend—we’re breaking down those barriers. It says, “Hey, we get it. Research is tough. Being a college student can be stressful. But we’re here to help, and we’re not all buttoned-up seriousness 24/7.”
Think about it—seeing the Dean of Libraries crack a joke or participate in a meme challenge instantly makes the library feel less intense. And students are way more likely to remember that the library has their back when they see it being talked about in a way that resonates with their daily life. Here we like to say we are scholarly, not scary!
So yeah, maybe libraries were once places where whispering was the loudest acceptable noise, but we’re changing that narrative – especially since librarians are more than likely going to be the ones being shushed nowadays (I’ve seen it happen – we can be a loud bunch!
As an administrator, my staff members share so many great ideas. Sometimes, though, between these requests and the many other tasks I have, it feels as though I’m drinking from the proverbial fire hose. This may also be true of your manager or Director. Here are some guidelines that I think are helpful when communicating an idea or request to your supervisor:
- Put it in writing. Your boss may not remember the project that you proposed as they were running to a meeting.
- Clearly communicate your “ask”. Your boss should not have to guess what you are asking for.
- Do your homework beforehand.
- Try to anticipate the questions you will be asked about your proposal.
- Be prepared for unanticipated questions. Respond as soon as possible, while doing thorough research.
- Be straightforward.
- Be concise.
- Be selective about how much you share, at least in the first proposal.
- Think of it as an Executive Summary that provides the most important points.
- An information dump is not helpful; most administrators will not have time to read it.
- If you are asked for more information, you will have it ready because you’ve done your homework.
- Bullet points can be a blessing for the person who will read your document.
- If bullet points are not going to cut it / are not preferred by your boss, separate the main points into distinct sections, preferably with headings that serve that same Executive Summary function.
- Do not expect an immediate response / answer / resolution. It is likely that your boss will need to consider the ask.
- On the other hand, if you don’t hear anything back after a while, check in for an update.
- Learn what works for your Director or immediate supervisor – they may disagree with my advice!
Directors, I’m also talking to you. Laying out your requests clearly for your Board can help you achieve your goals and, in the end, better serve your community.
On Not Keeping Politics Out of the Classroom, or Workspace
This past June, I left public libraries for academia. While I wanted to move out of the public sphere, I also worried about how I’d make a similar impact in an academic space. The impact is similar, though, just with a different population. I teach information literacy skills and guide our students, but I also encourage critical thinking and for our students to think outside the box and ask questions. I listen to concerns. Hold space for fears. I keep the door open for big, hard conversations. Libraries are not neutral, and that goes for academia as well. Following the numerous campus protests last year, universities silenced their students.
This semester many schools released policies making demonstrations either difficult or impossible. I’ve also noticed on our campus that while openly discussing happenings in the news is not allowed, it’s not smiled upon. I, though, don’t agree with this. I don’t think politics need to stay out of the classroom or the library. In fact, I think it’s part of our job to give students space to have these discussions, and to help them seek information to inform themselves better. Our students are also affected by the outside world. They’re thinking and talking about these topics. A university is a space to learn and grow, and it’s one of the safest spaces for students to have these conversations. This is a space where they have access to resources and information and other adults who can engage with them, offer guidance, and answer questions. It’s also a time in their lives that is focused on learning. They have time to absorb information and learn, to ask questions, and to expand their worlds. It’s also impossible to not bring these topics to work. How do you watch a genocide and then not bring it to work? How do you watch people dying due to climate change and not bring it to work? How do I sit with student employees of color, who are queer or disabled and ignore their worries and questions? We have an election in November, and I’ve asked every student employee in our library how they’re feeling. Just as I’ve asked them how their weekends were or if they are today. I’ve encouraged them to come to the library on November 5th, and before, to de-stress and talk to us. We’re all scared. I’m not going to hide that from our students.
Part of our job is to make the library accessible, which starts with making ourselves accessible. A large part of that is showing our students our humanity, and that we are people just like them. I also want our students to know I am a safe space, someone they can trust with their questions and fears. Part of that comes from being open with my own views. Using the genocide in Gaza in an example in a First Year Information Literacy Workshop doesn’t just show my students where I stand, but it lets them know I’m a safe person to talk to about this event. It also sets a clear precedent about what I will and will not tolerate. I tell my students that questions and opinions are good. Our classroom is a safe space for hard conversations, but I also don’t tolerate hate. The space is not neutral. I am responsible for teaching my students how to consume information responsibly. Not just here on campus but everywhere. Part of that work includes evaluating who is left out of information sources. Whose voices are dominating, and whose aren’t heard. In all of my classes, we talk a lot about how to evaluate social media because I want them to know how to think critically about all information and I want them to seek out those voices that don’t make into academic spaces. I also want them to engage with the world and its events as it's happening, not just in an academic space. I want them to be able to learn about current events, to engage in conversations, to find their own voices. I’ll never tell my students what to think or believe, but I will give them the tools to be responsible information consumers and to have these conversations. I’ll encourage their voices, their rage, their questions. I’ll sit with them in their fear. I’ll work hard to expose them to different views. I’ll create safe spaces in the library and in the classrooms. And politics will always be part of that. It’s a privilege to be able to ignore that. Many of our students and staff don’t have that privilege. College campuses contain hundreds to thousands of passionate, energetic voices, and we should not silence those. Libraries, especially, have a responsibility to nurture and uplift these voices.
So, I’ll keep talking about politics, expressing my own anger, frustration, and fears, speaking out, and doing so with facts and data, because I want my students to have an example of what this looks like, what it can look like to have an informed voice. That’s our role in libraries overall.
Where does outreach end, and programming or services begin?
As this Venn diagram comes to light, we see lots of potential for partnerships and new ways to deliver services - especially programming.
For now, let’s call the resulting program or service: Responsive Relational Programming. We are responding to a need determined through outreach, and the conditions of the resultant program is relational to the partnership, environment, and ongoing outreach.
Now, obviously I’m just making this up - but there does seem to be some common throughline emerging the more outreach we do . . . it just might not look anything like this in a few months time.And that’s ok! We need room to experiment to fulfill our duties as librarians, and stay true to the letter of our mission statements. So here are some things we have in the works for our younger patrons: We are in the process of introducing Library Program Kits into some of our district’s school libraries.
For our Middle School, we are starting with forty kits for grades 7 & 8, distributed among four lunch periods, leaving ten kits per period. These kits will be received by the school librarian, and distributed on a first come first serve basis. We are hoping that this outreach project will further inform and interest our teen patrons, and encourage them to engage more with their public library outside of school.
We are only just beginning this service in October - but already have program plans lined up based on the school’s monthly themes for the school year. In addition, we are in the works in partnering with our local Intermediate School for some similar form of programming. We hope they will be able to use our new Maker Space remotely - designing items such as mugs, keychains, and t-shirts from their own school library terminals, to be made and picked up at our public library. Both school libraries have their own Maker Space, so it should be an interesting dialogue between institutions to see how we can meet the needs of the other, and enhance their usage. So many things to build, craft, and learn about! I’ll let you know how these efforts work out in a few months, and after some trial and error - but it certainly feels like an exciting new way to bring programming to our student patrons, and meet them where they are.
We have discussed additional projects that are a mix of outreach and programming, including guest-hosting extracurricular clubs, or even setting up a monthly program meet at the school. This is all part of an evolving discourse on the nature of library programs, programming and services, and outreach in general.
Ideally, endeavors such as these will bring more patrons into the library for additional programming and resources as we hope to generate a positive cycle of feedback and engagement.
See you in December!
Welcome back to Trusteeing! In this column, I am going to write about library trustees acting as the voice of the community. My thoughts on this topic sprang originally from my years of working as a reference librarian helping people find needed information. While I often admired the work of building a great library collection, I have always thought that the greatest value of a library lay in its use. Those thoughts have recently been updated to reflect a wider view of what a community is when I apply them to the setting of a public library. The community is everyone!
Acting as the voice of the community is therefore an extremely important part of being a public library trustee, probably the most important, in my opinion. Trustees do not run the day-to-day work of the library, but they can act as the representatives of the public for whom the resources and services are intended.
It would be fabulous for the trustees themselves to represent the full diversity of the neighborhood in which they live in terms of age, race, ethnicity, cultural background, gender identity, educational level and so on. This is often not the case, which is unfortunate but understandable on many levels (time commitment, availability, interest, lack of knowledge, transportation issues and so on, just to name a few). In my own case, I am a retiree in the community, as are many library trustees. I would not have volunteered to be a library trustee in my younger years because of raising a family and working full time; it just would not have been a priority for me. So I cannot go back in time now and make that happen, but I can be aware that there are plenty of folks in my own neighborhood younger than me who can make good use of library resources and services. From my neighbors who are raising young children and from non-English speaking families in the neighborhood, I can at least heighten my own awareness of who the library can be reaching out to now. The voice of the neighborhood, after all, should not just be me, but should be my neighbors too.
This is a role well suited to trustees since the library director is often not a resident of the neighborhood in which they are working. I do not think that the residency status of the library director is necessarily either a good or bad thing. Having a director who is also a resident could act in a positive way in terms of bringing ideas of professional library services and neighborhood needs together. On the other hand, it could also potentially result in too many insider perspectives being condensed into one role without the benefit of an outsider perspective that could offer a breath of fresh air. The trustees are residents of the neighborhood, however, so their knowledge of the locale and the people who live in it could always provide valuable insights to a library director.
In terms of how that insight could be used, library director decisions on what types of programs might work best in a neighborhood are a good example. Could story hours in English and other languages be offered if the community has many residents whose native language is not English? Would workshops on keeping up with technology prove popular if there were many senior citizens in the neighborhood? Is there a population in the neighborhood who might need literacy services?
What sorts of resources to buy or make available could also benefit from the insight of library trustees as neighborhood residents. Are there young, mid-career, or older job seekers who need resources for finding work? Is there a local group of genealogists who would welcome library resources to supplement their searches? Are there business people looking to invest in the area who might need local data to make decisions?
In-depth knowledge of the local history of an area on the part of trustees could also aid the director in terms of grant funding. For example, I live in a neighborhood with an industrial past that now needs to have local brownfields cleaned up for current use. Grants that reward institutions for sound ecological practices such as creating sustainable gardens and installing rain barrels would definitely be of interest to this area and could be tied to the local public library. Other grants thar reward digitization efforts might work for preserving local history in some libraries, as might grants for providing needed space and resources for developmentally delayed learners in other libraries.
Acting as a voice for the community is a huge responsibility for library trustees, but one that is very worthwhile. After all, who do public libraries exist for?
Take a look at a book on any library shelf, how does that book differ from one you may pick-up in a bookstore? I spoke to Nancy Chuya, Head of Technical Services, at Amagansett Free Library, to find out.
What does a typical day at the library look like in your position?
My typical day consists of processing all library materials, such as books, DVDs, magazines, and so many more. I make new labels, I create lists for librarians for their weeding projects, and I repair books and media.
I also order DVDs. I love doing that, I read reviews, ratings, and popularity levels to decide what to buy for the library.
What is something you are proud of that has come out of your work with libraries?
I take pride in my work in libraries. I like my labels to be neat and for the shelves to look nice and inviting to patrons. That’s why I like to be consistent, so that every shelf looks exactly the same. I want that effort to shine through when patrons are browsing and checking out items. I’m proud of that work.
If you could hold a different position in a library than the one you currently have, what would it be and why?
I love what I do, but I would also love to work as a bookkeeper. I love numbers, I have a fascination with them. I enjoy working with numbers and all of the financial tasks that come with that position.
Did you grow up using libraries? If not, when did you begin to use them?
I started using libraries when I moved here from my country. I liked that libraries were a safe place to study and do my homework when I was young. When I started my family, the first thing I did was take my two daughters to the library and they loved it. I really liked it because they had nice kids programs.
In your opinion, why are libraries important?
Libraries are important to me, because they are a great resource for everyone, and those resources are available to everyone. They are important because they have resources for young adults and kids. It's so important to everyone and libraries can bring the community together.
Is there a particular library resource, program, display, etc. that you have seen your library or another library offer, that made a lasting impression on you?
The baby programs made a lasting impression on me because it's so beautiful to see little kids growing up here and starting to touch books at such a young age. I just love to see it, because they are so tiny, just babies, and then I see them walking, and they are still coming and reading and then suddenly they are young adults already! It's so beautiful to see them grow up around books.
What are you currently reading?
“The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
Would you rather have dinner with your favorite author or your favorite character?
I would like to have dinner with Freida McFadden. I would ask her what inspired her to write her thrillers and about her writing process.
So let’s get back to my original question, how does a bookstore book differ from a library book? Nancy took me through her process.
When the order of books comes in, the first Nancy checks for is the bibliographic record in the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) the record needs to be completely filled-in before the item can be attached to that record. If the item does not have a record, it can be sent to SCLS (Suffolk Cooperative Library System) for original cataloging.
She then assesses what genre the book is, and therefore what collection it belongs in. Some books are straightforward, a biography, a children’s book, a DVD. Other items require a bit of research, for example, does a new Ruth Ware book belong in Fiction or Mystery? She bases that determination on subject headings as well as where other titles by the same author are located.
She then determines the labels for the item, spine labels are used to locate items in the library. A spine label should contain all of the pertinent information to find an item, it houses the item’s call number. For example, a biography on George Washington would have the call number 92 Washington. 92 is the Dewey Decimal field for biographies, and Washington is the last name of the subject of the biography. Not all items are cataloged the same. If Nancy is ever unsure on where an item “should go” she asks the librarian who placed the order, where they want it housed.
In addition, Amagansett Library uses some optional identifying stickers, like new stickers and genre stickers. Bright yellow new stickers indicate that an item has been newly added to the collection and includes the month and year it was added. These books keep their new stickers for about 6 months. Genre stickers can be used to help to identify the topic of the item, some examples of these are “Romance”, “Mystery” and “Fantasy”. These can be useful when patrons are browsing for their favorite types of books.
If the book is a paperback, Nancy will laminate the covers, if it is a hardcover, a different plastic cover is applied to protect the dust jacket. Some stickers, like the spine labels, go under the cover, others, like the new sticker, will be placed on top of the cover, for easy removal.
She then stamps with the library’s logo on the title page and the processing date is stamped on the copyright page.
Finally it is ready to head upstairs, to be “checked-in” for the first time at the circulation desk so that it is marked as “available” in the library’s catalog. Shortly, thereafter it will be shelved and is ready for its first patron check-out!
See you in December!
See you in December!
Vocational awe may be a novel term for you, or one you are deeply familiar with. For those who don’t know what it means, vocational awe is a complex term, but it can be broken down into a few concepts:
- The accepted, often forced belief that librarians go into the field as part of a “calling”
- The feeling that librarianship and libraries are “sacred” and, therefore, above criticism
- The martyring of librarians and libraries by the public
- How all of these things lead to burnout
The term vocational awe was coined by Fobazi Ettarh, a Black, queer, disabled librarian. As the person who coined the term, much of the discourse surrounding vocational awe is through Ettarh’s writings and speeches, as well as responses to her writings. You don’t have to believe this term is appropriate for our field, but it’s always good to be informed of the ways it can potentially harm our careers and our mental and physical health.
It’s not uncommon to feel that, since we provide a vital service to the public, we are doing something sacred. We’ve all heard, “no one goes into librarianship for the money,” and tried to convince ourselves that we should feel compensated by patron satisfaction, especially because there is typically little other compensation, and, often, we feel we are providing a greater good. We’ve had family members call us heroes, wax poetic about how their local library is a pillar of the community, or how libraries in general are the final test of democracy, and we just have to stand strong and stoic in the face of our communities calling us “groomers” and physically threatening us. Is anyone else looking around and wondering when they signed up for that?
I’m not disputing that what we do for our communities matters. We do offer a vital service. Library workers should be proud of their work and feel good about what they do and provide for patrons, and they’re allowed to want to go above and beyond to help their communities. But this becomes a problem when our job responsibilities become overextended, and we absorb the duties of other professions while hardly being paid for one. And many of us are divided on what, actually, our job is in the modern age. More and more we’re finding there’s a fine line between meeting the needs of our community and offering a service because no one else will. In contrast to this, Ettahr says, “It’s not our job to become the catch-all for all social-service failings.” Like those “heartwarming” stories about children raising money to pay for other students’ lunch debt, no one is asking why a child needs to raise money so his classmates can eat, just as no one is asking why we are the final bastion of democracy.
Similar to other professions, such as teachers and nurses, we often feel an emotional pull to our jobs. Some would consider this a “calling,” making librarianship more of a vocation than an occupation. We want to help people, and so when we see something, we want to do something. This makes us easy to manipulate into job creep. But I think we need to start asking ourselves, “am I the correct person to do this?” Three-day trainings on social work are not a replacement for social workers, just as learning fire safety does not make us firefighters. This job creep not only takes a toll on workers, but it affects our communities as well. Asking us to pick up where social services have failed will not only lead to staff burnout, but when the community expects this from us, what happens if the library sees budget cuts and is forced to cut services or even close? Where do those patrons go then?
The best way to prevent job creep, Ettarh explains, is getting library staff on the same page about maintaining healthy boundaries with work. She calls this “working collectively,” saying whether or not a library is unionized, organizing with co-workers on how to respond to job creep and requests when off the clock is the best way to prevent the expectation that you–and your coworkers–will give up your boundaries. Many seasoned librarians have learned to set their own boundaries, they understand that their job is a job, and they are able to “turn off” when they leave the library. These librarians may be great mentors for younger librarians trying to learn how to do the same. Working collectively gives library workers power and administration healthier, happier, and more productive employees. Because working with the public can be challenging, but it shouldn’t be a safety risk, it shouldn’t make you cry, and it shouldn’t leave you half-dead on your weekends off.
Your job may be a calling for you, and that’s okay. But it’s important to set boundaries anyway to help protect your coworkers. Over time, what librarians have volunteered to take on has slowly become a regular part of the job (not that this is necessarily a bad thing.). As Ettarh said, “I love myself too much to accept a lack of work-life balance. I love myself too much to allow my job to become my whole identity. I love myself too much to tolerate job creep. I love myself too much to witness inequality and/or unfair practices and do nothing. The more you say these things, the more it will feel true.” I talk about libraries a lot, and a good chunk of my identity is “librarian,” but that doesn’t mean that I am going to sacrifice my physical or mental health for my community, and that doesn’t mean I should have to continually pick up the pieces when general social structures fail. The Everything Place does, and should, have some limits.
Vocational awe is an important but complex term that explores racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and more. It requires more reading than I can provide in this column. You can read more about it here, here, and here, as well as the links interspersed in this article.
See you in December!
See you in December!
Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love scary movies, scary books, and planning and executing Halloween programs at the library! This October, I have lots of fun activities to keep kids and teens busy!
I mentioned before we are lucky enough to have a kitchen in our Community Room. For my Kids Bake Spooky Treats program, kids will work together to make a Halloween Dirt Cake. While the cake bakes, we will work on no-bake recipes. These are simple recipes that require just a few ingredients and don’t require a kitchen! Try these recipes out at your library!
Marshmallow ghosts are cute and easy to make! You just need marshmallows (shocking, right?) and black gel icing. Then use the black gel icing to make a little ghostly face! Finally, everyone’s favorite part, eating their treat! Not a fan of ghosts? Make marshmallow monsters instead! You would need to get frosting, food coloring (or if you have a microwave, different colored melting chocolate) and anything that looks like it would be good for making a monster! The best part of this kind of recipe is it gives kids a chance to explore their creative side. There is really no right or wrong way to make this recipe.
Another fun no-bake recipe is witch fingers! You just need pretzel rods, green melting chocolate and jelly beans! The jelly beans are supposed to represent fingernails.
You can also use almonds, but I found that kids prefer jelly beans. (So do I!)
For teens, we will make edible haunted houses. This is a no-bake recipe. You just need graham crackers, frosting and honestly any food that looks like it would be good for a haunted house. For some reason, there is a lot of candy available this time of year! I have teens who will take their time with their creations but most of them will just slather frosting on a graham cracker and eat it. That’s actually what I do as well.
I’ve been thinking a lot about DEI, UDL, and digital information sharing. The virtual file has its benefits for sure – cost-effective to produce and distribute, available over distance, easy to update, and supposedly accessible. Hard copies are easy to lose and require replacement, cost money to distribute (i.e., printing, purchasing, mailing), non-interactive, and difficult to include media or easy access to additional resources.
Yes, if you missed it, I did say supposedly accessible. There are ways to enlarge text on the screen, read on a device, maybe closed captioning, alternative text, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text friendly. The downfalls and pitfalls are utmost in my mind, however. The forgotten who may not only not benefit from but be at a disadvantage in today’s digital world.
Virtual chat reference is great. If your screen is large enough, your typing skills or speech to text software is compatible or your connection is strong enough AND the software provides an audio option. If the patron is trying to follow along on their own device, following your directions, their screen needs to be large enough, or they need to be able to manage switching windows or tabs. As mentioned, audio and video would increase accessibility to auditory and/or visual learners. But these come with their own issues. The ones of utmost concern to me are bandwidth, data usage, and quality of connection.
Bandwidth, quality of connection, and data usage are prominent issues to consider. And not sure in virtual chat. Any online information sharing requires using data, bandwidth, and a strong connection to the internet. Not everyone has unlimited data or easy access to the internet. The bandwidth can impact the speed of access, and the quality of connection can cause drops. Interrupted connections can cause downloads or access to fail and require restarting.
I recently read of places and instances where audio or ebook platforms were not a possibility. A standalone device such as a Nook or Kindle, a tablet, or an MP3 player might work. But is that affordable and feasible? Playaways are great (and if you haven’t experienced one, ask your public or school library if they have any), unless one is prone to losing things or the item is not available on Playaway. Libraries are more frequently offering hotspots and/or devices such as laptops and tablets for loan.
A hotspot is only as good as its connection. For example, I lived in the woods on a mountain for two years. Even receiving a text was hit or miss, let alone trying to access an online resource. No hotspot or borrowed device, or even reduced cost internet was going to help me. At times, I have lived where my belongings were not safe. I couldn’t borrow devices for fear of their being stolen or broken. Yes, libraries have computers available for in-house use. These, however, are limited – timeslots, availability, and the hours of the library. And, let’s face it, not everything is fun to do in the library. Watching a movie or sharing an audiobook with your family or friends is not easily done at the library computer; and not everyone can do homework in the library environment.
As schools and libraries are moving to digital-only information, bringing the information to the person digitally rather than the person to the physical information, those who have limited access are being forgotten. And I haven’t even begun to address accessibility – universal design. Videos are great, especially if captioned. But how much is lost if one cannot view the video? Is there descriptive audio as well?
Digital print material, such as articles or books, particularly older ones, may not be recognized by screen readers. Images, tables, charts, text boxes, special symbols, and notations (e.g., music, mathematics, science) are often not accessible to screen readers. When a file is enlarged, the formatting does not always make sense. Some digital media gets distorted in enlargement as well, even text can become illegible.
For the person who needs things in hardcopy, for whatever reason – lack of technology, lack of internet, preference, the very cost-saving aspect of the digital becomes moot as they are paying to print pages. Once printed or downloaded for offline use, if changes are made to the digital version, particularly in classes or blogs, those using the digital version will automatically see the updated version. Those relying on a printed or downloaded copy will only have the version at the time of access. Colored materials can only be printed at a much higher cost. Printed materials lose the multimedia aspects. Downloaded materials may or may not include the multimedia aspects.
Is there a single answer to this? No. But, as someone with different needs, I think of these issues often. Not only for myself, but for others as well. While the trend is toward digital and all the benefits, it is important to keep in mind those who might not benefit. New is not always the best. It is important to consider the population when making decisions to change practices.
I recently finished Paul Rabil’s book The Way of the Champion: Pain, Persistence, and the Path Forward. In it, Rabil draws upon the lessons he’s learned on and off the lacrosse field–both through his own experiences and the wisdom of prominent figures in sport, business, technology, education, and government–that helped to shape him into champion collegiate, professional, and international player and later an entrepreneur and cofounder of the Premier Lacrosse League. Rabil is candid about the setbacks and obstacles he has faced but the positive framing makes it an interesting and insightful read. While each micro-chapter offers a meaningful anecdote, as someone who often takes on too much and has had challenges with delegating and/or asking for help, I found the point of “Let Others Make You Better” to be especially thought-provoking.
Rabil chronicles Michael Jordan’s early-career struggle as the sole captain of the Chicago Bulls. Only when Coach Phil Jackson named a co-captain did the season for both Jordan and the Bulls turn around–so much so that the team catapulted from ninth place to winning the 1991 NBA Finals. Of the season, sportswriter Sam Walker said, “When he stopped trying to do it all, when he stopped trying to put the team completely on his back, that’s when Jordan became good.” Being a good director, manager, supervisor, department head, and coworker often means lifting others up, elevating those around you, and sometimes even carrying them.
However, leaders often fail to call on–and lean on–the support of others when needed. Whether it is the fear of looking inadequate or of creating a burden for others, they try to do it all and do it all alone. Throughout my career, I have been occasionally guilty of siloing myself, and yet two recent-ish professional experiences reinforced how I can be better and do better with and through others. In the Summer of 2022, our system launched a Traveling Summer StoryWalks program. The concept seemed so easy and fun: Weekly rotation of StoryWalks through eight of our member libraries. We carefully selected locations across our four counties... except that eight libraries turned to nine… which increased the number of StoryWalks I had to build… and lengthened the program one more week… and this is how I learned the definition of “scope creep.” Outwardly, the StoryWalk program was a great success! The libraries’ communities enjoyed exploring a new book each week, and this intergenerational activity promoted family literacy. However, I was miserable. The time spent each Monday to rotate the books was more than double what I had estimated, and the rotation itself was physically grueling. The panels were heavy, and it was hot and humid (although there were also a few torrential downpours mixed in). I suffered cuts, bruises, and bug bites, literally giving blood, sweat, and tears to this project. So, why the dissonance between patron and me? Because I had taken on too much. The program was too big for one person to handle. I should have partnered with the libraries in a different way, but when I was drafting the project plan, I was so afraid of creating more work for others that I put it entirely on my back. In hindsight, it didn’t have to be that way, but I believe this was a lesson I had to learn–but even that would take one more summer for me to fully realize.
The following June, our system launched a Book Fairies program. Between July 1 and September 1, I would leave one-hundred books for families to discover across the four counties. The books were theirs to keep; a note inside encouraged the finders to either add the book to their at-home library or pass it on to a friend. Although not nearly as arduous as the StoryWalks, there were some long drives across 2,500 square miles to find parks and schools and bus stops and nature trails to leave the books. So, when planning 2024’s iteration, I knew it was finally time to let others make outreach better. I sent a solicitation email to our member libraries, asking who would like to be a part of Book Fairies this year. I would provide each partner library with six wrapped books that included a rack card and stickers. Libraries could choose to hide the books all at once or spread the hunt out over several weeks. The program tied in well with the Summer Reading theme of Adventure Begins at Your Library and served as a nice companion piece to the activities libraries had planned. In total, thirty-four libraries acted as Book Fairies, and we were able to give 204 books happy new homes. By not trying to do it all, the number of young readers we were able to connect to both literacy and libraries more than doubled.
The lesson of “Let Others Make You Better” can stretch beyond our work in libraries. Building others up and, in turn, letting others hold you up should extend to our families, friendships, and communities. It is ok to ask for help, to rely on people, and to make room for others to make you better. As Rabil concludes, “You should be able to do anything, but you can’t do everything.” Let’s be better together.
Hello dear readers, so happy to chat with you all as we enter the fall season; a season full of beautiful and colorful trees, pumpkin spice lattes, and cozy and colder evenings.
As many of our libraries are setting up spooky scenes, fall book selections tables, and exciting autumnal programming, I’ve been wondering how makerspaces can create ways in which their community can connect with them throughout the seasons.
One exciting way to connect with patrons via 3D technology, has been to create seasonal 3D prints (in this season’s case, spooky 3D keychains) that not only engage patrons with our area, but give them ideas on what potential prints they can create for their own spooky house decorations, or additions to their school backpacks, etc.
I have been wondering about other ways in which makerspaces can create monthly or seasonal challenges, similar to the reading challenge model that exists for child, teen, and adult services. What has recently come to mind has been a monthly 3D design challenge; a contest in which a makerspace promotes a 3D design (like creating a house or boat, even something more season-specific, etc.) Patrons would be notified of the design challenge at the beginning of each month/season, and patrons who participate would send the 3D files of their submission to the makerspace for us to 3D print (with potentially scheduled 1-on-1 meetings for design feedback). At the end of each month, makerspace staff could either post (for public voting) or judge internally, the final prints, and decide on a winner. Some fun prizes could include vouchers to upcoming programs or makerspace orders, or even blank materials for sublimation or Cricut (like tote bags, mugs, magnets). This model of engagement would promote the makerspace’s available services, its ability to interact and support its local maker community, and a strategic plan to get its patrons back inside its space for upcoming programs and/or services.
Another potential source of outreach and connection could be if a makerspace created its own Digital Badging Program for courses on emerging technology/technology related to its own makerspace. Makerspace staff could create a course (or series of short courses, ranging in difficulty) on each makerspace service provided - some examples would include poster design, 3D design, software competency (i.e., Lightburn, Photoshop, Audacity, and Canva). The makerspace could possibly collaborate via applying to the now active IMLS Digital Badging Program, which is currently aiming to test digital badging within libraries.
Both of these potential makerspace ideas could be conceptualized via the amazing platform of Beanstack. Originally established by 2 parents who were looking to create an online resource for parents to find more inclusive books for their children, Beanstack has bloomed into a website and app that is now used by over 13.8 million readers, offering engaging “suggested reads” with weekly and monthly reading challenges for children, teens and adults (libraries and schools included). Beanstack’s ever-expanding platform can include, via an annual licensing purchase, a way for a library’s entire community to connect via reading and other types of challenges, as well as interactive learning modules to become evermore grounded in digital literacy pertaining to emerging technology.
I’m very much interested in the ways NY libraries are currently engaging with their communities in offering continuous connection to their respective makerspaces; if you are currently using a model or idea that you think could be transferable for other makerspaces in the region, feel free to comment below. Let’s share ideas and strategies for opening our doors even wider!
Until next time!
October 2024 NYLA Voice Update from FLS
submitted by Terry Mulee, FLS Newsletter Editor
FLS creates a network to connect and inspire Friends groups
in all types of libraries to support the New York library community.
FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award Recipient Announced
The 2024 FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award recipient is Paulette Quinn, Historian of the Friends of Marcellus Free Library (Onondaga County Public Library).
In her nomination, Past President Michele Merwarth said, “I have deep respect for Paulette and consider her my mentor in my role with the Friends for the past seven years. She is very knowledgeable, insightful, and dependable. [Paulette is] the backbone of the Friends of Marcellus Free Library.”
Paulette Quinn has been a member of the Friends of Marcellus Free Library for nearly 20 years since moving to Marcellus after retirement in 2006. She has always been willing to hold a board position wherever needed. Paulette has put her leadership skills to use in a variety of positions including Vice President, President, Corresponding Secretary, Book Nook Chair, Advocacy Chair, Policy & Procedures Co-Chair, and Historian. She assisted the group with securing their nonprofit status with the IRS in 2016.
In 2018, for the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Friends of Marcellus Free Library, Paulette had a self-proclaimed goal to increase membership to 150 Friends. This goal was achieved through Paulette’s persistence and hard work. She has been largely personally responsible for growing the Friends membership base from 65 members when she served as President in 2010 to an all-time high of 169 members in 2019.
Paulette was instrumental in the development and growth of the Friends’ Book Nook, the bookstore located in the library. The Marcellus Free Library noted Paulette’s achievement in 2019 by renaming the Book Nook the “The Paulette Quinn Book Nook.” The plaque reads, “Under her stewardship, the Book Nook has become a staple in the Marcellus community, and the Friends book sales are eagerly anticipated and widely acclaimed.” Along with Book Nook sales, periodic large-scale book sales generated more than $100,000 of income for the library between 2008 and 2019.
Congratulations to Paulette and to the Friends of the Marcellus Free Library. Paulette will receive a plaque honoring her achievement and the Friends will receive a one-year organizational membership in the Friends of Libraries Section of the New York Library Association.
We hope you’ll start thinking about a volunteer or a Friends group deserving of this award. Please nominate them in 2025!
Don’t Forget -- National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 20-26, 2024
Celebrate Your Friends Group Oct. 20-26, 2024
Friends of Libraries groups have their very own national week of celebration! United for Libraries will coordinate the 19th annual National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 20-26, 2024. The celebration offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate Friends. Use the time to creatively promote your group in the community, to raise awareness, and to promote membership. This is also an excellent opportunity for your library and Board of Trustees to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.
https://www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/folweek
FLS Annual Membership Meeting November 13, 2024
FLS will be hosting its annual virtual membership meeting this year via Zoom on Wednesday, November 13th from 4:00pm - 5:30pm. More information, including registration details, will be forthcoming as the date gets closer, but mark your calendars now so you can join us!
Friends News and Notes, September 2024
The September 2024 issue of Friends News and Notes is now available.
Inside this issue:
FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award Recipient Announced, page 1, 7
NYLA 2024 Conference, Come to Syracuse..., page 1, 6
A Message from FLS President Chris Lund, page 2
FLS In-Person Meet-up at the Beekman Library, page 2
NYLA 2024 Conference, November 6 – 9: Opportunities for Friends, pages 3-6
Easy Grant for Marketing Materials! page 6
How About A Sunday Summit? page 7
Read Between the Wines Fundraiser, page 8
FLS Board / Auxiliary Volunteers / Info, page 9
FLS Regional Meet-up Session Notes, page 10-14
FLS Newsletters:
Read the current issue of the FLS newsletter, Friends News and Notes, at https://www.nyla.org/friends-of-libraries-section---newsletter. (www.NYLA.org/Friends > Our Newsletter) FLS members may read past issues by clicking on Archived Issues and then logging in.
Contact FLS at [email protected]
www.NYLA.org/Friends
Upcoming Introductory Webinar
Save the date!
An Introduction to the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP)
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern
Learn about the Sustainable Library Certification Program from a panel of library administrator whose libraries completed the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). The panelists will discuss their journey and share their experiences. This webinar is geared towards helping new and prospective members make the most of their SLI resources and learn more about how to get involved with our award-winning program!
Panelists:
Janet Scherer, Director, South Huntington Public Library, SLI Advisory Board
Lisa Jacobs, Library Director, Longwood Public Library, SLCP Mentor
Lisa Kropp, Library Director, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, President-New York Library Association, SLI Advisory Board
Moderated by:
Alex Blend, Sustainability Coordinator, Sustainable Libraries Initiative
ALA Awards the New York State School Library Systems (SLSA) for Sustainable Initiatives
The American Library Association (ALA) has announced that the School Library Systems Association of New York State is the 2024 recipient of the EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award.
The award is given to a library organization whose application shows the greatest merit for a program of staff development designed to further the goals and objectives of the library organization.
Composed of the directors of the 40 School Library Systems (SLS) in New York, based on the big five cities and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), the New York State School Library Systems (SLSA) is a professional organization serving over 700 school districts. The SLSs serve public and nonpublic school librarians and teachers with a union catalog, professional learning, grants, shared resources, mentoring, and school-based support with curriculum and instruction, collection development, and programming. Their award-winning project is to host a virtual statewide professional workshop to empower school librarians to join the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). The certification process encourages reflective practice, leadership development, peer mentoring, networking, community building, and, most importantly, sustainable school library programs across New York State.
Inspired to learn more?
Sign up today for your FREE 1-year membership to the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, a member benefit brought to you by your library association.
To access your free membership:
- Go to the SLI website: https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitaitive.org
- Click on "Participate," --> "SLI Membership,"
- Choose the membership type and fill out the membership form.
- When you get to "How did you hear about us?" select "Other" and enter that you are a member of a participating library association in the Notes Field to wave the membership fee.
To access the discounts of the Sustainable Library Certification Program, contact [email protected] for information and details.