Welcome to the NYLA Voice February 2025 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!
I think everyone can agree we are facing a lot of uncertainty in the coming year. During uncertain times, it is more important than ever for an organization to have a direction and clear vision for the future. NYLA will be embarking on a strategic planning process this year. It will be important to hear from both members and non-members who work in libraries to find out what you would like to see in the state organization and what direction you would like to see the organization go. We have formed a task force to develop a strategic plan. At the same time, I will be making visits around the state to hear from members and non-members to learn more about how NYLA can better serve members. I held my first meeting on Long Island. The meeting was very productive with many great conversations about what NYLA can do including how the annual conference might be improved. The membership committee conducted some quick surveys last year at the conference booth and is also looking at developing another instrument to use this year. If you would like to speak to me directly about the process or the direction, I’m always willing to listen.
Happy New Year NYLA Members!
While this is a little late, we hope that all members are off to a wonderful 2025! The office staff have been very busy with assisting our volunteer members as they plan their spring section events, organizing and executing our successful advocacy events and continuing to run the daily operations of the organization.
As always, change continues throughout our systems and policies. We encourage the membership to email [email protected] with any thoughts, ideas, edits, updates, etc. We will do our best to accommodate what we can!
MEMBERSHIP IN 2025
This is a reminder NYLA now has a fixed membership year. This means that all members have the same membership year, regardless of when they join the system. The new membership year is June 1st – May 31st.
Renewal for the 2025 – 2026 membership year will open approximately 45 days before the May 31st expiration date. All members will be sent a renewal reminder with a link to the renewal form. This information will also be provided in member communications, on the website and on NYLA social media.
If you have yet to join the 2024–2025 membership year, you can take advantage of our half year Prorated Membership Fees! Beginning December 1st, membership fees will be discounted. All fees can be reviewed on the website.
Interested new members can use the Join Form available on the NYLA homepage to create their new member profile. Personal members can use the form to enter their profile and payment information. As in our past database, organizational members should make sure that the past rep (Key Contact in the new system) on their membership enters the information in the Join form for their 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.
As noted, the current Join Formwill be creating your membership for 2024-2025. Anyone who joins from December – Open Renewal Date will be required to renew when the renewal period opens prior to the May 31st deadline for the 2025-2026 membership year. New members who join during the open renewal period will “roll” into the new membership year.
Personal membership paid with a credit card will automatically be made active. Invoiced membership payments will be placed in a pending status until payment is finalized. Organizational memberships will be placed in pending status until the office reviews the included members and provides them with access to their profile. 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 for 2024-2025, 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.
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.
Office Hours Update!!! The office will be closed on February 17, 2025, in observance of President’s Day. Normal business operations will resume February 18th. 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!
SPRING ON THE HILL
Join us this May in Albany for a full day of educational programming focused on advocacy, which is vital in every season! There will be a wide array of presentations and something for everyone – even our most experienced advocates. Lunch will be served, and there will be plenty of opportunities for professional networking during this one-day mini-conference. Don’t miss the chance to develop your advocacy skills and help to strengthen the library profession’s grassroots efforts.
Our event will be at the Capital Center located in Albany, NY. Hotel accommodation can be made at Renaissance Albany Hotel for $239 USD per night. Interested participants can book today using this link.
Registration will be launching at the end of February! Keep an eye out for email communications and website updates that provide registration information.
Who’s ready to go to Saratoga Springs! Without skipping a beat, we are back to planning for our 2025 Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York at the Hilton and City Center.
Proposal submission forms for the 2025 Conference will be available in January. Fillable PDF planning documents will be made available on the NYLA website for anyone interested in planning their submission. Please note these documents should just be used for submission preparation and cannot be used to submit your official proposal.
We are now accepting Conference Proposals for our 2025 event! If you have presented at our event in the past or another librarian conference, we want you to submit!If you have an interest in getting presentation experience or developing your personal brand, we want you to submit! If you have innovative, diverse, or interesting concepts for a presentation, we want you to submit! Presenters do not need to be invited to submit a proposal. Proposal information including the form can be found on the NYLA website. The program proposal submission deadline is March 21, 2025. Submit today before it is too late!
The 2025 YSS Conference, All on the Same Page will be held on April 4, 2025 in Mount Kisco, NY. Information about the event is now available on the YSS Conference website. Registration for this event is now open and closes March 7th . Please note registration for this event will provide member and non-member rates this year. You must be an active member before you complete your registration form to receive member rates.
The 2025 SSL Conference, Sharing Your Story will be held on May 1 – 3, 2025 in Rochester, NY. At this time, registration for this event has sold out. Registrants can find Information about the event the SSL Conference website.
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 April edition of The NYLA Voice!
Happy February, NYLA members! The 2025 Legislative Session is in full swing and I’d like to take a minute to bring you up to speed on what’s happening and how you can help secure wins for New York’s library community this year.
On January 21st, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul released her FY 2026 Executive Budget. The Governor’s annual proposal outlining her vision for state spending in the coming year, the Executive Budget sets the stage for the next few months of advocacy and negotiations in Albany.
This year, the Executive Budget advanced the following funding proposals:
Library Operating Aid: $104.6M
+$748,000 over FY2025 Enacted, Statutory
Library Construction Aid: $34M
-$10M from FY2025 Enacted
NOVELny: $3M
Flat to FY 2025 Enacted
Library Materials Aid: No change to per-pupil level
Love Your Library Fund: $100,000 Disbursement
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: $375,000
-$125,000 from FY 2025 Enacted
Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center of Queens Public Library: $112,500
- $55,000 from FY 2025 Enacted
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: $7M
+$6.5M from FY 2025 Enacted, moved from NYSED to Office of Children and Family Services
Funding for expansion of Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Media Literacy Work: $1M
Notably, the Executive Budget also includes a proposal to expand current eligibility for DASNY finance and construction management services to “for libraries to include any library chartered by the State Board of Regents, incorporated under Not-For-Profit Corporation Law, or defined as a free library under Education Law.”
Unfortunately, despite a $748,000 increase for Library Operating Aid and stable funding for NOVELny, the Governor has once again neglected to increase the per-pupil Library Materials Aid factor while also returning to the cycle of proposed cuts and likely eventual restoration of State Aid for Library Construction that was the hallmark of previous administrations.
Right now, legislators are working to decide what to include in the Assembly and Senate One-House Budget bills. These are competing visions for the FY 2026 budget that will inform final negotiations with the Governor. As such, it is our responsibility as a community to speak up and make sure the members of the New York State Senate, Assembly, and Executive Chamber know that New York’s libraries will not accept budget proposals that are inadequate for funding our core needs.
Please take a moment to email your legislators via NYLA’s current take action campaign to encourage them to support inclusion of NYLA’s FY 2026 Budget Requests in the Assembly and Senate One-House Budget proposals.
Click here to take action now!
If you have any questions about NYLA’s priorities, how to become an advocate, or ideas for advocacy efforts that can advance our priorities, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at [email protected] or by phone at (518) 432-6952 x102.
Thank you for all your efforts so far this session and for making Library Advocacy Day 2025 a resounding success! I look forward to your continued partnership as we work together to make sure library priorities succeed in 2025.
For your convenience, please find a breakdown of NYLA’s 2025 Budget Requests and Priorities below:
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: $11.33/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.1099 (May)
- Open Shelves Act: S.1100 (May) / A.3119 (Kelles)
- 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:
- A.3589 (AM R. Carroll)
- 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.
Exciting Leadership Changes at James Prendergast Library Association
The James Prendergast Library Association (JPLA) in Jamestown, New York is excited to announce important leadership changes as part of our commitment to serve the community of Jamestown and Chautauqua County in their pursuit of lifelong learning.
After 18 years of dedicated service, Anne Greene will retire as Executive Director on February 2, 2025. Anne has played a pivotal role in shaping our library into the community organization it is today, and we are deeply grateful for her leadership and vision. Tress Williams, who has spent the past 8 years at Prendergast as Librarian and Library Manager, will step into the Executive Director position, bringing her wealth of experience and passion for public services.
In addition, we are pleased to announce the following leadership transitions, effective January 1st:
- Jenn Champ will move from her role as Facilities and Special Projects Manager to Assistant Director.
- Danica Olson will transition from Outreach and Programming Manager to Public Services Manager.
- Kristie Bemis will continue in her role as Library Operations Coordinator, a position she began in June 2024.
As part of JPLA’s ongoing commitment to fostering an environment of growth and leadership development, we are also thrilled to celebrate the promotions of several outstanding team members. Please join us in congratulating:
- Kassandra Kum – Administrative Coordinator
- Oliver Chenard – Library Associate II
- Dawn Seyler – Library Associate II
- Nancy King – Library Assistant II
For more information about the services of the James Prendergast Library, please visit: www.prendergastlibrary.org/
See you in April!
See you in April!
This month, I decided to shamelessly pick the brains of some of my fellow directors. I asked them to share something they never thought they would need to know, something they’ve learned, and / or advice they would give to a new director or someone who would like to be one.
I thought maybe one or two people would respond. Instead, I received far more responses than I can include in this column. Many of the comments shared similar themes and have been aggregated; here are just a few:
“I know more about HVAC systems, plumbing, computer systems, fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, alarm systems [insert your favorite building system here] than I ever thought I would want or need to know.”
“There are so many aspects to being a library director that are not taught. Dealing with the general public which includes all, having compassion for those who are homeless, moms melting down as children have a tantrum, those looking to argue over a quarter or a book s/he knows was returned. How important it is in delicate and explosive situations to keep calm.”
“You can go from having been a very competent worker your whole life to this job that will kick your [butt] and make you feel like a complete idiot every day.”
“You are part therapist. You need to know what makes your staff tick.”
“Everything is a balancing act – staffing, workflow, programming, time commitments – and as the library director, I don’t have as much say in these matters as you would think.”
“It is not a position that is for everyone. Know your strengths and become a director if it is your true goal and interest. You may not know that when beginning in the profession, one day it may just come to you. Once you feel it is your dream, wait for the right position in the right community….Never be afraid of discussing your ideas in full, especially to those who do not agree. Be prepared to be proven wrong and accept it.”
“Remember that it takes a full year to cycle through the many components of the job to get a better understanding of the whole job and be [kinder to yourself] during that learning period. Also…take time the enjoy all of the things that were accomplished instead of rushing on to the next thing.”
“Trust yourself and the experience you bring to the role. You know a lot more than you think you do. You won’t always have all the answers, but this role often requires us to figure things out as we go. I try to remember to trust my instincts, and in true library fashion, stay open to learning. Also listen – listen a LOT, especially to your fellow directors.”
“Don’t be afraid to try new things. Be prepared for change – be flexible, be open.”
“Learn to set boundaries. I allow myself to be accessible to the staff 24/7 which isn’t the healthiest for me.”
“Be comfortable saying you don’t know something and do your best to find someone who does.”
And from the lighter side:
“I never realized how much time I would spend looking for the bathroom key.”
“I never thought I would need to know how to herd peacocks out of the parking lot.”
And there you have it – wisdom from library directors with a range of experiences and years of service. Thank you to all of the directors who shared so openly, honestly, and thoughtfully. As for me, I agree with the above and would add the following:
People say not to take things personally. This is impossible, so at least try not to take everything personally.
You will learn something new every day, especially when something unexpected happens – and it will. You will probably also make at least one mistake every day.
It’s great to have an agenda for your day, but it’s also good to understand that some of it will probably need to be saved due to more pressing issues that will emerge.
One final piece of advice: Nobody reads signs.
Since Magic the Gathering stopped sending free starter decks out to partners such as libraries, it has been difficult getting a new crew of fresh players interested in the game. These starter decks were smaller versions of real decks (less cards), and the function of each card was written on the card to help teach new players how to play. Like so many other physical RPGs (Role-Play Games), MTG has leaned into their digital presence (Magic the Gathering has Magic the Gatering Arena, and Magic the Gathering Online. Dungeons and Dragons has their digital toolset D&D Beyond. Both Wizards of the Coast games). This posed a bit of a problem for partners like libraries who benefit from a “hook” such as the free cards and promotional materials.
Enter MagicKids. MagicKids is a nonprofit that believes in the positive attributes of MTG to help educate, and bring teens together for a fun experience. Or, to put it in their own words: “To support the intellectual health of young adults with Magic: The Gathering.” Having officially partnered with Magic the Gathering, you can now put in for their starter kits to bring resources to your own patrons.
About a month back we applied for the MagicKids kits and what do you know - we were awarded the kits! MagicKids sent us a generous box filled with great stuff to assemble decks for our patrons to play with and keep.
Our new monthly Tuesday Night Magic Magic the Gathering club debuts Tuesday night, March 18th for teen patrons grades 6-12, and I can’t wait for the new club to take shape!
It will be interesting to see what kind of excitement we can generate with these new decks, and hopefully, they will be the catalyst for a whole new group of Magic the Gathering players at our library! There is so much cross-programming and interests involved around RPGs; Patrons who attend a Tuesday Night Magic program, may likely be interested in our Dungeons & Dragons programs (such as D&D Lite). And those same patrons are very likely to check out materials from our D&D collection, and other fantasy works. They may be interested in other game and STEM related programs as well.
Ideally, if we can once again cultivate a steady group of MTG players, we can branch out and partner with local gaming groups - or maybe host friendly (and unofficial) competitions between zone libraries.
Like most programs, popularity for a given license ebbs and flows. If you are lucky enough to ride the wave while interest is high, you can have a successful suite of programs with plenty of similar programs ready for your players to land on if/when that initial interest subsides.
If you’re curious about starting your own Magic the Gathering club, why not give their application a try?
Welcome back to Trusteeing! In this, my final column, I am going to write about library trustees acting as the voice of the library in advocacy efforts. And once again, my thoughts on this topic originated in an academic library environment, but have since widened to a fuller community view as a current public library trustee. My prior years of library advocacy usually centered on convincing students and faculty that the library could provide very useful information and services to them in their research and scholarly pursuits. These days, I think of advocacy more in terms of meeting with government officials to convince them of the importance of not only sustaining but advancing the informational, educational, and social work of the local public library.
Advocacy by its very nature implies work on behalf of an institution outside of that institution itself. Advocating for the public library outside of the public library opens the doors to many possible venues. They include venues such as the broader local community itself, the ears of government officials at many levels, and even to other libraries both near and far.
The heart of public library advocacy, in my experience so far at least, involves meeting with government officials to ask for their continued financial support. This type of advocacy runs the gamut from meetings with local municipality leaders (mayors, town executives) to meetings with state and federal officials who represent your district in the state capital or in Washington, D.C. These meetings often form the basis for formal budget requests and planning purposes, and are indispensable for the continued support of the public library. And I am happy to report that these meetings can be pleasant and fruitful as I have participated in several at this point in my trustee career. It is important work to do, and even if you think you might not like doing it (as I first did), it can be fulfilling in its own way to feel as if you are really helping your library continue to function effectively in the future. You are also becoming the face of the library to the decision makers, not a small feat in itself.
Of course, advocacy can mean connecting with many different groups too, especially in your own local community. This type of advocacy often involves making others aware of your services in order to bolster their usage, which serves to show budget makers that the library is being used. For example, you could aim your efforts directly at a particular user group such as senior citizens through their senior center to encourage them to support the library more deeply. Or you could advocate for incorporating library resources into the curriculum of local school districts. Establishing connections with local non-profit organizations could be advocacy too if they can help spread the word about library services available to their own constituents.
I also see library advocacy in connecting your local public library to other libraries. It is a way of making them aware of anything unique, unusual, or just plain interesting that you may be doing that could be of interest to them too. Examples could be sharing your new initiatives, success stories, and even failures with other libraries in your local system, in your state (through NYLA, for example), or even at the national level (ALA, the American Library Association). I see this type of advocacy as asking for professional support from your peers.
Engaging in acts of advocacy can make use of multiple means of communication. While I often think of advocacy as speaking with people one-on-one, that is just one way to do it. And even that can take different forms such as casual conversations or planned in-person meetings. Another common way to advocate is to speak to groups of people (for example, going to a conference and talking about the good work your local public library is doing). There is also social media as an obvious outlet to the world to let others know what your library is up to. And there are of course many other methods as well, such as calling, texting, emailing, and writing to folks to convey the awesomeness of your local library and why it deserves to be supported.
Whatever the method, the aim is the same: to get out the good word about your public library as a way to both justify its current existence and to ask for its continued support in the future. It is cheerleading, yes, but it is also an informational service in my mind too. I think of it as a public service to let people know about what the public library does, and why it is a valuable community asset.
Without advocacy, we would just be talking to each other. And by each other, I do not mean just trustees speaking to other trustees, but all library folks just talking amongst ourselves. We need to come together to advocate for the future for all of our libraries.
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Introducing children to all of the wonderful things libraries have to offer creates lifelong learners, and maybe those children will grow up and want to expose a new generation of children to the library. This month I spoke with Mari Munoz; Circulation Clerk, Art Teacher, and lifelong learner. Mari currently works at Hampton Library in Bridgehampton, NY and grew up using East Hampton Library. Mari grew up using libraries and experienced them not as just a safe place to hang out, read, and do homework but also a place to gain practical life experience through volunteering and doing community service. These positive experiences led to her joining the world of libraries as an employee! While Mari’s day to day includes the typical functions of a circulation clerk, including checking items in and out for patrons and shelving returns, she also creates the library’s weekly E-Blast, a weekly newsletter that is emailed to patrons about all that is going on at the library, and aids patrons with using Libby, an app that has free eBooks and audiobooks for library card holders. A unique aspect of Mari’s position is that she also teaches an art class, called Drawing Basics with Mari, where she helps local amateur artists improve their art skills. |
Mari truly is a lifelong learner, she is currently studying Child Psychology and said if she were to take on a different role in libraries than her current one, it would involve working with Children, either as a Young Adult or Children’s librarian. She is proud that libraries are a safe space for younger generations and is happy to be part of an organization that values providing these kinds of spaces for everyone who needs them. She also has experienced the joy of recommending books to kids and teenagers and seeing them return with positive reviews and a desire to keep reading!
In addition to the work, she is currently doing and the importance she sees in libraries providing a necessary safe space for all, Mari also values other initiatives that her library offers, including their sustainability initiatives. A cause of particular importance to her. Hampton Library is currently collecting recyclable plastics, when they have donated enough plastic, they will get a bench for the library! If you live in Bridgehampton, NY stop by the library to learn about this incredible environmental program. She also values the information the library provides both through the resources they house and the programs they offer to the community. “Just from working here alone I have made some very amazing connections, and I have seen how important our programs really are for everyone in the community.”
I always like to ask my interviewees about their reading. Mari is currently re-reading Thomas Harris’ Hannibal series and plans to re-read the Game of Thrones series next. If she could have dinner with any character from a book, she chose Frankenstein’s monster. “I feel like he was very misunderstood, and he really just needed a friend!” We wish Mari Munoz good luck with her work in her libraries and her future in Child Psychology!
Section 215: Looking back on Library workers resisting the Patriot Act
When the The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act was passed in 2001, library workers everywhere where alarmed at the inclusion of a Section 215 which allowed the Federal government to obtain patron records from libraries. Library workers took issue with this extension of state surveillance, worried that a patron’s reading history could be used against them in court, as well as a loss of trust between libraries and the communities they support. As the nation reacted to the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York and Virginia, concerned professionals and citizens worried about constitutional rights being tested and violated. Libraries, particularly ones who served large student populations, had concerns about non-citizens being targeted for constitutional activities such as free speech. Library workers resisted in different ways, and ultimately no one was prosecuted, though there is no way to know how many people were threatened to hand over patron information, legally or not. The American Library Association recommended revising record retention policies to narrow the window when information would be vulnerable. Libraries also posted “anti-signage” stating that law enforcement had not been in the library. In anticipation of the “library provision” of the Patriot Act expiring in 2015, a bipartisan effort was launched to preserve it and failed. Whether this felt like a victory for libraries and allies is unclear to me. Today, library workers are once again under fire, but for different reasons. Will the tools used between 2001 and 2015 be as useful in 2025? Both the previous Trump administration and the current one have wasted no time trying to defund libraries and other cultural institutions, moving to defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services four times previously and again on January 21st, 2025. Thus far, ALA has not pushed for anything as specific as changing record retention policy. The arguments against libraries today attack their very existence unlike Section 215. Perhaps this leap from 2001 is not one of decades but of years: 2001 to 2016, 2016 to 2021 and now the present. The burst of anti-library sentiment is loud, but it's not new.
There is a lot going on in the library world, and a lot that feels up in the air due to the swift implementation of many of the policies described in Project 2025 and the equally swift actions to pause some of these orders. What we can currently predict is an increase in book bans and program challenges, a renewed interest in fighting America’s Freedom to Read.
As librarians and library workers, many of us do not have the confrontational personalities that have been required of us recently. It can be difficult to listen to someone insult you, your job, and your place of work and then steel yourself for it to happen again. It’s only natural that we want to defend ourselves from this, but, lately, more librarians and administrations are relying on self-censorship to do that. It’s an easy and appealing defense mechanism: if we don’t purchase titles, lead programs, or offer services that our patrons may find controversial, they can’t threaten or defund us. But just as with any defense mechanism, self-censorship can lure you into a false sense of peace and security while in the long run doing a lot more damage than you might think. Recovering what you’ve lost will be an uphill battle.
Self-censorship (also called soft, quiet, or unilateral censorship) is considered a dirty little secret in the library world. While what I described above is self-censorship, it’s also needlessly reclassifying books and moving them from juvenile to YA shelves, or from YA to adult shelves; placing a book behind a desk and requiring someone to ask for access; and requiring a parent’s signature to check out certain (or any) materials. These actions are removing titles from the hands that may need them and placing them in a section these patrons wouldn’t normally (or can’t) venture–effectively rescinding access and creating a barrier.
While you’re saving yourself from the potential headache of a patron complaining or harassing you, when it’s a book by or about an underrepresented perspective, as these challenges are so often are, you could be sending a message that these perspectives and the communities they represent are somehow inappropriate, that their voices don’t matter, or they’re not worth sticking up for. You’re allowing those who want to silence these topics and voices to win, without even a fight.
I’m not going to write a long passage on self-censorship, because we all understand what it is, what it does, and why it’s bad. I’m not going to shame anyone who has self-censored, because I understand why it can feel like the safest option. It’s scary to have a patron arguing with you to your face. It’s scary to not know if your administration will have your back. It’s scary to be ostracized from your community. It’s scary to be doxxed. It’s scary to be threatened with physical violence.
So, what I am doing to do is write how to put up the best fight against censorship in all forms, because pre-emptively conceding is always going to be a lose-lose(-lose) situation.
First and foremost, the ALA and the Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) do a great job of laying out censorship information and what to do if your library is challenged.
Next, check out the steps described for Press “Pause” and Prepare. Familiarize yourself with commonly challenged materials, create “resumes” for them (don’t allow out-of-context quotes to be the only thing people hear about a book!), strengthen policies to require both challengers and the reconsideration committee (typically board members) to read the entire book, share information with neighboring districts, and report all challenges.
You are likely the person most educated in censorship in your community, so do what librarians do best: educate. Show up to board meetings at your local library and schools at the first sign of censorship and discuss why censorship hurts everyone. If someone reads an out-of-context quote, read it in-context. Talk to your friends and families, arm them with resources, and encourage them to show up for their libraries and schools and to proactively (and loudly!) support them. Practice your talking points so you’re prepared if a challenge happens.
If you work in a school library–where the majority of challenges take place–it’s incredibly important to get out there and teach your faculty how to handle book challenges and why continuing to provide access to controversial titles is imperative for students. Having worked in multiple school libraries, I know how isolated school librarians can be, but as Anne Mosher writes, “proactive information-sharing, when offered ahead of time, will arm school administrators who may face parent challenges of library materials.” When your school knows what’s happening in the library, what your library does for the community, and how to protect its integrity, everyone can get on the same page and work together when a challenge arises.
Libraries and librarians often feel alone when it comes to censorship, but we’re not. One of the tips that came up in many resources is to contact the ALA, the OIF, the ACLU, and/or the AASL when faced with a challenge. These organizations can guide you through a challenge and provide the support you need to make sure you’re not in this alone. If you’re a school librarian, Mona Kerby recommends calling your head or district librarian before your principal. They can provide resources and a network of support, so that when you do tell your principal, you’re calm, collected, and have the information you need to move forward positively. And if things get worse, the Merritt Fund can help provide legal advice and representation. Our very own NYLA also offers a legal defense fund and help with challenges.
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I should remind everyone that this was written a week or more before it was posted and things have been changing, quickly. Between executive orders being signed and/or challenged and/or paused and/or rescinded, it's entirely possible that by the time this article is posted, it could no longer be all that helpful for everyone. But know that we stand with you. And we, as individuals and groups, should still show up for and educate our communities on censorship.
See you in April!
See you in April!
“I get by with a little help from my friends” …or should I say co-workers? I am lucky to work in a place that has amazing clerks who are always willing to go the extra mile and help me with whatever I need! The clerks are the heart of my library, and I would not be able to do my job efficiently without them. They each have their own strengths, and I have come to depend on them for many different tasks. (As I was writing this, I could not think of the word tasks and one of my clerks helped me, proving my point how awesome they all are)
We have two whiteboards and one of my clerks is very artistic. She is always eager to create something whether it is for a program or a book display! For example, for January, I asked her to use one whiteboard to promote my Dog Man program and to use the other whiteboard to help showcase books with a social justice theme. I don’t need to give her much guidance and I am always impressed by what she comes up with!
During Summer Reading, my clerks always pump-up summer reading when they are checking out books to children and their caregivers. Because of them and their positivity, I’ve been seeing an increase in readers these past couple years. I think they do a better job promoting summer reading than I do!
There are also the little things they do. Like coming up to me with a book and saying “Sarah, this book has a new sticker but it’s from August 2023, did you still want it new?” Or “Sarah, I found this book you put on missing trace.” And, “Sarah, I noticed this book has several pages falling out.” All these little things are a big help!
If you have clerks at your library, ask yourself how can they be of assistance? As mentioned, before I know I am lucky to have clerks who are always willing to help. I know not everyone is that fortunate. I am very thankful for each and every one of my clerks!
Asking for, receiving, offering, accepting, and refusing help are all difficult things. Thinking outside the box is important when doing this, as not everyone wants, needs, or is able to offer the same type of assistance. One place I have encountered this often is when considering the benefits of audio materials. Sure, they are great for those with visual needs - just like the curb cut is great for those who have mobility needs. But, as with the curb-cut I've discovered so many more ways to use these materials to help others. Those who have difficulty reading the printed word, not only with visual impairments, but also those who are neurodivergent, such as dyslexic or ...... I've also encountered those with mobility issues who can benefit from not having to turn pages, not having to manipulate physical books, or just not read on the screen for whatever reason such as language issues (Portia in Shakespeare vs. Porche the car is my favorite example) - being able to see the words as you hear them, or simply to hear the words as they were said in class and in general conversations can really help. Which leads me to audio materials. Sure, there are screen readers, but that's not always convenient or easy to use - there's a learning curve. Some databases offer auditory versions of the materials within the software, such as books on the Kindle or some of the Gale databases. Yet, these offerings are limited in their scope - Kindle only includes those books you purchase, the databases have limited resources of what is available within the library's subscription. There is so much more information out there, but only in print. And for college textbooks, or K-12 schools there are some resources available, but only for selected items such as required materials and only through the school’s assistance. Then I had a chance to tour my area’s Talking Book and Braille Libraries (TBBL), and my eyes really opened. I had thought these materials were only for those with visual impairments; but as with the curb-cut effect there are so many more needs that can be helped - their services are not only for the blind and visually impaired, but anyone who has trouble with physical printed materials. I’ve seen patrons struggling to turn pages or even hold a book; patrons who struggle with understanding written language but are great with verbal language; and even patrons who never knew TBBL existed and could help them outside of what they obtained for their education through their schools. Sure, there are audiobooks available to download from the public library. But those have very specific timeframes, which may not work for all users. Print books generally have longer loan periods, and easier renewals as they often are less popular. Yes, you can purchase audiobooks – but isn’t the purpose of the library to have materials available for all to use, to provide knowledge to all in whatever means the person best receives knowledge? I encourage all librarians to really explore who may benefit from auditory materials; they are not just for the visually impaired anymore.
Before the holidays, I internet-stumbled across an exhibit at the Toronto Reference Library that made me GOL (Gasp Out Loud)! “Patterns and Puffed Sleeves: Celebrating Costume Design through Anne of Green Gables” featured original drawings, on-set photographs, and actual garments from the Sullivan Entertainment productions of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel. I solemnly vowed on my eternal love for Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe, I had to go.
So on a recent slushy Saturday, I made the trek up north, traveling by car, train, and foot to see how author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved characters were brought to life. After a quick detour to the St. Lawrence Market for an almond pretzel, a life-changing pastry that alone is worth the round trip from Rochester–it was onward to the largest public reference library in Canada, a fact I learned from Wikipedia. Also, it was established in 1909, and I would describe its size as “absolutely bananas.”
In my tween and teen years, PBS would air the movies back-to-back on weekends as part of their fundraising drives (“PBS is made possible thanks to viewers like you!”), and I would sit there for the six-plus hours absolutely entranced. One Christmas I was gifted the VHS set, later graduating to DVD. Now I own the digital downloads on Gazebo. The movies have been a constant in my life; my most recent rewatch was last December when I was recovering from surgery. At 46 years old, I still swooned at the bridge scene and sobbed when Matthew died. There have been many iterations of Anne over the years, but for a certain demographic (younger GenX / older Millennial), Megan Follows will always always be OUR Anne Shirley and the Sullivan adaptations our Avonlea.
When we entered the lobby, enclosed in glass was the dress–THE dress. I stood only inches away from the iconic puffed sleeves! I was immediately transported to Green Gables, when Anne wears the dress out to the barn to show Matthew.
“I should have waited till Christmas, but I thought you might want to wear it to the ball… Don't you like it?”
“Like it? It's more exquisite than any dress I could ever have imagined.”
“Puffed sleeves.”
“The puffiest in the world. You are a man of impeccable taste, Matthew.”
They embrace. Cue my sweaty eyes.
Upon entering the TD Gallery, a short video interview with Martha Mann was playing. Mann was the principal designer for the original two films, as well as several spinoffs, mini-series, and related projects. Her role in the Anne series seemed “positively providential”–we learned through the exhibit that her grandmother was a good friend of Montgomery’s and Mann onced dined with the illustrious author as a child.
The exhibit coincided with the 150th anniversary of Montgomery’s birth and included some reproductions of her letters and journal entries as well as biographical panels. Having read Looking for Anne of Green Gables: The Story of L. M. Montgomery and Her Literary Classic by Irene Gammel, I was familiar with her life and the path to publishing her most acclaimed novel, but I greatly appreciated the refresher.
The next few stations featured costume sketches and fabric samples for different characters–Anne, Diana Barry, Miss Stacy, Josie Pye (the OG Mean Girl), Ruby Gillis, Jane Andrews, Charlie Sloan, and the formidable Mrs. Rachel Lynde. The care and attention paid to each was truly remarkable.
And then, straight ahead, showcased along the back wall, was the actual carpet bag Anne brings from the Hopetown Orphan Asylum to Prince Edward Island. The bag that needed to be “carried in a certain way, [or] the handle falls off.” Dear Reader, the way my eyes FILLED with tears! I may have stopped breathing.
There I was at ten, at fourteen, at seventeen, at twenty-two, at twenty-eight, at thirty-five, at forty, at forty-six years old, waiting at the Bright River Station, traveling down the White Way of Delight, admiring the Lake of Shining Waters, drinking raspberry cordial, walking the ridgepole of Moody’s kitchen roof, waking Aunt Josephine in the spare bedroom, listening to The Highway Man at White Sands Hotel, waving goodbye as the train departs for Queens College, bringing in the cows with Matthew, saying goodbye, looking for dreams outside myself, rejecting diamond sunbursts and marble halls, discovering it's not what the world holds for you but what you bring to it.
My copies of the book series are well-loved, yellowed and creased in the corners and spine. While I reread the first one every few years, it is the Sullivan movies that fill my soul and my imagination. Can a film be a kindred spirit?
Libraries offer so much to their communities and patrons, and on a wintry afternoon in January, I was on the receiving end of such gifts. The exhibit flooded my heart with such happy memories, with hope and with joy, and renewed my spirit in a way I didn’t know I needed. It was magic. “Dear old world, you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.‘”
Hello dear readers!
Leaving the holiday season (and its many delicious holiday cookies) behind, I feel refreshed in my attempts to look forward - towards the brand-new year ahead. Despite feeling unsure of public library funding as administrations change, I am hopeful in the humanity us library workers bring to our communities; to the refuge we provide.
In my efforts to remain positive, I took a fresh look at public library makerspaces, and noticed what exists, and what is perhaps missing from the rooms I work within.
I, like many NYLA members, often get emails on NY libraries that are recently certified sustainable through the powerfully innovative, and the ever-so-important, Sustainable Library Initiatives (SLI).
In learning about the folks who came together to first create a sustainability movement within libraries, I became interested in the topic of environmental sustainability within public library makerspaces. As information science professionals, so many of us understand information life cycles as it pertains to collections, but it made me wonder what other life cycles library’s may have control over.
I have been so lucky to work with makerspace library staff who already keep so many practices of sustainability in mind in their respective makerspaces – even ordering recycling services for discarded filament. However, I wondered how a growing wave of sustainability could create resources on a relatively recent concept such as library makerspaces. How would an organization like SLI or others even define this framework, since every single library makerspace is so vastly different? Is it possible to create a makerspace component or even set of guidelines to the SLI Road Map to Sustainability?Since people familiar with makerspaces should most likely develop and conceive of an environmentally sustainable makerspace model, should there be a public libraries’ SLI Makerspace Sustainability Team?
In a very exciting and meaningful email correspondence with Sustainable Libraries Initiative Sustainability Coordinator, Alex Blend, I was given some very interesting links to institutions doing the work - such as Montana State University’s Bill Wurst Makerspace, which currently has a “Design for Sustainability” infographic in addition to their website’s information on “Lifecycle Design Considerations” and “Waste Management” options for everyday items like wood or 3d printing filament.
Another amazingly creative find was on the Small Planet Supply Blog’s Earth Day post on common practices for general makerspace sustainability. Alex’s links even included how NYU’s MakerSpace has a group of engineering students designing a plastic filament shredder, which allows for makerspace staff to melt and reuse filament for future prints. These amazing NYU students have been regularly working on formally including circular design thinking into makerspace sustainability models.
I further wondered how libraries could operationalize makerspace sustainability via formal research practices to thus lead to public library funding initiatives towards such ends. A research article done at the makerspace of the Graz Institute of Technology used Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) as the lens in which it processed each type of makerspace service - most specifically 3D printing and laser cutting machines. An interesting finding to this research methodology is its use of measurement in testing each service/equipment a typical makerspace might have. It seems relevant and necessary to find a way to understand the carbon footprint each type of filament a 3D printer uses, or the relationship between wood density and emission rates of a laser cutting machine.
Another interesting find was an article titled, Sustainable in Action: From Intention to Environmentally Friendly Practices in Makerspaces Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action.This article looks at the way in which makerspaces are interacted with, and what behavioral processes may be involved in the disconnect between making and throwing away.
With the novelty of makerspaces existing within libraries, museums, and universities, it is completely understandable that a field examining everyday practices of makerspaces is just emerging. Simultaneously, how does the library science world begin to bridge makerspaces to other foundational components of libraries, and, in doing so, what is it that we see, and what is it that we don’t?
Until next time!
February 2025 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.
Call for Nominations for the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award
Would you like an opportunity to honor an active library supporter, a community volunteer, or a Friends of the Library organization? The Friends of Libraries Section (FLS) offers the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award to honor the efforts of a volunteer member or group within the library community who have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends of the Library organizations.
With this award, FLS annually acknowledges not simply good work on behalf of libraries but recognizes the people who go above and beyond what is asked of them. These library civic leaders see a need, focus on a challenge, share goals, and commit to exceptional community service. The recipient receives a plaque and the Friends of the Library group with which the individual or group is associated is given a one-year organizational membership in FLS/NYLA.
In October 1995, the Empire Friends Roundtable renamed their “Friends Lifetime Achievement Award” the “Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award,” bestowing it on Dan Casey posthumously. 2025 is the 30th anniversary of this prestigious award which is now given by FLS.
If a Friend group has received the award in the past, they certainly may be nominated to be recognized again. Or if a Friends group has received the award, perhaps you can think of an individual associated with that group that might deserve this recognition.
And please don’t forget about partner organizations supportive of the Friends. The award can also go to “a group … whose efforts have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends organizations.” The Award has previously been presented to a representative in the State Assembly, public library system administrators, system trustees, and county executives.
Nominations must include all relevant information outlined on the application form. Selection criteria include contributions of the nominee (group or individual) to library service, including positions held, years of service, and accomplishments such as successful fundraisers and volunteer engagement. Community outreach, marketing initiatives, advocacy, and leadership should all be highlighted.
To nominate a group or individual, request a nomination packet by sending a message to Lisa C. Wemett, Coordinator for the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award, at [email protected]. All nominations must be submitted electronically and received by 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Thank you for your interest!
Apply Now for the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship
Are you a member of a Friends of the Library group? Do you serve as the Staff Liaison to your library's Friends group? Do you have a stellar Friends group at your library? Could you or one of the Friends volunteers benefit from a professional development opportunity at the NYLA Annual Conference?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, please consider applying for the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship (RECS) to attend the 2025 NYLA Annual Conference. The award pays up to a maximum of $1,000 for an individual to attend the conference. Reimbursements may include registration, tickets for events and meal functions, lodging, and travel expenses.
"Some people are drawn to bars, some to church groups, I was drawn to the library!" This quote is by Randy Enos, who spent a very successful professional career supporting libraries and library Friends groups. The FLS Executive Board has honored him by naming him President Emeritus and paid tribute to his commitment to professional development for volunteers and staff by establishing the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship in 2018. The scholarship is underwritten through an endowment funded by designated contributions to FLS.
Whether a community volunteer or a library staff member, applicants must be a member of FLS/NYLA and involved in a local Friends group at any type of library in New York State. Applications must be received by June 1. Learn more and find the application packet on the FLS RECS page.
The application form and supporting documentation should be submitted to [email protected]. Use the same address for any questions. The Scholarship Committee will review all eligible applications and notify applicants of the results in the summer.
Thank you for your interest and support. It's not too soon to think about applying!
Save the Date: Meet-up for Friends of Libraries Groups in Rochester
FLS is offering its annual meet-up, this time in Monroe County on Thursday, June 12. Representatives of Friends groups are invited to talk shop with the FLS Executive Board when they meet in-person at the Henrietta Public Library.
The meet-up will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. It will offer a chance for representatives of local Friends of Libraries to come together to discuss topics of interest, such as fundraising ideas, best practices for book sales, advocacy, membership initiatives, energizing volunteers, and programs and services that the Friends offer to their community.
Over the past ten years, FLS meet-ups have been held at various locations around New York. They offer a great opportunity for Friends of the Library groups to meet with other library civic leaders, to exchange ideas, and make new contacts, all within a short distance from your home! There is no charge to attend. Advanced registration is required; no walk-ins, please. Watch for further information on how to register and request discussion topics that are of interest to your group. We look forward to seeing you and sharing great ideas and conversation!
Friends News and Notes, January 2025
The January 2025 issue of Friends News and Notes is available on the FLS Newsletter page.
Inside this issue:
Call for Nominations Casey Award, page 1
FLS in 2025 Events and Dates, page 1
Message from the FLS President, page 2
Apply Now FLS Enos Conference Scholarship, page 2
NYLA 2024 Conference Recap
Forming Friends, page 3, 6
Teaming Up!, page 3, 8
Board Development, page 4, 8
Finding Valuable Volunteers, page 4, 9
Fundraising Without Book Sales, page 5, 10
Keep It Growing, page 5
Seven Ideas About Book Recycling, page 6
Time to Start Planning NFOLW, page 7
FFPL 50 Years of Service, page 9, 10
Forming Friends is Here, page 11
It Takes a Village, page 11
FLS Board / Auxiliary Volunteers / Info, page 12
FLS Enos Conference Scholarship donate box, page 12
FLS Election and Petition Candidates Process
FLS holds its election for the Executive Board exclusively online through NYLA’s Online Membership Center. FLS members will need their log in and password. In May, notification of the election will be sent via an email blast to all FLS/NYLA members eligible to vote, detailing the log in process for casting ballots. Voting is open from June 1 through June 15.
The FLS Nominating Committee prepares a slate of candidates from among FLS members for the position of President (annually), for the position of Secretary (every two years), and for Members At Large of the Executive Board (annually). The committee is interested in hearing from any member who wants to serve.
Individuals who are not selected by the Nominating Committee may run for office by petition. Article VII, Nominations and Elections, Section C of the FLS By-Laws states that additional nominations of Section members may be added to the slate of candidates by petition signed by ten members, prior to the scheduled issuing of the ballot by NYLA.
FLS members wishing to appear on the 2025 ballot as a petition candidate for the office of FLS President, Secretary, or Member At Large should request a current position job description and a candidate profile sheet from Erica Freudenberger, Chair of the 2025 FLS Nominating Committee, at [email protected]. Both the completed petition and candidate profile sheet must be submitted to Freudenberger by email no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025. Thank you for your interest.
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
Sustainability in Action: Inspiring Sustainability through Community Engagement
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Kinderhook Memorial Library completed an array of remarkable accomplishments during their pursuance of the Sustainable Library Certification Program. Demonstrating the value of partnerships in the effort to build climate conscious and resilient communities, Kinderhook Memorial Library established bonds with external organizations to support the social, financial, and environmental sustainability of their service area. As an active member of the Kinderhook Business and Professional Association, the library collaborates with local businesses to sponsor and promote programs. Kinderhook Memorial Library partnered with their neighborhood supermarket to promote a “Meatless Monday” campaign, providing patrons with coupons for fresh and organic items and reusable bags. The supermarket also helps the library manage their plastic bag donations for the NexTrex recycling challenge. |
Their partnership with the local fire department brings firefighters and patrons together for a Storytime program. This gives firefighters the opportunity to teach children about their equipment, fire safety at home, and allows them to discuss volunteer opportunities. These community partnerships provide the library with a reach that extends much farther than the confines of its walls.
Encouraged by this example? Contact [email protected] or visit https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org to learn more.