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This year’s annual conference theme is Actionable Advocacy!
One component of advocacy is storytelling. It generates empathy and understanding. Storytelling is central to the history of humanity and has deep roots in our history from the story of Gilgamesh to the latest literature on the New York Times bestseller list. Our keynote speaker for the conference is Micaela Blei. She “is an award-winning storyteller, veteran educator, and story editor based in Portland, Maine.” Micaela has a PhD from NYU where she studied storytelling. She has continued this work and currently teaches storytelling at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. She is the former director of education at the Moth. Micaela writes that it “has been the backbone of cultures, religions, and social movements.” Storytelling is important for advocacy because it provides life to the numbers. Numbers can show with hard facts what they do across society but the stories that go along with those numbers but a human face to all the great work libraries do. This years conference has an excellent line up of programs being scheduled. We had so many great programs submitted that it was difficult for the continuing education committee to decide what to include. The annual conference provides an opportunity to meet with old and new colleagues, develop your professional knowledge further, and learn what is going on around the state.
Please join us in Saratoga for the annual conference November 6-8.
Rain, rain go away, we have tons of work to do today!
The NYLA office is sick of the rain and looking forward to a summer of sun and planning for our annual NYLA conference that run November 5th-8th as well as running our daily operations.
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
Renewal for the 2025-2026 membership year went off without a hitch. We appreciate all our valued members for their continued support of the organization.
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 opened April 15, 2025. All members were sent a renewal reminder with a link to the renewal form. This communication was sent to the organizational membership contact email, not the Key Contact for organizational memberships. Please not this link can only be found in your email communications.
Membership are GRACED until APRIL 30th! If you have yet to renew for the 2025–2025 membership year and still wish to do so, please submit your renewal form and finalize your renewal payment ASAP! Following April 30th, membership profiles will be placed in a “lapsed” status. Renewal FAQS reviewed on the website.
New or prospect users can become members by completing 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.
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 did not pay outstanding invoices for joining the new system for 2024-2025, were not sent a renewal invoice. The outstanding invoice for 2024-2025 would require payment to join NYLA for the 2025 -2026 membership year.
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 Gude 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 June 19, 2025, in observance of Juneteenth and July 4th in observance of Independence 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!
Looking for professional development? This program is open to individuals already working or newly hired in libraries, or people interested in working in public and academic libraries. To receive a certificate, participants must attend all sessions within the program.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE TUESDAY August 5, 2025.
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.
Proposal Submissions have been accepted and the final slate of programming is almost finalized.
Thank you to those who submitted a proposal for this year’s event. There were many great proposal topics submitted, and we cannot wait to finalize our schedule. Accepted presenters have until June 20th to get their signed agreements into the office. Questions can be emailed to the office at [email protected].
Hotel Accommodations
Conference hotel accommodation information is now available on the conference website. We have contracted with several properties that range from $152- $210 a night. We strongly suggest booking your room accommodation as soon as possible to be included in one of our blocks.
Registration
The 2025 NYLA Conference registration will open at the end of July. Registration rate information has been added to the conference website. Please note, to take advantage of member rates, you must have active membership in the system. We strongly encourage everyone to review their profile prior to registration being made available to confirm membership is active.
Know an organization, business or someone looking to be an exhibitor at our trade show or a sponsor at our event? Both Trade Show Information and Sponsorship Opportunities are now available on the conference website!
The 2024 YSS Conference, All on the Same Page, was held on April 4, 2025, in Mount Kisco, NY. Thank you to those who attended. If you still have an outstanding invoice for your registration, we kindly ask you to finalize payment as soon as possible.
CE Certificates have been uploaded to the CE Trackers of those who submitted their requests. Attendees who would like to receive CE past the deadline, should complete all required form and submit a request by email to [email protected].
The 2024 SSL Conference, Sharing Your Story was held on May 1 – 3, 2024 in Rochester, NY. Thank you to those who attended. If you still have an outstanding invoice for your registration, we kindly ask you to finalize payment as soon as possible.
Attendance certificates were included in the conference app as a downloadable PDF for anyone who required this information. Anyone unable to find this documentation can reach out to the office at [email protected] for assistance.
CE Certificates have been uploaded to the CE Trackers of those who submitted their requests. Attendees who would like to receive CE past the deadline, should complete all required form and submit a request by email to [email protected].
Just a reminder for all membership, finance and general association inquiries to [email protected] and all event and continuing education inquiries to [email protected].
We appreciate your continued membership with NYLA and stay tuned for more operational updates in the August edition of The NYLA Voice!
At 12:37am on Wednesday, June 18th, the New York State Legislature adjourned its 2025 Legislative Session. In the coming weeks, NYLA will focus its attention on the development and promotion of budget requests and legislative priorities for 2026. Before we do so, let’s take a moment to review what New York’s library community was able to accomplish since this year’s session began in January.
Budget: On May 8, 2025, the New York State legislature approved the latest New York State budget in 15 years. Delivered 38 days after the annual April 1st deadline set forth in New York’s state constitution, the FY 2026 budget increased State Aid for Library Construction for a second consecutive year while maintaining other key areas of library funding in the face of an uncertain federal landscape. A breakdown of major library provisions in the FY 2025 budget can be found below:
Major Funding Categories:
- State Aid for Libraries (Operating Aid) $106.325 million
- +$2.473 million from FY 2024
- State Aid for Library Construction: $44 million
- Level to FY 2025
- Library Materials Aid $6.25/Pupil
- Flat to FY 2024
- NOVELny: $3 million
- Level to FY 2025
Additional Programs & Spending
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: $500,000
- Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center of Queens Library: $222,500
- +$55,000 from FY 2025
- Brooklyn Public Library Center for Brooklyn History: $100,000
- New appropriation for FY 2026
- Love Your Library Fund: $100,000
- Disbursement from existing account
- Library Social Worker Pilot Program: $150,000
- New appropriation for FY 2026
- $150,000 for a pilot program to expand social work services in libraries, with a plan for disbursement decided by the legislature.
- DHSES Media Literacy Toolkit: $1 million
- New appropriation for FY 2026 for expansion of the “Media Literacy Toolkit for Educators” developed by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and released in January of this year, the FY 2026 budget appropriates $1 million for “services and expenses related to the creation and distribution of critical media consumption teaching tools and educators’ toolkit for providing students of various ages with the skills necessary for critically consuming media.” This initiative was announced ahead of the release of Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget and retained in the final legislation.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: $1 million
- +$500,000 from FY 2025.
- $6 million less than proposed in Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget
- “Grants shall be available on a competitive basis based on need and children served” and “shall be awarded in amounts not to exceed $50,000, to provide up to fifty percent of an eligible entity’s required matching funds to participate in” the program. Funding shall be available to libraries, library systems, non-profits, school districts, and boards of cooperative educational services.
Legislation:
In 2025, NYLA pushed a legislative agenda representing interests as diverse as the public, school, academic, and special libraries, systems, and librarians that comprise our membership.
After laying the groundwork for success in 2023 and 2024, this year NYLA worked with a coalition of partners to successfully advance the Freedom to Read Act (S.1099 – May, A.7777 – Simone) through the legislature. Passed by the Senate on May 20th and the Assembly on June 17th, this bill is critical for preserving intellectual freedom in school libraries across our state. The legislation will now be queued for delivery to Governor Hochul for her consideration.
If signed by governor Hochul, this legislation will amend State Education Law by stating that the laws and rules established by the Commissioner of Education for the management of public school libraries:
Shall include policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff, including but not limited to certified school library media specialists, are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available to school districts.
Unfortunately, we were not able to secure wins on other supported legislation like the Open Shelves Act or proposals for eBook licensing reform and increasing the Cultural Education Fee that supports the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education – and thus the New York State Library – before the legislature adjourned for the year. We will continue working to advance these issues in 2026.
Though the state legislature has adjourned, NYLA’s advocacy work will continue. With the future of IMLS and federal funding for libraries in the forthcoming FY 2026 federal budget still uncertain, NYLA will be doing all that we can to keep fighting for libraries in New York and nationwide.
NYLA’s legislative committee will now meet to review the past year and begin discussions about budget and legislative priorities for the coming year. If you have any thoughts, requests, or questions about next year or the session that has just concluded, please do not hesitate to contact me don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you for your advocacy efforts session. Without the work of library advocates across our state, we could not have secured any of the gains or progress that we have this year. Thank you and I look forward to working with you this summer and fall as we prepare for 2026!
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Submit new jobs, promotions, awards, publications, retirements, etc. to be included in August's Members on the Move!
Building Community Through Discord
When we first launched our the UAlbany Libraries’ Discord server, it was an experiment. The goal? To create a virtual safe space for our Queer Book Club—a place where students could connect outside of in-person meetings, share their thoughts on the books we were reading, and build community in a way that felt safe, casual, welcoming, and student-centered.
What we didn’t expect was how quickly it would evolve.
Since its quiet launch, our Discord has grown into something more dynamic. Today, it’s a vibrant space, with 94 members (and counting!), that hosts our Summer of Horror 2025 book club forum, a platform for students to ask questions about library services, a bulletin board for upcoming events, and a place to swap book recommendations. We’ve even had students use the server to ask questions about printing.
We intentionally chose Discord because it mirrors the social tools our students already use. It’s flexible, free, and familiar to many. Unlike email or traditional forums, Discord supports asynchronous discussion, casual community-building, and live interaction—all in one place. And the format allows students to participate in a way that feels low-pressure, whether they’re lurking, reacting to posts, or diving deep into a themed channel. We’ve organized the server into various text channels to meet a variety of needs: Queer Book Club, Book Recommendations, Questions, and more.
None of this would be possible without the small but mighty team behind the server. The day-to-day management of our Discord has been a collaborative effort between myself and one of our exceptional graduate students, who is currently studying Library and Information Science. She brought with her a deep familiarity with Discord’s structure, settings, and culture—particularly in the areas of moderation and rule-setting. Her technical know-how and experience have been a true boon, especially since I came into this project as someone fairly new to the platform. It’s been a great example of learning from and alongside our students—and letting their expertise help shape our outreach practices.
Of course, learning how to manage an online space comes with its own set of challenges—especially when it comes to moderation. Early on, we were hit with a flood of bots trying to sell Taylor Swift tickets or MacBooks, often spamming every single channel with the same clunky message. The scams were obvious, but the disruption was real. In response, we created rules, verification settings, and guidelines to better protect the space. What was once a frustrating nuisance has now become an inside joke among our regular users, who are quick to alert moderators when something sketchy shows up. It’s been a great reminder that community-building also means community monitoring—and our users have been awesome allies in keeping the space safe and welcoming.
That said, even though we’ve been on Discord for about a year now, we’re still very much learning. There’s so much more we’d like to do. Figuring out how to facilitate more consistent discussion and make the space even more active is high on our list. Like any good library outreach platform, a digital community requires ongoing care, creativity, and willingness to experiment. There’s always more work to be done—but that’s true of anything worth doing.
Looking ahead, we’re exploring how this space might serve a broader purpose. One exciting avenue is using voice and video channels to engage our online and commuter students, especially those who can’t attend in-person programming. We’re brainstorming everything from virtual movie screenings to live author chats, virtual game nights, and even pop-up trivia competitions.
The Discord has become more than just a communication tool—it’s a bridge. It connects students with each other and with the Libraries in a way that feels organic and accessible. It meets them where they are (often on their phones) and invites them to be part of something that isn’t just about information, but about belonging.
As academic libraries continue to explore new ways of building community, this type of platform offers an exciting, low-barrier way to extend our reach, foster connection, and create inclusive digital spaces. For us, it all started with one book club—and the willingness to try something new.
Happy creating!
Hello fellow gaming librarians. For my next series of articles, I'm going to focus on my Top 10 games of all time and why I enjoy playing them. Keep in mind that they may not be simple, but they are rewarding and a lot of fun to play.
The first game I'm going to showcase and my 10th favorite game is Isle of Skye. Isle of Skye is a tile-laying game in which players get to set the prices for various tiles that other players can buy and eventually add to their own set of tiles. The game contains 16 different scoring tiles, but only four are randomly selected for each game and placed on spaces A through D. There are several rounds of play, and different combinations of these four scoring tiles are scored in each round. For example, one of the scoring conditions may be getting points for having sheep appear in your set of tiles, or having a set of lighthouses and ships. Each turn a player receives three tiles which they place in front of their player privacy screen. They then secretly place coins between the screen corresponding to each tile and an axe token next to the tile they want to discard. When all players have set the prices, the round begins. Each player then has a chance to buy a tile from another player by paying them the money that is set next to it. If a player's tile is bought, they keep the money the player paid and the money set aside next to the tile. A player can choose to price a tile at any price, but if the tile is not purchased, they have to pay for the tile out of their own money (the money set aside next to the tile). Once each player has had a chance to buy a tile, and the players pay for any unbought tiles in front of them, they then add the tile to their landscape. Tiles need to be matched by terrain. After all players have placed their tiles in their area, scoring commences.
The game is a lot of fun because I enjoy the buying and selling system and I also like the way your little isle grows as the game progresses. I also like the scoring which varies from game to game. This is a great introductory game with not a lot of rules and a quick playtime.
Last month, the community I serve approved our budget with an overall Tax Levy increase of 28.94%.
It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and demoralized these days, and with good reason. Many of us predicted that we would be condemned after January 20, and this is indeed happening on every level. The Federal conversation quickly devolved from one of saving money to the real goal – an assault on our professional values and the public’s freedom to read. These incidents have been so uninformed or deliberately manipulative that the White House press secretary stated that the Librarian of Congress was dismissed in part for providing children with access to inappropriate materials, while we know that the Library of Congress holds a copy of every item published in the United States and is only accessible to those over 16.
This is not only ridiculous but dangerous. People could (and can) easily believe that their local libraries are stocking their children’s rooms with Fifty Shades of Grey or that reading a book about kids with two uncles will somehow influence their sexual orientation. When diversity, equity, and inclusion are repositioned as “discrimination, exclusion, and inequality,” my thoughts immediately travel to Orwell’s doublespeak, but I know that many people think this is true. This doesn’t just affect libraries, of course. Museums, schools, NPR, Elmo – no one operating in our space is safe from baseless disparagement and calls to defund these institutions. Libraries are a problem precisely because we encourage people to be informed and exercise their freedom of thought. People who think freely are a hazard to authoritarian “leaders.”
And so there we were, facing the prospect of sharing our proposed 28.94% increase with the public. In our case, our Levy pierced the Tax Cap by such a high percentage because we had a bond referendum for a major renovation in 2023 and the time arrived to add the debt service (21.36%) to our budget. This in itself, while required, was concerning given the current political and economic environment. We also made a carefully considered decision to raise the Levy by an additional 7.58% in order to best serve the public once a significant part of the renovation has been completed. It was risky, but we thought it was the right thing to do. We sent a mailer to every household explaining the increase. I also spoke with community groups where I openly positioned the Library as a place for intellectual freedom, reliable information, and diversity. I thought it was important to put our cards on the table and I knew my Board was supportive.
I fully expected to be pummeled by tomatoes. Instead, I was met with positive feedback and thanks for listening to what the community said it wanted in their renovated library and delivering on that. Even so, I was worried right up until the votes were counted with a 75% approval rating. It is gratifying to know that the work we do is respected and supported; the community understands the importance of the services we provide.
Many libraries are not as lucky. Their budgets are voted down, or their collection development decisions are challenged, or their programming is unjustly criticized, or all of the above and more. And so all I really can say is what you probably already know: we have always had to fight for libraries, but now it is even more crucial. We have to fight not just for ourselves, but for all of us.
I began posting for the Serious Fun Stuff Librarian Bluesky account just over a month ago, as a space to share some programs, program ideas, experiences, etc. that wouldn’t alone warrant an article for this Serious Fun Stuff column or may not be progressive in the sense that the content built on prior programs or experiences. And generally, just to post other fun library-oriented things that fall through the cracks.
So, here’s what I’ve learned so far.
People are friendly
No really! You can have interesting, professional conversations with contemporaries, with little concern of some random bot or account interjecting unnecessary snark, or devil’s-advocate-in-bad-faith type comments…yet.
Reposts over likes
Right now, it seems that if someone likes something on your account, they tend to hit ‘Repost’ over ‘Like’ (sometimes they do both). Part of this is generating daily content for their own account for sure, but a larger element seems to be more about communicating something they value to the wider community - dare I say, altruistically. Bluesky feels like a place of ‘helpers’ over “influencers”.
Starter Packs
Starter Packs are a curated group of accounts that fall under a particular category. So, Librarians, Teachers, Rock & Roll Enthusiasts, etc. You can follow individual accounts or follow all. Starter Packs are awesome, if not a bit addicting - especially for our profession, where interests may be all over the map, looking for new experiences and learning venues for patrons. It’s easy to get a bit carried away. I suppose in time I will unfollow accounts I have no interaction with, but for now, I’m monitoring what I can for inspirational content.
Librarian Accounts
There are far more librarian accounts than library accounts (which makes sense). Lots of librarians out there speaking and sharing on their own behalf (I’m one of them), and some first Bluesky voices already leading the way in how we can use Bluesky to further serve the public. There is also a robust community of School, and Teacher Librarians hosting workshop type events through the app (or add-on apps).
Library Accounts
Hardly any. This is the truth. It feels like the majority of libraries just don’t know what to do with Bluesky yet - and that’s ok. Considering how libraries have invested in multiple social media accounts by this point, it can be daunting to think of adding another one. Still, the early adopters are already putting out quality information and testing ways to engage with the service.
Getting Started
Like any social media account, Bluesky makes it easy to get going. Enter a profile, follow some accounts, blah blah blah. Once you’re in and you start scrolling through Feeds or the Discover accounts, everything may feel familiar. But, as you begin to interact with Bluesky, you’ll notice the many subtle differences. And like any other social media app, you will either find yourself preferring the setup, or not.
I intend to keep going. In my short experience so far, I’ve already made some great connections, sourced some truly inventive programs, and spoke with other librarians about some ideas they’ve been working on.
Right now, it is still a bit of an experiment, as I figure out exactly what The Serious Fun Stuff Librarian account will be - but anyone following the account can be assured of one thing: You will always find some really cool programing ideas posted there. Keep scrolling until you find one you can use!
Check it out at:
The Serious Fun Stuff Librarian
@seriousfunstuff.bsky.social
Julianna Vargas didn’t plan on a career in libraries when she took a summer job at Amagansett Free Library as a high school junior. But in that small East End library, she discovered something powerful: a place where community, history, and storytelling converge. Now a Library Trainee working toward her Master’s in Library Science, Julianna serves as the Local History Coordinator at Amagansett Free Library—bringing care, attention, and heart to the work of historical preservation.
“I realized this was a perfect combination of things that I love: history, community, storytelling,” Julianna says.
Preserving Amagansett’s Story
In her current role, Julianna oversees the preservation and organization of the library’s archives and local history collections. This includes cataloging historical materials, implementing proper archival methods, and ensuring that fragile items are stored and documented with precision. She’s currently immersed in projects involving the vertical files, the local history book collection, and an extensive postcard archive.
Cataloging postcards may sound simple, but it’s meticulous work. Each card is entered into a database with information on its physical attributes, like size and location, as well as the image, message, or other contextual content.
She’s also actively cultivating relationships with other historical and cultural institutions across Long Island’s East End, forging connections that strengthen the library’s role as a steward of local history.
A Museum Experience That Resonated
In the summer of 2024, Julianna interned full-time at the Brooklyn Museum’s Archives, working with the Community Gallery collection a project that left a lasting impact. Tasked with reprocessing the collection and creating a new finding aid, Julianna felt a strong personal connection to the materials.
“The Community Gallery was one of the first museum spaces in the U.S. specifically created to showcase BIPOC artists,” she says. “Henri Ghent, its director, was the first Black director at a major American museum. As a person of color, it meant a lot to be part of preserving this history.”
The collection included artwork and correspondence from the gallery’s inception in the 1960s and showcased an extraordinary range of voices, including artists who were blind, incarcerated, or otherwise marginalized. “It was a very bittersweet collection to go through, but ultimately it reminded me why I’m doing this work,” Julianna reflects.
Libraries as Community Anchors
Though her initial exposure to libraries was through employment, Julianna’s appreciation deepened as she observed their role as vital community spaces. Her father, a local pastor, inspired her desire to serve others—and libraries, she realized, offered a way to bring her passions together.
“Libraries are bridges to resources,” she says. They give people access to information, the internet, cultural heritage, and so much more.
She points to Amagansett Library’s pandemic response as a defining moment. When COVID-19 forced buildings to close and services to go virtual, the library acted quickly offering personal Wi-Fi hotspots for checkout so patrons without home internet could stay connected.
“It was really just a reminder of how adaptive libraries are,” she says. “Our main purpose is to serve people.”
Representation and Responsibility
Julianna is especially committed to preserving the stories and cultures of East End’s Latino and BIPOC communities, groups whose histories are too often underrepresented or undocumented. She sees her role not just as a steward of materials, but as an advocate for inclusion and equity in archival practices.
A Librarian in the Making
Though she’s still working toward her degree, Julianna’s vision for the future is clear. She hopes to continue blending her love of cultural history, archival work, and public service, whether in a library, museum, or hybrid space.
For now, she’s diving into her own reading list. She’s currently enjoying Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton, and if she could have dinner with any character, it would be Maddie Wright from Maame by Jessica George—a semi-autobiographical novel that, like Julianna’s own journey, explores identity, responsibility, and the search for purpose.
Echoing national trends, predictions that artificial intelligence will replace librarians, teachers, doctors and others run amok. I have heard this sentiment from fellow public-facing librarians. Moral compunctions aside, this perspective reveals a misunderstanding of how Large Language (LLMs) models work and how they can be applied. The name, Large Language Models is chosen not for what it is, but for how the knowledge base of the tool was created. Based on the huge amounts of text analyzed, tools such as ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), are essentially calculators, interpreting the input to create a result. Unlike a calculator however, the input is more complicated then digits or functions. As an LLM, the tool uses large amounts of data to respond to a user query, whether this results in a correct and coherent answer is hit or miss, requiring fact checking.
Meaningfully, there is not a lot of overlap between LLMs and the daily work of a public-facing librarian. While the average librarian uses software, hardware and the internet constantly, there is still a manual component to library work. Books need to be moved from place to place, phones need to be answered, printers need restocking. While some of these tasks could be roboticized, a LLM tool would not be any help for these tasks. Another barrier to an A.I takeover in libraries is presented on the patron side: how capable is the average library user of using LLMs correctly? In a nation where the digital divide is deeper than ever, it is at minimum, unfair to shift even more responsibility for understanding technology to the individual in a country where even the most basic services are often inaccessible. Library workers should endeavor to be educated about the new tools in the information sphere so they can educate others. In no real world can AI tools provide the services, programming and connection that library workers can and do.
Sometimes, I’ve discovered, going outside the box leads to stigma. There are neatly labelled boxes throughout the world set by ourselves or others. As a former cataloger, I started thinking about this. Do we fit only in one ‘box’ as when selecting a call number; or do we fit in multiple boxes, as in selecting subject headings? How many ‘subject headings’ can a person fit into that might overlap before having to ‘clump together’ some traits – or go up a level removing some qualifiers? Can we catalog an item with contrasting subject headings? If so, which way do we go with the classification, and how do we determine which of those ‘traits’ is the overarching indicator of an item's ‘home’ box? When an entity, used here as a person, thing or idea, is put into one box – does this apply to all places that classify this person, or does this classification change based on context?
In a most simplistic description, I am a human, and within a zoo setting, I am a spectator when visiting. However, when I am performing on stage, I become the center of attention, the attraction. When I’m on one side of the ‘desk’ I’m a librarian and ‘holder of knowledge’, yet when I go to another library, I’m a patron, a ‘seeker of knowledge.’ A person with a ‘visible’ trait might be mistakenly placed into a box without consulting the full aspect of the person to determine their proper ‘shelving’ area. We may consider a person, or entity, to fit into one box, based on traits we can see or observe at first glance, but there might be another trait that is the ‘larger’ importance to consider in a situation. How do we, working in libraries, ensure we are not ‘shelving’ people based on our interpretations of their traits that we can observe, but instead are consulting other reliable sources to guide us in classifying? What are considered reliable sources?
One of the most reliable sources is the entity itself. When cataloging a book, I did not rely solely on the title, I read the dustjacket, the back cover, the introduction; I skimmed the index and the conclusion if needed; I’d check out the table of contents; I might skim through the various chapters to see what they say in their introductions and/or conclusions. I would put forth effort to really understand that book or item to catalog before ‘boxing’ it. How much more important to apply these concepts to working with other humans; to not misjudge or misinterpret based on our own quickly identified traits of a person rather than ‘flipping through the entity’ and consulting other reputable sources for information? This does not mean we need to be invasive or spend a lot of time with each individual. We can be proactive. We have subject specialists; we have libraries dedicated to specific subjects and audiences. We strive to build our general knowledge through learning and education – let's keep in mind that we need to organize people not in single boxes, or shelving areas, but we need to consider all their subject headings. Even when a book comes in with a call number, we often double-check based on the assigned subject headings, on our own institution’s focus, to see that the call number is accurate. Before helping someone, consider those ‘invisible’ traits, what that person or the specific encounter requires emphasis, and when in doubt follow the lead of the person. No book has the same call number in all libraries. Call numbers can be similar or vastly different for the same item. The same with people. One size does not fit all; we do not fit into the same box in all settings.
See you in August!
As we enter the 2025 summer season of our libraries - filled with reading challenges, raffle tickets, end of summer prizes and baskets, passes to local museums, music concert series, outdoor programming, and many other colorful moments of the warmer months, I find myself wondering, where do library makerspaces fit within the spirit and challenge of increased library engagement?
I was lucky enough to work within Long Island libraries when the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS) ran the “Suffolk County Public Libraries Summer Tour” from July 1 - August 31, 2024. SCLS created and distributed physical passports and an individualized stamp for the tour to all libraries within the county, and each respective library established a “task” for visiting patrons to find in order to then receive the stamp within their passport. The more libraries visited, and stamps received, the more online raffle tickets the patrons were given on behalf of the raffle-issued prizes at the end of the summer tour session.
(Retrieved from the SCLS webpage for the 2024 series)
The Summer Tour series was one of the first county-wide programs where all library staff were actively working together on behalf of an ongoing summer program/challenge with its larger community. Libraries held informative staff sessions before the tour season began, and staff participated in the process of choosing the artifact and the way in which it was searched for within their respective libraries.
Many librarians I spoke to and interacted with that summer were impressed by how many new faces they saw that summer, and how many families made visiting a few new libraries each weekend an exciting summer activity. The visiting patrons (of all ages) particularly loved watching us stamp their passports, and the overall gamification of the summer tour really reminded me how essential in-person and online badges are for incentivizing and revitalizing interest in everyday library activities.
I would argue that a similar level of interest and engagement is seen by most children, teens, and adults within our annual library summer reading challenges. Longwood Public Library, (amongst many libraries within the US that use the website due to its increased popularity within education and its user-friendly functions) subscribes to an amazing online reading challenge website platform, known as Beanstack, so that throughout the year, patrons can enter Beanstack-generated reading challenges, earn digital badges on behalf of issued reading tasks, and receive personalized book recommendations that are given based on their inputted book histories.
What is an additional benefit to Beanstack’s services and Longwood Public Library’s ingenuity, is that summer and winter reading challenges now also include the ability for patrons to enter activity codes that are given out at summer programs (children's, teens, and adults alike!). The activity codes are program related, and add more points towards the end of summer raffles for patrons, which is a fun way to bring increased engagement by way of incentivization.
As a makerspace programmer, I have run summer programs where these activity codes are offered, and it made me start to wonder how to bring more patrons into makerspaces throughout a makerspace summer challenge - perhaps A Summer Maker Challenge Series!
Since codes are also given for makerspace programs (of which attendance is never low), I thought that patrons completing activities within the “open hours” of the makerspace could have individual codes and points attached to them. For example, sublimating a wind spinner for your backyard? We would offer 3 raffle ticket entries/ 1 activity code. What about creating Cricut Vinyl summer-themed decals for your car? 5 raffle ticket entries/1 activity code. A colorful infographic (as seen with the SCLS Summer Tour Series) could be carefully crafted, with an additional makerspace challenge feature added to the Beanstack profiles, and a designated end-of-summer raffle ceremony for gift baskets, gift cards, and prizes, all related to makerspaces, could be offered.
The potential for libraries/museums/schools within NY that have makerspaces to also collaborate on a summer “Makerspace Passport Tour” series or “NYS Maker Challenge” series could open the door for so many patrons and their families who want a more engaging summer experience outside of a reading challenge that is often done at home. It could be a way for patrons to visit other makerspaces and get ideas and activities they would want their home library to offer or create a sustained interest by the public to actively advocate on behalf of more libraries opening makerspaces (since many makerspaces are, established via library policy, for their established district only).
While we, as library workers, are living through such a momentous time in American history, while also experiencing severe budget cuts, enduring interactions with ICE agents, and other problematic daily experiences, the opportunity for such a makerspace-centered concept may not seem relevant, but I equally remind readers how happy patrons are within the designated makerspaces of their libraries - how the process of creating and crafting offer respite from an increasingly troublesome world, and the significance of makerspaces as an active and direct challenge to the fear and hardships many communities currently are experiencing.
Stay safe and cool this summer, dear readers - until next time!
June 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.
FLS in 2025 - Events and Dates
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National Friends of Libraries Week is October 19-25, 2025. It's not too soon to think about celebrations, activities, or a membership drive during that week.
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Mark your calendars now for #NYLA2025. The annual conference is November 5 - 8 at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Programs with topics of interest to Friends Groups will be offered. See you there!
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FLS will hold its annual membership meeting on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. More details will be available this fall.
Friends News and Notes, May 2025
The May 2025 issue of Friends News and Notes is available on the FLS Newsletter page.
Inside this issue:
Please Vote in the FLS Election, page 1
Dates to Remember, page 1
Message from the FLS President, page 2
Friends Groups Meet-up on June 12, page 2
FLS 2025 Slate – Candidate Profiles, page 3
What's the Buzz About? Membership! page 6
Book Club for One! page 7
FLS Enos Conference Scholarship, page 7
FLS Casey Library Advocacy Award, page 8
Super-Charge Your NFOLW Celebration! page 8
MCLS Membership-Raising Ideas, page 9
Membership Reminders, page 10
FLS Board / Auxiliary Volunteers / Info, page 11
Donate to the FLS Enos Fund, page 11
Additional Information:
FLS By-Laws Rationale for Changes and Markup, page 12
FLS Newsletters:
Read the current issue of the FLS newsletter, Friends News and Notes, HERE
FLS members may read past issues by clicking on Archived Issues and then logging in.
Contact FLS: [email protected]
Sustainability in Action
Inspiring Sustainability through Community Engagement
Comsewogue Public Library became the first library in Suffolk County, NY to lend bicycles to library patrons. This initiative was made possible through a joint effort between the Comsewogue Public Library, the local Town Councilman, and a nonprofit organization that rehabs and donates broken or discarded bikes.
The Comsewogue Public Library, located in Port Jefferson Station is identified as a disadvantaged community with a substantial concentration of multi-family homes and transportation needs. Although there is a Railroad station in town, there is not a robust bus network, making this community a great place to offer The Bike Borrow Program.
This bicycle borrow program allows adults 18 years and older with a valid Comsewogue Public Library card to borrow a bicycle free of charge for up to two weeks to be used for transportation, recreation, or to run errands. Borrowers must sign a liability waiver and are encouraged to wear a helmet when operating a bicycle but must supply their own helmet. The bicycles are maintained by the partner nonprofit organization, eliminating that concern to the library staff. The program is offered with hopes that cycling will become a viable transportation alternative, thus improving air quality.
Encouraged by this example?
Contact [email protected] or visit https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org to learn more.