2024 NYLA-FLS Election

Welcome to the 2024 NYLA-FLS Election Candidate Page! This election cycle will run from June 1st - June 15th. You can learn about your candidates below. If you are looking for the NYLA Council Election candidates, please click here. To vote in this election, you can either log into your account and click the "NYLA Election" link or you can click the button below come June 1st. Please note, you must be an NYLA-FLS member to vote in this election. Thank you for using your voice to shape the future of our association!

Vice President/President-Elect - Margaret Van Patten

Director at Baldwinsville Public Library

Candidate Statement: I am pleased to be able to be a candidate for the position of President of the NYLA Friends of the Library Section. I have had a passion for libraries even as a young child when I decided in 6th grade that I wanted to be a librarian. Libraries have changed a lot since those days when I was young. I feel that they have grown and are able to adapt to the changing times. I always say that libraries still have the same mission/goals, we just have changed some of the ways we meet that mission. It is not just the library staff that make it all happen, it is also the trustees and the Friends organizations. The Friends organizations are a vital cog in the wheel that makes libraries work. Friends work hard running book sales and creating fundraising events that enable the purchase of furniture, equipment, and honorariums for speakers just to name a couple of items. They also support and advocate for library funding at the local, state, and national level. After spending 54 years working in libraries, first as a page and then 45 years as a librarian, I am retiring in October. Retirement will give me the opportunity to focus on helping NYLA FLS and the membership of FLS grow. FLS is a fantastic way to support Friends organizations across NYS and help them flourish in their support of their local libraries. If elected to the position of FLS President I will work to build on the work the section has accomplished to date and do what is needed to make FLS and its membership grow.

Candidate Bio: 

EMPLOYMENT

• Director, Baldwinsville Public Library - 2013 to present
• Head, Reference/Adult Services 1979-2013
• Onondaga County Public Library, Librarian I 1979 and Library Page 1976-1978
• Syracuse Public Library, Library Page 1970-1976

EDUCATION

• AAS in Library Science, Maria Regina College 1975
• BA in English and Library Science, Syracuse University, 1976
• MLS in Library Science, Syracuse University, 1978

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• NYLA Public Library Section
• President 2022
• At-large Board Member 2020-2021
• Reference Adult Service Section
• President 1993
• NYLA Continuing Education Committee
• Chairperson 1996, 1998-2009, 2012-2015
• NYLA Local Arrangements
• Co-chairperson, Syracuse 1994,1997, 2021

LOCAL

• Baldwinsville Rotary Club
• President 2018
• Central NY Library Resources
• Council President 2017
• Librarians Unlimited President and Treasurer in the 1980s

HONORS

• Rotary Paul Harris Fellow 2022
• NYLA Lifetime Achievement Award 2013

Treasurer - Terry Mulee

Candidate Statement: I have the privilege of being a Friend helping Friends. Our unit mission is to create a network to connect and inspire Friends groups in all types of libraries to support the New York library community. As a member of the FLS Board (and the precursor Empire Friends Roundtable) since 2012, I've met and worked with library Friends, staff, and civic leaders across the state. All of these people have one common goal; to ensure that libraries survive - and thrive! I'm looking forward to a second term as FLS Treasurer to continue this work with the FLS Executive Board, Auxiliary Volunteers, and state-wide Friends. There is so much more that we can do together - the more Friends we have, the better!

Candidate Bio: I am not a librarian, but my best friend is. So we do library stuff together. I have been involved with NYLA since 2008 and worked on the YSS Spring Conferences for 2009, 2011, and 2013. In 2012, I was recruited to be a part of the Empire Friends Roundtable and have served continuously since then. I have been the EFR Membership Chair (2012-14), FLS 2nd Vice President for Membership (2014-22), EFR/FLS Newsletter Editor (2012-present), and EFR/FLS Web Editor (2013-present). I have learned so much in all of those positions and passed that information on through FLS publications, programs, and events. I'm a graduate of Nazareth College of Rochester (now Nazareth University) with a B.A. in Religious Studies and a provisional Elementary Education Certificate. Beyond that, I have received numerous training and environmental education certifications. Primarily a caregiver, I volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley for over 30 years in adult training, programming, environmental education, and the council libraries. I have served on the boards of the Friends of the Walworth-Seely Public Library and the St. John's Home Auxiliary. I am a supporter of numerous Friends of the Library Groups. When I'm not working on my volunteer pursuits, I enjoy presenting Travelogues with Lisa and Terry, armchair travel presentations in-person or online for libraries and civic groups. I'm an amateur photographer and have exhibited my work in multiple solo and multi-artist shows. I've also had photos published in an issue of Life in the Finger Lakes magazine. I enjoy day trips and extended vacations that provide the fodder for our travelogues; along with the adventures in food, libations, culture, history, theater, music, and ice cream. Life is good, especially when you have friends - and Friends.

Member at Large Candidate - Jennifer Allen

Executive Director, Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library

Candidate Statement: I am thrilled at the prospect of serving as a Member at Large within the NYLA Friends of Libraries Section board. Eagerly, I anticipate collaborating seamlessly with fellow board members and the esteemed executive committee. Over the last two years, I've proudly held the role of Executive Director for the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. This tenure has afforded me invaluable insights into the operations of Friends groups and their dynamic relationship with libraries. Additionally, my recent tenure as the NFOLW coordinator, coupled with active participation in FLS board meetings, has deepened my understanding of the sector. I am confident that my background and dedication will complement the FLS team seamlessly.

Candidate Bio: Jennifer Allen brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit and for-profit sectors, specializing in development, marketing, and human resources. Her expertise in strategic planning, social media, and fundraising has been demonstrated through impactful roles such as Executive Director of the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library, where she achieved a 25% membership increase and doubled funding for the library.Prior to this, Allen served as Director of Development and Marketing at Saratoga Independent School, driving a 30% increase in fundraising and elevating donor participation by 50%. Her tenure at Saratoga Eagle Sales and Service, where she managed training and development, showcased her talent in recruitment, employee training, and community relations.Beyond her professional endeavors, Allen is deeply committed to community service, dedicating her time and expertise to various nonprofit organizations. She has served on boards and committees including the Children's Museum at Saratoga, Saratoga Foundation for Innovative Learning, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, demonstrating a passion for making a difference in her community.Allen holds a Master of Science in Education from Sage Graduate School and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University at Buffalo. Certified in DiSC training and elementary education, she combines professional excellence with a heartfelt dedication to nonprofit volunteerism, striving to create positive change and impact in her community.

Member at Large Candidate - Meg Sgombick

Library Director, Florida Public Library

Candidate Statement: I am pleased to be nominated for this position. As an existing Member-at-Large, I look forward to continuing to work with this dedicated group of library professionals. As one of the first recipients of the Randall Enos Conference Scholarship, I have FLS to thank for getting me involved with such a committed organization. As a member of my Friends Group, I appreciate their importance and look to continue to assist FLS in meeting their goals and plans for the future.

Candidate Bio: I began my career in libraries in 2009 at the Florida Public Library where I worked my way from part-time Clerk to part-time Library Assistant to part-time Library Assistant (Children's Services) to full-time Assistant to the Director and finally, Library Director in 2021. After attending NYLA in 2019 and meeting Lisa and Terry, I volunteered to be FLS Marketing Coordinator, a position I still presently hold. I am also a member of our Friends Group along with various library and community organizations. A mother of 5 grown children, my husband and I have lived in the Village of Florida for over 30 years. In my limited spare time, I enjoy reading historical fiction!