2024 NYLA-YSS Election

Welcome to the 2024 NYLA-YSS 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-YSS member to vote in this election. Thank you for using your voice to shape the future of our association!

1st Vice President/ President-Elect - Chinasa Seyse

Librarian III: Coordinator of Youth Services Programs, Schenectady Public Library

Candidate Statement: I have strived to always give back more than I have received. In setting the goal to always serve, it is important to use your position to make the process better for those who come after. In pledging to serve this section, I promise to speak thoughtfully, think carefully, recognize positive contributions, and use my voice in the hopes that with your support we can work in concert together with our teacher and school librarian counterparts as we work towards increasing the literacy skills of all children in New York State, encourage the appreciation, respect and professionalism of children’s and teen librarians, and support staff and underscore the need for safe and supportive work environments.

Candidate Bio: From alphabetizing her home library to writing her admissions letter about engaging teens hanging out in the library, Chinasa has come a long way from telling her first-grade teacher, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a librarian." Chinasa Seyse earned her MLIS from the University at Albany. She has built her career in public service primarily serving two urban library systems: Schenectady County Public Library and Albany Public Library. Chinasa has had many memorable connections with families and kids through hosting a local Authors Fair with the neighborhood elementary school and community organizations, handing out free books and backpacks at neighborhood back-to-school block parties, and organizing a basketball& books summer tournament, and much more. Her dedication to spreading the joy of libraries through outreach services and program creation made her the ideal candidate to become the coordinator of youth services programs in 2021 where she gets to cheer for her team of 5 librarians to do what they do best: to educate, to inform, to embrace and celebrate culture, and provide entertainment. Chinasa lives in Schenectady County with her family who cares for 3 freshwater fish tanks, and baby quails expected soon.

Spring Conference Director 2026 - Sarah Michelle Heukrath

Youth Services Coordinator at North Syracuse Library

Candidate Statement: I am interested in being Spring Conference Director for 2026. I am from the North Syracuse Library which is in Onondaga County. I know this will be challenging but I am lucky to know several great librarians who would be willing to help put on an amazing Spring Conference! The YSS conference was held in Syracuse in 2018 in which the lovely Jennifer Burke was the director. I was part of her team that helped put on the conference. I had a lot of fun working with Jennifer and the other members. From 2021-2023 I was part of the YSS Conference Planning Committee for NYLA. This helped me gain insight into what goes into planning a big conference! As a first year, I organized the YSS booth and bought items for the raffle baskets. As a second year, I picked the programs and made sure all the contracts were in on time by those who were presenting. I also picked the author for the YSS Membership meeting. As a third year, I helped guide the first- and second-year members. It was a lot of work and stressful at times but in the end, it was worth it. I feel like the 3 years I spent on the committee, I learned a lot and brought interesting and unique programs for YSS. I even presented a table talk at the 2023 YSS conference! Thank you for your consideration for the Spring Conference Director.

Candidate Bio: My name is Sarah Michelle Heukrath and I have been a librarian for almost 12 years! I am currently the Youth Services Coordinator at the North Syracuse Library. This is the library I came to as a child and the library where I got my first library card! In my spare time, I enjoy exercising, cooking, and watching scary movies. One of my favorite things to do is snuggle up with my black cat Giles (named after the librarian from Buffy the Vampire Slayer!) and read a good book. I also enjoy writing and have self-published 2 books through Amazon under a pen name. They are not the greatest books, but I had fun writing them. I am currently working on a collection of LGBTQ+ fairy tales. I also write for the NYLA Voice. My column is called Tales from the Youth Services Librarian. Please check it out!

Spring Conference Director 2026 - Jennifer Lelinski

Youth Services Librarian at Buffalo & Erie County Public Library- Central Library

Candidate Statement: Having attended the YSS Spring Conference almost every year since becoming a youth services librarian in 2016, I would love the chance to bring the Spring Conference to Buffalo! Although we sit on the western edge of the state, we provide a unique experience for all visitors. Buffalo has a rich history and is full of wonderful things to see and do. In addition to a large Central Library, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System has 37 branches to explore. It is located within walking distance of the Buffalo Convention Center as well as several hotels. Conference attendees will find the library, conference, and city to be easily navigated during their stay here. Since bringing the Conference back in person, it has been held on sites on the eastern side of the state, bringing to the western part of New York would allow librarians to attend who previously may have been unable to due to location. The Buffalo Convention Center and the Central Library can provide many potential spaces for speaker addresses and breakout sessions, with the added bonus of a large selection of great caterers to choose from in the area. If selected to be the Spring Conference Director I would strive to plan a conference that would produce sessions of interest as well as create an atmosphere of inspiration and collaboration for all in attendance. Personally, I am a driven, organized librarian with a passion for youth services. I am excited about the opportunity to work with a team to organize and host the 2026 Spring Conference, and I am ready to get started immediately if selected. Thank you for your consideration!

Candidate Bio: Jennifer Lelinski graduated with her Master's Degree in Library Science in 2016. In addition to her MLS, Jennifer has a Master's Degree in Education and Bachelor of Arts, in English. Jennifer began working for the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library in the fall of 2016 in the Children's Programming Department. Over the past seven years, Jennifer has worked in multiple branches of the B&ECPL System, ultimately returning to the Central Library to work in the Children's Department. Jennifer joined the Youth Services Section in 2017 and was lucky to attend her first conference in her hometown of Ithaca, NY. Since then she has held various positions for the YSS including Marketing Committee Chair and Fall Conference Curator Chair. In her role as Youth Services Librarian, Jennifer runs a weekly Baby Toddler Storytime, monthly Sensory Playtime, the yearly Spooky Library Party in October, as well as assisting with class visits and summer programming, and the occasional outreach program. Outside of work, she is a mom to a son and daughter, loves to read, shop, camp, and generally be outdoors whenever she can!