Membership Benefits

Member Rates @ NYLA events: NYLA members enjoy significant savings at NYLA events.  In some cases, the total price of attending the event at NYLA member rates + price of membership is less than the cost of paying non-member rates! 

Vendor Partner Discounts: NYLA's Vendor Partners offer our members exclusive discounts on a wide range of products and services from auto and home insurance to grant research information.  Always contact a NYLA Vendor Parner first!

Professional Development, Workshops & Continuing Education: NYLA and its sections and roundtables offer programs designed to meet the changing needs of its members. Varying in format from half-day workshops to day-long seminars, these programs cover a wide variety of timely topics--and offer continuing education credit.  We offer numerous opportunities for professional development at our Annual Conference, Section Conferences, and at various workshops across the state.

Advocacy: You membership dues help support our Legislative Committee and its professional lobbyist represent you in Albany and in Washington by initiating, recommending, and supporting legislation pertinent to the development and strengthening of library service in the state. Please join us at our annual Library Lobby Day, a statewide event where librarians, trustees and supporters gather in Albany to discuss library issues and concerns with Senators, Assembly Members, the Governor's executive staff, and other key decision-makers.

Exclusive Members-Only On-line Membership Directory: All NYLA members have exclusive access to our members-only online membership directory.  Complete with tools for networking and special interest bulletin boards, you'll find other NYLA members just like you!

The NYLA Bulletin: As a NYLA member, you will receive each edition of The NYLA Bulletin, a regular publication which keeps you up to date on the world of library science, politics, and technology.  

ALA Affiliation: NYLA is a chapter of the American Library Association and has representation on the ALA Council. NYLA's ALA Councilor, representing New York's interests, reports pertinent national developments to NYLA members and the NYLA Council, the Association's board of directors.

Scholarships & Awards: NYLA and its units recognize the best in New York State librarianship and library advocacy through a wide-ranging, aggressive awards program that promotes the betterment of libraries across the state.

NYS Dormitory Authority Financing for Public Library Capital Projects
   The New York Library Association encourages its member libraries to take advantage of the low cost financing for capital projects available through the NYS Dormitory Authority.

   The links below provide additional information on how the NYS Dormitory Authority can save libraries money on financing capital projects,  a sample of state legislation that must be introduced and passed before your library can be eligible to apply for Dormitory Authority financing and a sample bond referendum which must be approved by the voters in order to borrow funds (no matter what the source) to pay for a capital project.

   Unfortunately, the state Legislature requires that every library that wants to access low cost financing from the Dormitory Authority, must first ask their local state legislators to get special legislation introduced and passed on a case by case basis, even though public libraries are an eligible entity for Dormitory Authority financing.

   NYLA has introduced legislation and supports other initiatives that would allow greater access  for libraries to Dormitory Authority financing.

DASNY Financing Programs for Public Libraries Brochure

Legislation Sample

Referendum Sample
   
   If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the New York Library Association at (518) 432-6952, ext. 101 or director@nyla.org or Portia Lee at the Dormitory Authority at (518) 257-3362 or plee@dasny.org

Join us!  Download a membership form today!

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