FLS: Friends of Libraries Section

Our Mission

FLS creates a network to connect and inspire Friends groups
in all types of libraries to support the New York library community.

FLS Commitment to Diversity

The Friends of Libraries Section (FLS) of the New York Library Association embraces and promotes diversity and inclusion in all their forms.
Download the FLS Commitment to Diversity.

FLS Presents Resource Pages for Friends of Libraries:

Resources for Friends Groups Supporting Small and Rural Libraries
See the Resource Page here!

Resources for Library System Friends Councils - coming soon

FLS Introductory Video

Watch our video! Click the thumbnail. (This will take you to a YouTube page in a new tab.)
 

FLS Current News and Events

FLS Connections! Alternative Collections

Tuesday, May 9, at 4 p.m.

Maybe your library loans jigsaw puzzles or board games. Perhaps you have a seed library for budding gardeners. If you're near a body of water, your library might have fishing poles to lend. According to the Public Library Association, more than half of America's libraries loan nontraditional objects. Learn more about this trend at the next FLS Connections! on Tuesday, May 9, at 4 p.m. when Grace Frenzel, Director of the Avon Free Library, will talk about Alternative Collections.

Some might call this the "Library of Things," lending objects, like popcorn makers, karaoke machines, ukuleles, power tools, and more. Friends can provide financial support for new collections that will reach a wide cross-section of the library's community with materials for early literacy learning, family activities in the out-of-doors, and hands-on science exploration.

Intrigued? Join us by registering. Please send a message to FLSregister@yahoo.com indicating your intention to attend. Put Connections in the subject line. In the body of the message, please give your first and last name and the Friends group or library you are representing. You will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom access code and any other pertinent information prior to the event. Registration closes on Wednesday, May 3 at 5 p.m. This session runs 75 minutes and will not be archived.

FLS 2023 Election Information

The 2023 FLS ballot will include candidates for the FLS Executive Board and a vote on amendments to the By-laws of FLS.
Here is a PDF packet that includes all six candidate profiles and the FLS Amended By-laws information.

For more information, visit the FLS Elections page.

Read the latest FLS Newsletter

April 2023 (Volume 9 #3)

Volunteer with the Friends of Libraries Section

Fill out an FLS Active Member Form to get more involved with the Section - there's all kinds of opportunities, large and small.

FLS 2022 Annual Membership Meeting

The Annual Membership Meeting of the Friends of Libraries Section (FLS) of the New York Library Association was held virtually on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 via Zoom. Click the thumbnail to watch the meeting. (This will take you to a YouTube page in a new tab.)
November 2022 (Volume 9 #1) FLS Annual Report to the Membership

Previous FLS Annual Membership Meetings are available on the FLS Events page. 

FLS presents

Resources for Friends Groups Supporting Small and Rural Libraries

In a survey of Friends groups serving small and rural libraries in New York State which was conducted by FLS/NYLA in early 2021, challenges were identified in the areas of Membership (including Active Participation and Volunteer Engagement), Leadership, Diversity, Fundraising, and the Purpose and Mission of Friends organizations.

The members of the FLS Task Force on Friends and Rural Libraries developed potential suggestions and best practices with an emphasis on Friends groups that support small and rural libraries.

See the Resource Page here!

FLS executive board members Lynne Madden and Lisa C. Wemett have presented Beyond Younger Volunteers: Helping Friends Groups Survive and Thrive at both the Small Libraries Summer Symposium at the OWWL Library System (a one-day conference empowering small libraries to improve operations, form partnerships, and meet the changing needs of their communities) in July 2022 and at the NYLA Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs in November 2022.

Their presentation addresses the distinct challenges to Friends groups that support rural and small libraries and introduces the new resource page developed by the FLS Task Force on Friends and Rural Libraries. See more about this program on the FLS Events page in the 2022 NYLA Annual Conference section.

Membership in FLS

Please consider selecting FLS as your primary section when you join NYLA or renew your NYLA membership.  
It's the Friendly thing to do.  
You may add Sections or Round Tables to your existing NYLA membership.
Click here for step-by-step instructions on adding FLS to your NYLA membership! Thanks in advance for your support!
Click here to complete the Friends Group Organizational Membership - Key Volunteers Information Form to be submitted as part of a Friends Group Organizational Membership.

Would you like to be more involved with FLS? Click here for our Active Member Form.