FLS: Friends of Libraries Section

Visit the FLS 30th Anniversary Celebration page!

June 2022 - The NYLA Voice feature article about FLS

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 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

Please take our survey!

FLS is embarking on the process of writing its third long-range plan and our task force wants to hear from YOU!  We want to learn how FLS should prioritize efforts going forward to better assist current members and to attract additional members.  What FLS member benefits and services are most important to you?

The survey is fifteen questions (mainly multiple choice) and should take about 10 minutes of your time.

Follow this direct link to the survey: https://forms.gle/7tYQyon8ARQAGLscA. (This will take you to a Google Form.)

For FLS organizational members, multiple responses from key volunteers such as officers and committee members of Friends groups are encouraged.  The FLS Board wants to receive input from a broad cross-section of Friends organizations, especially those who have not yet joined FLS.

Please participate by Friday, April 28.  We appreciate your time and your support of the Section!

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.

Petition Candidates

Article VII, Nominations and Elections, Section B. of the FLS By-Laws states that additional nominations of Section members may be added to the slate of candidates by petition signed by ten members. The petition must be submitted by April 15.

Individuals wishing to appear on the 2023 ballot as a petition candidate for the office of FLS President-Elect, Secretary, or Member At Large must complete a petition along with a candidate profile sheet and submit both to Karen Sperrazza, Chair, FLS Nominating Committee, by email at krnsprrzz@gmail.com no later than Tuesday, April 15, 2023.  Job descriptions for these elected positions and a candidate profile sheet can be found below.

For more information, visit the FLS Elections page.

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. 

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.

Read the latest FLS Newsletter

January 2023 (Volume 9 #2) FLS (conference program wrap-up and a whole lot more!)

NEW! 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.

FLS 30th Anniversary Celebration - #FLS30

FLS 30th Anniversary Celebration page

June 2022 - The NYLA Voice feature article about FLS

30 Years of Connecting and Inspiring Friends: A Closer Look at the Friends of Libraries Section (FLS/NYLA)

By Lisa C. Wemett, First Vice President of the Friends of Libraries Section and the FLS Coordinator for Professional Development

NYLA Council Recognizes FLS with a Resolution

Read it in its entirety here.

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Council of the New York Library Association recognize the Friends of Libraries Section for 30 years of persistent effort in fulfilling their mission to create a network to connect and inspire Friends groups in all types of libraries to support the New York library community.
FURTHERMORE, we implore our colleagues throughout the State to observe this anniversary year with appropriate activities and recognitions of their local Friends of the Library organizations, in order to raise awareness and appreciation of volunteer support of libraries.

Archival photo - The FLS Presidents

Left to right: Randy Enos, President Emeritus; Lisa C. Wemett, President #1, #5, and #6; Sarah Sachs, President #2; Janet Kreason, President #3; and Rebecca Fuss, President #4 (November 10, 2017)

EFR Newsletters

Number 1, April 1993 - the first Friends Roundtable newsletter

20th Anniversary History of EFR:
# 49 Winter 2012  part 1
# 50 Spring 2012  part 2
# 51 Fall 2012  part 3

# 57 Summer 2014 - the final EFR newsletter

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 memberships.
Click here for step-by-step instructions on adding FLS to your NYLA membership! Thanks in advance for your support!
Click here for the "NYLA - Friends Group Volunteer Leader Registration 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.