FLS: Friends of Libraries Section

Stay tuned for 30th Anniversary Celebration news!

June 2022 - The NYLA Voice feature article about FLS

Looking Back at 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

Read the latest FLS Newsletter

April 2022 (Volume 8 #2)

National Friends of Libraries Week, October 16-22, 2022

National Friends of Libraries Week (NFOLW) is an annual event each October. Thanks to United for Libraries, Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, an affiliate of the American Library Association, Friends of Libraries groups have their very own national week of celebration. Read more here.

Customize a Press Release for National Friends of Libraries Week and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of FLS!

FLS Connections: Organizing a Book Sale Crew

The Friends of Libraries Section is continuing FLS Connections in June, once again offering a virtual opportunity for Friends volunteers and staff to talk about topics important to our organizations. (This event was originally planned for May and has been rescheduled.)

FLS Connections will take place on Thursday, June 16, beginning at 4 p.m. and lasting 75 minutes. Please join us via Zoom for this discussion on Organizing a Book Sale Crew. 

To start us off, Laura Brecher, Co-Manager of The Corner Bookstore, will share how she uses SignUp.Com to have volunteers staff the store run by the Friends of the Fairport Public Library. SignUp.Com is a free online tool that can be used for any event where you have people working in pre-determined shifts, from set up to tear down. After Laura’s presentation, discussion will then be open for everyone to participate, sharing experiences and ideas from their own Friends groups. If you hold book sales, little or grand, or operate a bookstore, we think you’ll want to join us. The session will not be recorded or archived.

Everyone is requested to register for this free event. Please send a message to FLS Second Vice President Terry Mulee to indicate your interest to attend at FLSregister@yahoo.com. Put June Connections in the subject line. In 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 will close on Monday, June 13 at 5 p.m.

FLS Webinar - Fishing for Friends: How to Reel in Midlife Adults with Programs

Presentation date:  April 6, 2022

Presenter: Dr. Renee Bennett-Kapusniak, Saratoga Springs Public Library

Midlife adults are an active and demographically vast population. This generation is living longer, staying active, and looking for opportunities to use their impressive skillset in different ways. Who are these valuable individuals? Are we overlooking them for volunteer opportunities? How can public libraries tap into this significant cohort? 

Read more on the FLS Events page.

NYLA Information page on Fishing for Friends: How to Reel in Midlife Adults with Programs

FLS 2021 Annual Membership Meeting

Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the FLS Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 18, 2021. The meeting included recognition of the 2021 recipients of the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship and the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award and the installation of the 2021-22 Executive Board, including our auxiliary volunteers.

Following the business portion, Karen Ash, Chair of the Friends of the Angelica Free Library, shared Friends on Facebook: Five Ways Social Media Can Help You Meet your Goals. It was a very informative talk. Thank you Karen for sharing your expertise and highlighting the success of your group in their efforts to support the library.

Read the FLS 2021 Annual Report to the Membership.

View Friends on Facebook: Five Ways Social Media Can Help You Meet your Goals  PowerPoint   

Click on the thumbnails above to watch the entire meeting and program presentation or just the program. (This will take you to a YouTube page in a new tab.)

Outgoing FLS President Karen Sperrazza (left) passes the gavel to Incoming FLS President Kerstin Cruger (right)

Looking Back at FLS

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.