FLS Celebrates 30th Anniversary
FLS 30th Anniversary Issue Newsletter October 2022 (Volume 8 #4)
#FLS30 - 2022 National Friends of Libraries Week!
Posts shared on the Friends of the Florida Public Library Facebook Page
Follow along with the Friends of the Florida (New York) Public Library on Facebook for #FLS30 Anniversary Celebration posts!!
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Sunday October 16, 2022
When the “Library Friends of New York State” Roundtable held their charter meeting on October 30, 1992, at the NYLA Annual Conference in Lake Placid, Barbara Bush, First Lady and Honorary Chairperson for Friends of Libraries USA, sent a very kind note to say “…even if I cannot be with you, please know that I am there in spirit!” Someone who was there? Randall Enos, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee that helped bring about this new Roundtable in NYLA.
During this National Friends of Libraries Week (October 16-22), we want to celebrate the 30-year history of the Friends of Libraries Section of the New York Library Association and the grassroots efforts to establish this unit of NYLA, recognizing the power of Friends as advocates and the strength of all the community volunteers and colleagues serving the NYS library community.
Join with FLS/NYLA and the Friends of the Florida Public Library this week to celebrate all that the Friends have accomplished in the last three decades. FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
Monday, October 17, 2022
The mission of the Friends of Libraries Section (FLS) of the New York Library Association (NYLA) is to create a network to connect and inspire Friends groups in all types of libraries to support the New York library community. During National Friends of Libraries Week, we are saluting FLS on their 30th anniversary. One of their services is to provide a broad calendar of continuing education opportunities for their members and their librarian colleagues year-round. Webinars and sessions at NYLA’s Annual Conference are just two of the ways FLS works to keep Friends groups up-to-date.
Professional development is extremely important to volunteers, learning best practices to help their Friends organization be the best it can be. At each of NYLA’s annual conferences, FLS offers a full complement of program sessions of interest to both library administrators and community volunteers. From 2013 to 2019, 33 FLS programs were attended by more than 1400 participants! NYLA has offered “Friends Day” with special registration rates for library civic leaders since 1997. FLS members may receive a vastly reduced registration rate to attend any sessions at the conference that day. Mark your calendar to join FLS this year on Friends Day on Friday, November 4 in Saratoga Springs! FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
In good company: The first president of the Empire Friends Roundtable of the New York Library Association, Charlotte O’Dea (far right), participated in a seminar in April 1993 held in Washington, DC. The occasion offered a photo op with none other than NPR journalist Cokie Roberts (second on left) along with other notable librarians of the era, Librarian of Congress James Billington and President of the American Library Association Hardy Franklin. The event was documented in American Libraries in June 1993 (EBSCOhost.com).
What an auspicious gathering to discuss “Government, Friends, Libraries: New Alliances in the Nineties,” a topic that is just as important today as then. We encourage you to become a “Library Champion.” By simply providing your contact information, you will automatically receive Library Advocacy Action Alerts via email from the New York Library Association. Keep up-to-date on NYLA’s ongoing advocacy efforts and learn about this year’s legislative priorities. NYLA’s advocacy tools are easy to use. You can make a huge difference by responding to alerts and sending emails to your representatives in less than three minutes—so quick and easy!
We hope you are having an awesome National Friends of Libraries Week! FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Dress Like Randy Challenge: Does your Friends group have a link to Randall Enos, like the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”? Do you personally have a connection with the FLS President Emeritus, from his 37+ years in Youth Services in the Ramapo Catskill Library System? Maybe Randy, a “super recruiter” for NYLA, recruited you to volunteer with the New York Library Association, either in youth services or with the Friends. Tell us about it! You know we like him so much we named a scholarship after him, the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship.
We’re adding a challenge today. We thought you’d enjoy seeing this gallery of photos of Randy and perhaps you’d like to dress like Randy, snap a picture, and post it back to us by Friday this week. The more creative the better! Or if you have a photo of you with Randy, send it along. If you remember Randy decked out as the Statue of Liberty for the first statewide summer reading game, be sure to don a toga and crown. (And if you can provide an image of Randy from that pre-digital camera era, we’d love to see it!) We look forward to your submissions at FLS.NYLA@yahoo.com.
Read more about Randy in this interview with him. FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
We'll be posting additional photos of Randy - and of those who have dressed like Randy, too!
Thursday, October 20, 2022
During National Friends of Libraries Week, we are celebrating the Friends of Libraries Section of the New York Library Association and all the group’s accomplishments over the past 30 years.
Conferences, meet-ups, FLS Connections virtual events, regional Friends Councils – my, my! Friends certainly like to gather, network, and talk shop. There is strength in numbers and in learning from one’s colleagues. FLS offers regular opportunities for library civic leaders to meet one another and learn about other Friends groups’ activities and projects.
FLS President Emeritus Randy Enos has said, “Some people are drawn to bars, some to church groups, I was drawn to the library!” Indeed, Randy has spent a very successful professional career supporting libraries and library Friends groups, including facilitating meet-ups, workshops, and presentations at state and national conferences. We are so lucky he wanted to hang out in libraries! When he retired, the FLS Executive Board paid tribute to his commitment to professional development for volunteers and staff by establishing the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship.
Don’t forget! You only have until tomorrow to submit your photos to FLS.NYLA@yahoo.com where you have been with Randy Enos or where you’ve dressed like Randy for our Dress Like Randy Challenge! FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
Friday October 21, 2022
On behalf of the entire FLS family, the Executive Board of the Friends of Libraries Section (FLS) of the New York Library Association wishes a very Happy 90th birthday to their former FLS Board member Frank Van Zanten! Frank received the EFR (now FLS) Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award in 2012, nominated by the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District. Have a very happy day! We are so fortunate to know you. Thank you for your years of support of EFR and FLS and your hometown Friends group, especially their incredible book store!
Don’t forget to submit your photos where you are with Randy Enos or where you’ve dressed like Randy for our Dress Like Randy Challenge! Send photos to FLS.NYLA@yahoo.com. Today is the last day to share your pictures. FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
We hope you have had a wonderful National Friends of Libraries Week! Today we share some photos of pivotal moments in the Friends of Libraries Section’s recent history. The New York Library Association members voted to give the Empire Friends Roundtable Section status in 2014. Rebekkah Smith Aldrich proudly took to the podium to make the motion. Then it was our “Norma Rae” moment, as we held our newly-minted FLS signs aloft to proclaim our new identity. This was only two years after our 20th anniversary luncheon in Rochester where Randy Enos presided and recognized our long-time supporters.
As FLS heads off into their next 30 years, we hope you’ll enjoy these photos of Randy Enos, some showing his silly side. Keep it Friendly out there! FLS invites you to use the hashtag #FLS30 when commenting or sharing posts.
Check out the photo gallery from these National Friends of Libraries Week posts.
Celebration News
Want some cake??
Will you be in Saratoga Springs this year for NYLA’s Annual Conference? Stop by the Dutcher Community Room on the main floor of the Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry Street, at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 4, for a piece of cake – our thank you to all our supporters!
FLS President Emeritus Randy Enos will be cutting the anniversary cake after the FLS-sponsored program Field Trip to a Friends-Operated Bookstore and just before the FLS Executive Board Meeting. Join us for all three events at the Saratoga Springs Public Library!
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.
American Library Association Recognizes FLS with a Resolution
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:
1. Congratulates and commends the Friends of Libraries Section of the New York Library Association (NYLA) for 30 years of persistent effort in fulfilling their mission.
Mover: Cassie Guthrie, New York Chapter Councilor
Seconder: Erica Freudenberger, Councilor at Large; Sara Dallas, ALA Councilor-at-Large; Sara Kelly Johns, ALA Councilor-at-Large
Read the entire resolution.
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
Looking Back at FLS
Archival photo - The FLS Presidents
Left to right: Randy Enos, President Emeritus; Lisa Wemtt, 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