Welcome to the NYLA Voice December 2024 issue! Below is a quick links menus that will take you right to your favorite articles. When you are done simply click ‘Back to menu’ to return to the top. Happy reading!
This is the time of year when the governor is preparing the budget. It is important that our voice be heard and that library priorities are included in this budget. The initiatives we are pushing this year include $176.8 million in library operating aid, $175M in library construction aid, $11.3 per pupil for library materials aid (school libraries) and $3.1 million to continue support for NovelNY. It is important to let the governor know and your legislators about these priorities. We also want to see some other priorities get completed this year. The legislation was close on some of these issues in 2024 and so we will be advocating for them again in 2025. This includes the Freedom to Read Act, Protection in Public Libraries, eBook licensing reform, and media literacy.
Advocacy is an all-hands-on-deck kind of activity. The more, the merrier. It is important not only for library directors and staff to contact legislators and the governor but trustees, friends groups, and library users. If you can tell stories about how your libraries have helped people in your community it can be very effective. I always think about a legislative breakfast I attended in Massachusetts where I worked previously. The local library where the breakfast was held had a family of homeschoolers speak about how essential access to their public library was for their education. In another example, a small rural library was running an ESL program providing a local option for learning English which might have otherwise meant a lot more travel to attend a class.
It is important to get as many people to turn out for advocacy as possible. As some colleagues have reminded me, politicians are most influenced by the votes you can bring to their campaign and money you can contribute. Libraries still have an enormous amount of goodwill in the general public, and it is worth reaching out to all these people to talk to their legislators and the governor about the NYLA Agenda. NYLA also makes these easier than ever by signing up for advocacy alerts and becoming an advocate. Go to https://www.nyla.org/become-an-advocate- to sign up.
Happy Holidays NYLA Members!
As 2024 comes to an end, the office staff is looking at all we have accomplished with the new website and database as well as all that is to come in the new year. As noted, we appreciate the membership’s flexibility over the past year as we navigated such a tremendous transition.
While we have begun to build a solid foundation for the stability of the organization, we know the work continues. The new year will bring further customizations of our database features, a review of what is working and what is not, and more. Please feel free to email [email protected] with any thoughts, ideas, edits, updates, etc. We will do our best to accommodate what we can!
MEMBERSHIP IN THE NEW YEAR
Many of our past members have joined the new system. This is a reminder NYLA now has a fixed membership year. This means that all members have the same membership year, regardless of when they join the system. The new membership year is June 1st – May 31st.
Renewal for the 2025 – 2026 membership year will open approximately 45 days before the May 31st expiration date. All members will be sent a renewal reminder with a link to the renewal form. This information will also be provided in member communications, on the website and on NYLA social media.
If you have yet to join the 2024–2025 membership year, you can take advantage of our half year Prorated Membership Fees! Beginning December 1st, membership fees will be discounted. All fees can be reviewed on the website.
Interested new members can use the Join Form available on the NYLA homepage to create their new member profile. Personal members can use the form to enter their profile and payment information. As in our past database, organizational members should make sure that the past rep (Key Contact in the new system) on their membership enters the information in the Join form for their membership. This should not be completed by any members that are included in the organizational membership.
Just a reminder, the office did not transfer any past member data into the new database. If you have not entered the new system and created any login credentials, you should be entering as a new user.
As noted, the current Join Formwill be creating your membership for 2024-2025 . Anyone who joins from December – Open Renewal Date will be required to renew when the renewal period opens prior to the May 31st deadline for the 2025-2026 membership year. New members who join during the open renewal period will “roll” into the new membership year.
Personal membership paid with a credit card will automatically be made active. Invoiced membership payments will be placed in a pending status until payment is finalized. Organizational memberships will be placed in pending status until the office reviews the included members and provides them with access to their profile. We kindly request 1 - 2 business days for the office to review your form. Accounts are made active. Organizational account included members will be sent a welcome email with their new username and instructions to create a password.
REMINDER - Members who have yet to pay outstanding invoices for joining the new system for 2024-2025, please complete payment of your membership. Failure to pay these invoices may result in the deactivation of your membership account. Invoices can be found in your profile and email reminders will include a link to access open invoices.
JOINED THE WEBSITE AND WANT TO KNOW MORE?
The office has developed a Membership and Website Guide available in the Quick Links Menu and in the Form and Guide Center. We strongly recommend reviewing this guide as it provides information about new features of the website and how to use the new Join Form. This guide will continue to be updated as changes are made to the website.
Holiday Office Hours!!! The office will be closed from December 24 – January 1, 2025. Normal business operations will resume January 2nd. Check out this reminder and other important dates in the new Calendar . Stay up to date on all events, webinars, office announcements and more using this new feature.
The new system provides automated reminders, announcements, etc. Keep an eye out for all communications in your inbox!
NYLA INTERN SEARCH
Interested in working at the NYLA office? The internship program, initiated by the New York Library Association, is designed to provide an avenue for interested students to become more involved in NYLA activities and to introduce new people and ideas to NYLA discussions and decision-making. The experience gained by the intern will aid their future career development, both with new library skills and knowledge, and a professional network in the field.
Click here for more information about applying today!
2025 DEVELOPING LEADERS PROGRAM
Thank you to those who have registered to participate in 2025! The Developing Leaders Program applicants have received their acceptance emails from the office along with payment information. Please remember payment for the program is required and due by January 17, 2025.
2025 ADVOCACY DAY
The 2025 New York State Legislative Session will arrive before we know it and we need our advocates! #LAD25 will be held on February 5th, 2025, with Pre-Advocacy Day on February 4th, 2025. Registration is required for Pre-Advocacy Day attendance.
Hotel accommodation can be made at the Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-Downtown using this link.
Stay tuned for more information about pre-advocacy day registration form, schedule and all other materials to prepare for #LAD25!
2024 CONFERENCE WRAP UP
Leadership at Every Level: Fund-Protect-Empower
This year's conference was a success! Thank you to all our attendees, presenters, volunteers and vendors. We enjoyed seeing everyone and look forward to planning next year’s conference in Saratoga Springs.
Get your Attendance and CE Information!
Attendees can find all Attendance Certificate and CE information on the website.
We are aware that the "Check In" and Feedback features of the app may not have been working for all attendees during our event. While we did encourage and request all attendees to complete these for their CE submission, we will allow attendees to complete the CE Request Form without the submission of these forms.
As NYLA has now transitioned to a new member database, credit will be uploaded into the current NYLA profile of all submitters. A certificate will be emailed to the email address provided in the request form. Each attendee wishing to receive credit should complete the request form one (1) time. All fields in the evaluations and the request forms are required. Please do not submit incomplete forms. All incomplete submissions will be deleted. Attendees will have 30 business days (Friday, December 20th) following the conference to submit all of their program evaluation forms and the CE Request Form. Requests submitted after the 30-day deadline will incur a $10.00 administrative fee.
2025 CONFERENCE
Who’s ready to go to Saratoga Springs! Without skipping a beat, we are back to planning for our 2025 Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York at the Hilton and City Center.
Proposal submission forms for the 2025 Conference will be available in January. Fillable PDF planning documents will be made available on the NYLA website for anyone interested in planning their submission. Please note these documents should just be used for submission preparation and cannot be used to submit your official proposal.
2025 YSS Conference
The 2025 YSS Conference, All on the Same Page will be held on April 4, 2025 in Mount Kisco, NY. Information about the event is now available on the YSS Conference website. Registration for this event will open December 16, 2024. Please note registration for this event will provide member and non-member rates this year. You must be an active member before you complete your registration form in order to receive member rates.
Interested in submitting a proposal for this event? Interested individuals can submit a proposal by December 31st, 2024.
2025 SSL Conference
The 2025 SSL Conference, Sharing Your Story will be held on May 1 – 3, 2025 in Rochester, NY. Information about the event is now available on the SSL Conference website. Registration for this event will open at the beginning of January 2025. Please note registration for this event will provide member and non-member rates this year. You must be an active member before you complete your registration form in order to receive member rates.
Interested in submitting a proposal for this event? Interested individuals can submit a proposal by January 12th, 2025.
We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. We will see you in the New Year! Just a reminder for all membership, finance and general association inquiries to [email protected] and all event and continuing education inquiries to [email protected].
As always, we appreciate your continued membership with NYLA and stay tuned for more operational updates in the February edition of The NYLA Voice!
Happy December, NYLA members! As of today, the January 8th opening of New York’s 2025 Legislative Session is only 28 days away. Now, while turning your attention to year-end festivities and traditions of reflection, is the perfect moment to reflect on the last twelve months of library advocacy and take stock of our plans for the next twelve.
In 2024, our community shook off a year of flat state funding by securing increases in State Aid for Libraries and State Aid for Library Construction, as well as new dedicated funding to ensure a future for NOVELny. In total, growth across these categories amounted to over $17 million in new money for New York’s libraries. Beyond the budget, we worked closely with partners in the legislature, including Sen. Iwen Chu and Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, to score much needed reforms to the State Aid for Library Construction program. These updates will help enable communities across our state to access the full amount of financial assistance for construction projects that they are entitled to under state law.
In 2025, NYLA is advancing ambitious budget requests and legislative initiatives that reflect the true scale needs of New York’s library institutions, workers, and users. We will work with friends in the legislature, both long-time allies and newcomers who will start their tenure as legislators in January, to advance our needs as a community and support the fundamental mission of libraries in New York State.
Before January arrives, I ask that you review NYLA’s 2025 budgetary and legislative priorities and consider your plans for joining our collective advocacy efforts in the new year. NLYA’s Advocacy Day is a perfect point of entry for any potential new advocates looking to get involved and will be Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, with Pre-Advocacy Day on Tuesday, February 4th.
If you have any questions about NYLA’s priorities, how to become an advocate, or ideas for advocacy efforts that can advance our priorities, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at [email protected] or by phone at (518) 432-6952 x102.
Thank you for all your work in 2024. Please have a happy holiday season and I look forward to your partnership in the new year!
For your convenience, please find a breakdown of NYLA’s 2025 Budget Requests and Priorities below:
NYLA’s 2025 Budgetary Requests and Legislative Priorities
Late this summer, NYLA’s Legislative Committee convened to decide our association’s budgetary and legislative initiatives for the 2025 legislative session. This year, the committee decided to streamline its approach and advance priorities that accurately reflect the scale and scope of library needs in the present moment. In the FY 2026 budget, NYLA is requesting:
Budget
- State Aid for Libraries (Operating Aid): $176.8 million
- This number represents the $76 million statutory value for State Aid for Libraries in FY 1991 – 1992, the first year of modern operating aid, adjusted for 2024 using the Consumer Price Index.
- State Aid for Library Construction: $175 million
- The New York State Library Division of Library Development estimates that New York’s library construction needs in the five-year period spanning 2023 to 2025 totals $1.75 billion dollars. This ask represents 50% of one year of that need, roughly the portion of funds needed from the State of New York to effectively leverage local funds in FY 2026 and make real progress on this issue.
- Library Materials Aid: $11.33/pupil
- NYLA is once again advocating for the first increase in Library Materials Aid since 2007. After an encouraging 2024 with full support for an increase to $11.00/pupil in both the Assembly and Senate one-house budget bills, we are growing our ask to reflect year-to-year cost changes in materials, as well as to account for the 2023 expansion of Library Materials Aid to include electronic and digital materials that occurred without a corresponding increase in funding.
- NOVELny: $3.1 million
- NYLA is again requesting the inclusion of dedicated funding in the state budget for NOVELny. This year, our ask is increasing by 3% to account for potential year-over-year increases in the costs of included resources.
Legislation
In 2025, NYLA is focusing its attention on three core priorities with the hope that concentrated attention and efforts on these issues will bring success in the coming year. Please know that this does not mean unrealized priorities from past legislative sessions will be shelved and forgotten, just that the NYLA’s messaging and materials will anchor around these three items. The core priorities are listed below, with more information available on NYLA’s 2025 Legislative Session page.
- Freedom to Read
- Libraries across our state face rapidly expanding efforts to curtail access to materials and programming they deem objectionable based on subjective personal sensibilities and partisan ideologies. We require legislation that empowers library professionals to exercise their expertise and ensure public access to materials, services, and programs that represent their interests.
- Legislation:
- E-Books Licensing Reform
- Media Literacy
- NYLA supports efforts to advance Media Literacy education in New York State schools and to ensure Certified Library Media Specialists are charged with using their unique training and experience to continue leading Media Literacy efforts in schools statewide.
- NYLA is working with representatives from its school librarian membership to shape these efforts and direct advocacy efforts in the coming year.
| After 10 years of dedicated service as the Department Head at Sachem Public Library, Chris DeCristofaro has accepted the position of Assistant Director at Half Hollow Hills Community Library. During his time at Sachem, Chris was a driving force in shaping a dynamic and thriving makerspace community, introducing numerous innovative initiatives that elevated the library’s programs and services. In his new role at Half Hollow Hills, Chris will bring his expertise in library innovation, strategic planning, and technology to further advance the library’s mission of providing exceptional services to its diverse community |  |
| Richard D. Deverell contributed a work of short fiction to the fifth issue of Molly Quinn (MemeingLibrarian)’s zine, LibZine. Money raised from digital and physical orders of this zine through the end of October 2024 benefit hurricane relief efforts with 100% of the proceeds going to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, and the American Red Cross. The digital issue of the zine is available here. |  |
| Justin Sanchez, Greenburgh Public Library, won Video Trust's 2024 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Media Librarianship. | Read Justin's nomination here. |
AI-Generated Content and the Authenticity Dilemma
As librarians, we’re always exploring new tools to connect with our audience, whether it’s through witty memes, bite-sized video tutorials, or hashtag trends that place us at the center of student life. Enter AI-generated content: a shiny new toy with endless possibilities but also a significant potential to disrupt one of our core values as librarians—authenticity.
The benefits of AI are too clear to mention. AI technologies such as ChatGPT, DALL·E, and even the Magic Write feature from Canva easily do the work of coming up with intriguing captions, designing smooth graphics and creating memes that will appeal to basically any trendy topic. Writer’s block? You can forget about it since AI has you covered with any caption, no matter how cheesy it is, and no matter the context—it will come up with something in no time. Want a picture of a cat in space reading a book? What’s stopping you? Quite a bit, as it turns out. The ease and convenience of AI content creation is not without its ethical and reputational challenges for academic libraries.
Authenticity: The Ethos of Social Media
One of the reasons students engage with library social media is its unique personality. A post written by a librarian with a genuine love for books or an inside joke about finals week resonates because it’s real. Overuse of AI risks eroding that authenticity, making posts feel generic or, worse, picture a cold corporate office instead of your friendly neighborhood library.
Imagine a student scrolling past a perfectly polished but oddly impersonal library meme. It might make them laugh, but it likely won’t foster a sense of connection. They won’t think, “Wow, my library really gets me.” Instead, they may wonder, “Who wrote this? Was it even a person?” That disconnect undermines one of social media’s greatest strengths: the opportunity to connect and build upon those connections.
The Ethics of Using AI in Library Social Media
Beyond the risk of losing authenticity, there are ethical concerns. AI-generated content is normally created from large datasets, which can include copyrighted materials and/or biased datasets. A meme created by AI might inadvertently replicate harmful stereotypes or plagiarize an original piece of art, landing you or your library in sometimes heaps of trouble.
Also, transparency matters. If your followers find out that a some awesome post or image was actually AI and not the library staff, it might lead them to question the honesty of other content you share. As academic librarians (or any library professional, honestly), our reputation as reliable and trustworthy sources extends beyond research help desks to every aspect of our public-facing work, including social media.
Finding the Right Balance
This isn’t to say AI doesn’t have a place in your social media toolbox. It can be incredibly useful for brainstorming ideas or generating templates when you’re crunched for time. Need inspiration for a caption or a fresh take on a tired subject? AI can offer a jumping-off point, especially for routine content like event announcements or promotional of services.
But—and this is the important part—AI should never be your go-to for everything. It's meant to be a tool, not a crutch. Before publishing anything AI-generated, ask yourself:
- Does this align with our library’s tone and personality?
- Could this content have been created by another library, or does it feel unique to us?
- Is it free of ethical issues, such as accidental plagiarism or cultural insensitivity?
Keeping the Human Touch
Ultimately, the best library social media content comes from the people who know your library and your students best—you and your team. Share behind-the-scenes snapshots of staff assembling a book display, post a meme that’s tailored to your campus culture, or caption a student’s library-friendly pet photo with a librarian’s personal touch.
AI can save time, but it can’t replace the warmth and individuality that make your library’s social media stand out. Lean into the quirks, the humor, and the genuine care that only human librarians can provide. After all, students don’t follow library accounts for perfection; they follow for connection.
Let AI be your assistant, not your voice. Your audience will thank you.
Happy creating!
In my last article, I discussed introducing The Amazing Race game to my library staff. Our first activity was a flag hunt, where I hid flags throughout the library in both staff-only and non-public areas. As I explained the challenge to the teams and how the flags were hidden, people began standing up and searching around the room, tuning me out almost immediately! To make matters worse, some teams weren’t present at the introductory meeting, which gave them a huge disadvantage. By the time they arrived for their 1 p.m. shift, most of the flags had already been found. What seemed like a great idea in my head turned out to be a bit of a disaster. Ultimately, I decided to scrap the first challenge and declared all teams “safe” to move forward. The lesson I learned from this experience is that not everything goes as planned. Sometimes, we have to pivot or adjust on the fly to keep things moving. Despite the rocky start, I’ve now run The Amazing Race twice at my library, and the benefits have been clear. The most significant takeaway has been seeing new workplace friendships form. By pairing staff members who don’t typically work together, the game created opportunities for connections that wouldn’t have developed otherwise. At its core, The Amazing Race is a competition, but it’s one that requires teamwork, which fosters camaraderie and boosts morale. Another successful game we’ve organized with staff is Family Feud. Each April, during our annual Spirit Week, Family Feud has become a highlight. Departments can form teams of five to compete against other departments. The questions are either ones I write or adapt from the Internet, and I poll random people for their answers. One great resource has been the ALA Think Tank group on Facebook, where I received over 400 responses for my survey! This year, we introduced a tournament format. Eight teams competed, with the winners advancing through rounds until we crowned a champion. The event was a hit, combining teamwork with friendly and lighthearted competition. In my next article, I’ll discuss more games and events I’ve organized to boost staff morale at our library.
Back in 1919, a group of women known as the Woman’s Advance Club (WAC) founded the Baldwin Public Library, which was originally known as the Baldwin Free Library. They started by renting a storefront and were later able to obtain a small building with the help of a local benefactor. While ownership of the property was later transferred to the school district, it was the vision and efforts of these women that ultimately resulted in the Library as we know it today.
Over the years, the WAC continued to support the Library and provided a donation each year as part of their many efforts to enhance the Baldwin community. During most of the ten years I have been here, I enjoyed their holiday lunch, which included fabulous raffle opportunities; the money from the raffles helped fund their philanthropy. At the same time, interest in civic clubs decreased, as did the WAC membership rolls. When they were down to a handful of members, they decided that the end had come.
This past October, the final WAC president, Arlynn Streithorst, visited me and provided a donation of their remaining funds. It was a bittersweet moment.
The sadness was tempered by the offer to donate the WAC’s archival materials and artifacts to the Library. This includes photographs, meeting minutes, and – possibly my favorite item – the pin that was passed down to each WAC president. These archives have been received and will be processed by the Library so they may be viewed by community members.
We are grateful for the WAC, which both established and supported us right up until their end, when we are just about to begin a major renovation. I like to think that those women who decided all those years ago that Baldwin needed a public library would be happy to see how far we have come.
Progressive Programming Update*
Happy to report our “Responsive Relational Programming” has had a bit of success!
Our partnership with Finely Middle School was off to a warm start in October with a little more than half the kits being used: Alebrijes-inspired Wood Cutout Magnets for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Then numbers exploded in November - all forty kits went within hours, with most of the students completing their program kits in the school library, rather than taking it home: Pinch Pot Air Plant Planters for Native American Heritage Month.
Already, we noticed many students working together, sharing program kit resources to come up with something unique and unanticipated.
The theme of our kit for December is Universal Human Rights, where the students will make a bracelet (or series of bracelets) using silicone beads of thirty different colors, representing the thirty different recognized universal human rights.
This effort caught the attention of the high school, so we will also provide an additional forty kits for the Huntington High School students totaling eighty school program kits for December.
To reiterate, that is potentially eighty program attendance stats for off-site library programs, in addition to our monthly in-house programs.
None of this would be possible without the partnership of our school librarian(s). It goes without saying, but let’s say it again: If you’re struggling with starting a partnership with your schools, you’d do best to begin with your school librarians.
Dovetailing perfectly with this fruitful partnership, the efficiency with which these kits are assembled is in large part to our wonderful, and dedicated Life Skills students who help organize and assemble these program materials and kits. Their contribution can’t be overstated.
After a few false starts, and an honest struggle to get things off the ground, this emergent synergy between multiple parties has been a joy to nurture and see manifest in real, and meaningful library services.
See you in February!
Families with children have a special place in public libraries. Early literacy, socialization, and community are just a few of the goals that are fostered in the section of the library reserved for its littlest patrons. Many people have cherished memories of going to the library as children to select colorful picture books to check out with their very own library cards! I spoke with Fran Harrison, a Family Department Clerk at Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton, New York to find out how her work helps to make the library a magical and important place for children and families.
While every day is a little different depending on what day of the week it is and what is on the schedule for the library on a given day, Fran covers a wide variety of tasks. She interacts with patrons including finding books in the family room and placing interlibrary loan requests, assisting children and caregivers on the public access computers as well as taking questions over the phone. She is also very involved with programming, including setting up and breaking down the program room, plus scheduling, designing, and running new programs such as story times and crafts as well as inventorying the supplies for those programs. She provides assistance with the family department’s collections by finishing the processing of library materials and shelf reading and tidying the play area. For those who are unfamiliar with the term “shelf reading”, this is the somewhat tedious task of going along and making sure that every book in the collection is in the correct location, depending on their call numbers. Outreach is a very key service that libraries provide. Outreach is when library staff leave the library building itself, go out into the community, and provide resources to patrons at other community locations. Fran visits two local preschools in her community to provide monthly story times. Connection and community are important to Fran; she is proud of the connections parents and caregivers make with early literacy for their children. Plus, she enjoys the lasting bonds that she has been able to make with patrons and their children. She also loves it when parents or caregivers make friends amongst themselves and develop those relationships outside the library. Exposing parents and caregivers to quality books and songs for their children, seeing young children participate in the joy of sharing these experiences, nurturing the love of reading and language, and being part of a place in the community that she values so much are just a few of the reasons Fran is proud of her work at the library. It goes without saying that Fran is a valuable member of the Family Department.
As a child, growing up in Queens, Fran would visit the library. Although the library was much smaller and didn’t have the same level of programming as many libraries do now, she loved going there and considered it a favorite place of hers. While attending college, she found the library and the librarians a bountiful source of information and resources for her studies. Libraries are important to Fran because they provide a wealth of information and materials to everybody and even if you cannot find what you are looking for, librarians are always there to help you and go that extra step. “It is an invaluable resource.” Libraries have a lot to offer, from programming, books, and community. Fran finds the parenting collection at Rogers Memorial Library an invaluable resource for patrons who have children or work with children, the collection contains a range of titles that cover child development, brain development, behavior, nutrition and more.
While discussing libraries that have made a lasting impression, Fran mentioned the Selby Library is Sarasota, Florida which has an impressive fish tank “arch” leading guests into their Children’s Department. Go google it! It’s amazing! If Fran were to consider working in a different part of the library, although she loves what she does now, she would consider getting involved with local history or genealogy because she finds those topics fascinating. Fran is reading her first Stephen King book Billy Summers and is really liking it so far. If Fran could have dinner with an author, she would choose Brian Selznick, known for his book The Invention of Hugo Cabret which is interspersed with beautiful illustrations. Thank you, Fran, for all that you do!
The popularity of instant access services like Hoopla is quietly revolutionizing expectations around what a local library can be. The standardized catalogs are remarkably good at either anticipating or responding to trends in what people want to read, watch and listen to. While services such as Libby remain popular, Hoopla seems to be an easier lift for the new and perhaps wary of e-content. What this wealth of content brings to mind is the already existent and criminally underused resource in almost every library: the DVD collection.
The media rooms, AV collections or whatever else these materials are called and how they are collected are incredible resources in a media environment where movies can disappear from streaming, fail to be released or fall behind restoration techniques and become unusable. Even if circulation is affected by streaming services and additions to the DVD collections is sparse, the amount of film history preserved as physical media is valuable.
Physical media is making a comeback in some circles. Proponents point out benefits such as director commentaries and other extras that are not included on streaming platforms. Others point to the importance of preserving original voice performances, or plot points that have become sanitized in re-releases. Some have taken the role of citizen archivists, in the vein of Marion Stokes, who videotaped the rise of the 24-hour news cycle. While the efforts of private citizens are noteworthy, the local or public library makes individual purchasing unnecessary for those who do not have time, space or money to build a personal collection.
Another benefit of continuing to support physical media in AV departments in particular is that it makes movies and music available to people who may not have resources to support an at-home media system consisting of a screen, media player and dependable Wi-Fi. In 2022, the U.S Census estimated 11 million homes did not have regular access to the internet, a number that has likely risen in two years. Librarians and information workers should be motivated to promote and support their physical media departments and their colleagues that steward them.
If you’re like me, you didn’t want to read anything about Project 2025, worried that even acknowledging its existence could potentially call it into fruition. But here we are and now all I can think about is what this all means. Though the president-elect has not yet confirmed whether or not Project 2025 is the plan, but he promised at least parts of Project 2025, such as the dismantling of the Department of Education, and has nominated a number of its authors, contributors, and supporters to his cabinet. You might already be aware of the implications of Project 2025, but you could be wondering what potential impacts of it can have on libraries specifically. Today I present a summary of just that, based on EveryLibrary’s detailed breakdown. Please know, this is meant purely to be educational, not to scare you–although, be warned, it likely will.
One of the biggest impacts on libraries in general is the definition of “pornography.” We’ve seen the book bans and challenges against LGTBTQ+ and BIPOC authors at the state level. These have set the stage for Project 2025 to change the definition of “pornography” to include “the propagation of transgender ideology and sexualization of children.” The next step is to outlaw anything that fits this new definition and imprison those who produce or distribute these materials, making a special distinction for educators and librarians to be classed as registered sex offenders. Additionally, there would a rescinding of Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ communities, including redefining “sex” to only be “biological sex recognized at birth,” while also strengthening protections for “faith-based” institutions and programs. Finally, Project 2025 would ban public sector unions, like AFSCME, to which many NYS unions belong.
Public, State, Special, and Tribal Libraries
Project 2025 calls for the dismantling of The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is an independent agency that distributes federal funding for libraries and museums. The IMLS mostly distributes funding to state libraries, who pass the funding along to public, special, and tribal libraries through grants. NYS received over $19 million in 2023, $2.9 million allocated to libraries to help with projects like Summer Reading, Ready to Read, ILL, and NOVELny. A reduction in funding would impact library services (including community outreach), technological innovations, and equitable access to information, and may result in layoffs or cutting hours, particularly in smaller, rural libraries. Tribal libraries specifically would likely be unable to preserve their cultural heritage or provide educational resources. The inequality gap would widen substantially between wealthy and poor areas.
School Libraries
The impact on school libraries would be significant. With the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, there would be a loss of federal funding, support, and oversight for public schools, which would significantly impair the quality of educational standards and materials a school library can purchase. Pair that with a reduction in, and eventual phasing out of, Title I funding (which roughly 90% of public school districts in America receive), and the NEA estimates that 180,300 teaching positions would be lost. This all means teachers and librarians would have fewer civil rights protections, bigger classrooms, and less funding to provide a diverse and equitable learning environment, potentially losing autonomy over their curriculum or catalog. Even without Project 2025, teachers and librarians will likely face intensifying book bans and challenges.
Academic Libraries
Higher education would also be affected by Project 2025, with a particular agenda to “punish liberal elites.” There would be an extensive reduction in federal oversight and funding, which could erode academic freedom and impact access to research and materials that are required for critical inquiry. Project 2025 would not just deregulate accreditation processes, but prevent agencies and institutions from enforcing diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI(A)) policies while also erasing protections for state-supported colleges. The intent is to “de-emphasize” liberal arts and research-based education and minimize investment in post-secondary education. This would directly and immediately impact academic libraries, as these libraries do not exist independently of their institutions. Without funding, without enrollment, academic libraries would shutter. It's entirely possible, too, that your academic library is already feeling the effects.
Moms for Liberty
As you are likely aware, Project 2025 was written by the Heritage Foundation (THF), an ultra-conservative think tank. You might not be aware, however, just how closely tied they are to Moms for Liberty (M4L). Not only do they share a common goal of limiting federal oversight–while also increasing local control over educational curricula and policies–but THF actually provides significant financial and organizational support for M4L. THF also funds a “legal arm,” called the Oversight Project, to represent M4L in lawsuits they’ve raised against federal agencies. Both groups are closely related to The Leadership Institute*, which has both trained and supported Moms for Liberty members to be more effective in influencing school boards to adopt policies they approve of.
* The Leadership Institute has trained a number of politicians, including Mitch McConnell and Mike Pence, and is a member of the advisory board for Project 2025.
Regardless of Project 2025, THF has massive influence in certain political spheres, and the incoming administration is likely going to empower M4L as it did last time. The book banning legislation and aggressive patron behavior of recent years is likely going to increase with or without Project 2025. But before we go into full-blown panic (or despair) mode, remember: with many representatives from Florida nominated for Trump’s cabinet, we have a unique insight into what Trump wants America to look like, which means we can prepare. Remember: there are a number of agencies poised to fight for our rights, including the ACLU, EveryLibrary, and Fight for the First. Remember: the vast majority of Americans do not support censorship, and it appears they also do not like the policies proposed in Project 2025.
It is always better to be informed about and prepared for how this could potentially affect you, your library, and your community than it is to stick your head in the sand. Strengthen your materials and program reconsideration policy now. Know what your talking points are, and practice setting boundaries with patrons and deescalating situations. Most importantly, learn how you are going to care for yourself before you need to take care of yourself (more links here, here, and here), and be sure to reach out to loved ones and ask for moral support.
Remember: we’re not alone and we are not powerless.
The Pop Culture Roundtable (PCRT) is BACK!
I am delighted to bring you news that the PCRT is back in the game! We had laid low for a couple of years, but we were just gathering strength. This year at NYLA 2024, the PCRT roared back onto the scene with our Game Night - held at the awesome Three Lives Bar – and BATTLEDECKS, making its triumphant return in collaboration with Urban Librarians Unite. We had a blast, and we hope you did, too!
PCRT also had some great conference programming this year: our Vice President Barron Angell held a Librarian’s Guide to Dungeoneering, where I learned that pretty much everything I was trying to do to generate interest in a D&D campaign in my library was on his “Don’t do this!” list. Barron and PCRT Secretary Melissa Tidd also participated in Not Your 'Con'ventional Panel, where librarians from the Ramapo Catskill Library System discussed their library pop culture convention experiences. Closing out the conference, it was a PCRT found family affair as Barron, Melissa, and Treasurer Rosemary Kiladitis presented Tabletop Games to Try Before You Buy, where attendees got the chance to try some tabletop games on for size and hopefully encouraged some new purchases for library gametimes and collections!
We’re rejuvenated and excited to see what 2025 brings, but one thing we know for sure is that pop culture is here to stay in libraries. Watch this space, as each of us on the PCRT board lets you know what’s we’re working on – and talk back to us at [email protected].
The past few weeks I have been feeling depressed and anxious. I’ve had a couple minor anxiety attacks and several good cries. But now I am trying to move on from those feelings and am ready to do what I do best, be there for my patrons. A question I asked myself was “What can I do to best help serve the youth in my area?”
As I looked through my children and teen collections, several books spoke to me. Specifically, they were books on empathy. How can I use these books to help others besides just having a display?
I want to not only create booklists but incorporate being kind and using empathy in all my programs. When I have a story time, I try to point out when characters are being kind, sharing and helping others. For a STEAM program I try to have at least one activity where the kids are encouraged to work together to build something. I point out how much more fun it is when we work together and how when we all work together, we can create something great. For cooking programs, I talk about how we need to be mindful of others and make sure we are sharing ingredients. These are small and simple things that will hopefully make positive changes in people’s lives.
I want to end this article with some of my favorite books on kindness, empathy and standing up for others. Perhaps one will be helpful to you or your patrons!
Picture Books
- Teach your Dragon Empathy by Steve Herman
- Caring with Bert and Ernie: A book about Empathy by Marie-Therese Miller
- Weather Together by Jessie Sima
- Hair to Share by Sylvia Walker
Chapter Books and Graphic Novels
- Bad Kitty: Kitten Trouble by Nick Bruel
- Jessi’s Secret Language by Chan Chau
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Teen Books
- How to be a (Young) Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone
- March Book 1,2 and 3 by John Lewis
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I recently was thinking a lot about help - and how hard it is to ask for this, or offer it, or accept it, or even to refuse it. Culture plays a large role in this - psychological, social, religious, age, country of origin, and so much more. Questions and interactions at the service desk can be so confusing at times for me. I want to share a few here, and how I have learned to think differently about help since. I help a patron find an answer, and the next time they come in, they bring me a gift as a thank you - a homemade gift or maybe some food like cookies. I know it's generally frowned upon to accept these, and I personally do not see a need for a gift as I am just doing my job. If I say no, I ask myself now, will they be insulted and not willing to ask for help again - do they see a need for this to be an 'equal' exchange of power? Do they feel guilty and want to help me in return before asking for more? Or are they bribing me? Where is the line? When I'm helping someone, and I sense they are uncomfortable asking more questions, I might ask them to help me out - maybe read a line for me, if they have a pen, could they tilt the screen, remind me of their topic, open the book for me - something simple that I know they can provide. Surprisingly, I learned this one by serendipity - when I ask a patron to help me out, they are more likely to ask me for more help at the time, to admit they need more help, to bare their sense of lack since I demonstrated mine. Yet, others look at me askance if I don't appear to know everything, and I can destroy that very relationship I am trying to build when I ask for help. What to do, what to do? There's no one answer, it takes a lot of reading of people, and multicultural awareness, and yet still mistakes can be made. Seeing someone in need of help confuses me beyond belief. I know I often don't want help; and yet there are times I could use help but am scared to ask. How do I approach someone who I think needs help? How do I offer help to them? Do I just rush ahead and open the door for them, do I ask if they want me to help them with their packages or the door, do I just ignore them because they look competent? If I do open the door when they don’t want me to, will they get angry at me for assuming they need help? Do I assume they will ask for help if they could use it? These questions go through my brain each time I see someone I think is struggling. Yes, I could ask “can I help you,” or “do you need help with that?” - but growing up I was taught to always help when I saw a need. I’ve been working on retraining myself so that the manners I was taught might not be seen the same by others. I do still worry about my mother rolling in her grave about this one, and I will probably still always hold the door for someone, but maybe I won’t automatically do things for people without asking if they’d like me to first. Picking up a dropped book, finishing a sentence for someone when they appear to have lost their words, writing the citation rather than teaching them how, which is proper? Of course, as an academic librarian, I rarely will write a citation for someone, but I will walk them through it (and sometimes that’s the wrong answer, but, oh well, that’s the academic in me). I was working with a patron with an accent recently who was having a hard time understanding the results we were finding in a database. I had a long internal debate with myself, do I offer to them about the multiple language translation feature of the database, or would that be insulting? Do I teach them about Lexile levels and how we can narrow the results by those? I decided to keep building our relationship a bit more and then started with the Lexile levels. They were so appreciative; but I wonder if they would have been so open if I did it at the start and we could have saved time and possibly frustration? When we still had problems finding enough resources using the Lexile feature, I finally brought up the various language translations, which they weren’t interested in. I was thankful they weren’t insulted. I would like to think it’s because we had built enough of a relationship for there to be comfort with me asking. A lot of this comes down to negotiating and setting boundaries. I can control this within myself, but not with others, and it helps a lot. When asking for help, I try to be specific. As librarians we often assist patrons to narrow their searches, help is just the same. Narrowing down the type of help being looked for, what is or is not available to select from, and finding alternates if there is no result found. If someone asks for the blue book they read last week, I’m pretty lost and will ask more questions. If someone asks, can you help with my paper, I’ll also probably ask more questions. At the same time, I don’t want to be so narrow in my request that I don’t appear open to alternatives. If someone asks me for help with something I am not comfortable with, or am not able to provide, I feel guilty. Rather than saying ‘no’ or ‘yes’ outright, I’ll try to get more details, and offer what help I am comfortable offering, even if it not all they ask for, or what they specifically asked for. I’ve found this eases my guilty conscious that hates saying no, and yet also sets boundaries for me so I am not resentful. The biggest thing I’ve learned in my studies and practices on help is that boundaries and negotiation are a huge part, on the recipient and the helper. It’s not always possible, but when I can I try to stop and think before acting.
I have a new friend, a rare acquisition for an adult. Only a year older than me, he amazingly lacks the sarcastic default and flannel smothered enthusiasm of his fellow GenXers (we are mostly, to misquote Bianca Strattford, just whelmed). His exuberance is so genuine, it is actually quite refreshing and not at all off-putting. These wings? The greatest in Western New York! This pizza? The best in the whole state! He’ll declare at a college football game that the kicker “must be number one in the entire country!” He said my last NYLA Voice piece was the smartest thing he ever read. It may all sound over-the-top, think Alec Baldwin in “The One in Massapequa,” but surprisingly, it’s not.
Recently, needing to print something, New Friend ventured to his local library and his uninhibited excitement spotlighted its materials, programs, and services. Sample of texts I received:
“Printing is so easy! This is perfect! Glad I didn’t buy a printer!”
“Can I check out these magazines??”
“Did you know you can borrow museum passes from the library?!”
“The library has stickers! What a neat idea! You should give out stickers too!”
Many of us working in the field have known the wonders of libraries for a long time, some all our lives. Perhaps we were introduced to them as infants, gnawing on board books while ignoring fingerplays mimed by tired parents and caregivers at baby lapsit. Maybe we discovered the library on an elementary school field trip, marveling at the endless stacks, dynamic book displays, and colorful bulletin boards (and “meeting” the Wakefield twins for the very first time). Or, possibly, the library became a refuge during the tumultuous teenage years, where we formed a kinship with a kind (and kinda cool) Young Adult Librarian.
Because we know–have always known–the magic of the public library, we can sometimes find others’ ignorance about what we do exasperating. I do nothing to suppress a loud sigh when asked “Do people even use libraries anymore?” But instead of being put-off by non-cardholders, what if we eagerly and unabashedly welcomed these adults through our doors? Imagine discovering the library for the first time! Or rediscovering it after decades! And we get to be the hosts, the docents, the concierges, the conduits between their lives before and their lives after the library. What if we were all librarian Mychal Threets’ social media but in real life?
New Friend’s re-discovery offered me fresh perspective and renewed my library joy. We are incredible. And we do incredible things. We lend books. We furnish information. We provide access to the internet. We support job seekers. We offer tax assistance. We stock pantries with food and personal care items. We promote community literacy. We foster belonging. We help people feel less alone.
Sometimes, lost among our daily routines and seemingly unrelenting task lists, we forget all that libraries are. Sometimes we need the excitement, the awe, the spark of others to remind us. I did.
Last December I concluded my NYLA Voice piece with:
“Instead of setting some Big 2024 Goal, some all-or-nothing resolution, I am going to set an intention to be kinder to myself. I am going to [try to] ask for help when I need it and not decline assistance when it is offered. I am going to [try to] choose rest over forced resilience. I am going to [try to] be more patient with me. ‘Perfect is the enemy of the good’ (Voltaire, probably).”
This year, however, I am going to set a resolution. My goal is to approach every day with the same enthusiasm as New Friend. Why not get just as excited about the small things as we do the big? Why keep our joy on reserve? Whether it is a burrito after a basketball game, a Barenaked Ladies song you haven’t heard since college, or a new book to read, I am going to approach 2025 with a brighter outlook, a cheerful curiosity, and a delight in the small things. "Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life" (Benjamin Franklin).
Artificial Intelligence within Makerspaces
Happy Holidays dear readers!
I hope your Halloween displays and spooky events/programming occurred without incident, and you are successfully making headway into your holiday decorating, winter drives, and the general joyful busyness of this time of year within community spaces.
As 2024 comes to a close, many of us will try to take some moments to reflect on what we want for the next year; for ourselves, for others, and, perhaps, for the world. As employees of libraries, we can also take some time to reflect on 2025 resolutions our libraries can equally work towards.
It is with that frame of mind I came to reflect upon what I would like to work on in the makerspaces I serve - and began to think about what tools or services could better serve the communities that visit these innovative spaces.
In the past few years, it has become blatantly understood that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is as part of our future as it is our present, and it has meant that libraries have been tackling what AI means in its library services, programming, and its overall topography.
So how does one think of Artificial Intelligence within emerging technology spaces? When we think of using AI within makerspaces, many quickly think of popular applications of Artificial Intelligence, such as Machine Learning (ML) - by collecting data from the machines within everyday makerspaces (like laser cutters, laser engravers, or even 3D printers), we can teach, over time, these very same machines to detect patron safety hazards and even tool usage.
Another way to incorporate AI into makerspaces could be in the very way patrons and students have access to online, self-paced courses on makerspace skills. With the integration of AI, local makerspaces could create fast, online module content on behalf of digital badging systems for makerspace “skill certifications” and libraries wouldn’t have to wait for grant-based funding on behalf of such initiatives.
In addition to these amazing AI-makerspace collaborations, let us examine these same parameters with the lens of inclusivity. As of writing this article (and please feel free to email or reach out if I am incorrect), no Spanish-speaking (let alone any other language) verbal, visual, or audio prompts on makerspace equipment exist within US libraries.
If a library makerspace is lucky enough to have a Spanish-speaking makerspace employee, then Spanish can be spoken between patron and staff, but not between patron and machine. If, using Machine Learning, on behalf of a laser cutter, could be taught an entire language based on common sayings and prompts about that particular equipment or technology, then makerspace equipment could actually learn to speak to its patrons. For patrons with processing or sensory issues, for patrons who are legally blind, the ability of makerspace equipment to speak, in any language at all, would completely change the very foundation of accessibility and inclusion in makerspaces themselves.
Alas, while the library world finds its center of gravity within the shifting culture of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, perhaps we can equally begin to value the inherent tool of equity that Artificial Intelligence can equally bestow upon us. While this is my own new year's resolution, I hope this finds its way upon your lists as well.
Until next time!
FLS creates a network to connect and inspire Friends groups
in all types of libraries to support the New York library community.
FLS Annual Membership Meeting
FLS hosted its annual membership meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, November 13th. The Annual Report to the membership, FLS Year in Review, was presented and is available in the November / December issue of Friends News and Notes (see below). We were joined by members of the Friends of Marcellus Free Library and their Historian Paulette Quinn who is the 2024 FLS Daniel W. Casey Award recipient. Christopher Lund, FLS President, passed the gavel to himself as he is beginning his full term after assuming the presidency earlier in the year to fill a vacancy. Members of the 2024-25 FLS Executive Board were installed.
FLS 2024-25 Executive Board
At the FLS Board meeting on December 4, Lisa C. Wemett was appointed to fill the vacant Member At Large Position. There are still a few openings for the 2024-25 year. If you would like to get involved, please send an email to [email protected].
Friends News and Notes, November / December 2024
The November / December 2024 issue of Friends News and Notes will be available in December on the FLS Newsletter page.
Inside this issue:
FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award Presentation page 1
FLS in 2025 page 1
A Message from FLS President Chris Lund page 2
With Much Gratitude! page 2
Meet the 2024-25 FLS Board page 2
FLS Year in Review - Annual Report to the Membership page 3-5
Highlight Slides from the FLS Annual Membership Meeting page 5
FLS Board / Auxiliary Volunteers / Info page 6
RECS Fund Appeal page 6-9
FLS Newsletters:
Read the current issue of the FLS newsletter, Friends News and Notes, at https://www.nyla.org/friends-of-libraries-section---newsletter. (www.NYLA.org/Friends > Our Newsletter) FLS members may read past issues by clicking on Archived Issues and then logging in.
Contact FLS at [email protected] www.NYLA.org/Friends
See you in February!