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Welcome to the NYLA Voice April 2026 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!
Spring is in the air, which means flowers, showers, and most importantly, NYLA Renewal!!!
I am aware that when I speak to people about joining NYLA, it may seem like I’m selling it for my own benefit…I am the Executive Director after all. And yes, maintaining a robust membership is very much part of my job description, but my advising you to join NYLA is so much more than that…I promise! When I first became a librarian, 22 plus years ago, I was so excited about the work ahead of me and having a chance to make my community stronger. I also knew exactly no one in the field. NYLA became my personal gateway to all things library. I started off by volunteering to get a discount to attend conference as a student, then I became a regular member, and eventually got myself appointed to the Leadership and Management Section (LAMS) board of NYLA. That led to me getting to serve on Council, and later to me applying for this job. Throughout this whole experience, I’ve reaped many rewards for my involvement, including discounts to attend my required professional development, an increased understanding of the library infrastructure in our state, and the chance to get involved in leadership roles in the association which built my resume and prepared me for promotions and professional growth. Above all those wonderful benefits though, the most important and valuable thing NYLA has given me is a large network of peers around the state and now the country, who I can lean on, vent to, and grow alongside. Those fellow library workers have lifted me up when I was struggling, made me laugh, taught me important lessons so I didn’t need to learn everything the hard way, and been references and cheerleaders throughout my career. I can confidently say I wouldn’t be where I am today without the strong connections I forged at NYLA. While I know that association memberships can seem expensive, now more than ever, I would argue I can’t put a price tag on the returns of my investment in our association.
Whether you’re a library school student just starting out, or a polished professional with a full career already, you will find that what you invest into NYLA, you get back many fold. If you have any questions about how things work, how to get more involved, or how to make the most of the membership experience, I encourage you to reach out to me! I’m happy to have a conversation and become your first new NYLA friend and connection. It’s very important to me to pay forward all the comradery and fellowship I’ve received and help future generations in our field to have a similar experience.
Now that I’ve (hopefully) convinced you to join NYLA, please don’t miss the chance to participate in NYLA’s Spring on the Hill advocacy event on Tuesday, May 19. All the information about this event can be found on the website. The registration deadline is fast approaching on May 1, 2026, so don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to learn more about advocacy and network with your peers!
Spring has sprung at NYLA!
From assisting at the successful YSS section spring conference to planning our Spring on the Hill Advocacy event in May, the office continues to run all of the daily operations of the organization.
As always, change continues throughout our systems and policies. We encourage the membership to email [email protected] with any thoughts, ideas, edits, updates, etc. We will do our best to accommodate what we can!
Membership renewal for the 2026-2027 launched on April 15th! All current members have been sent an email containing renewal instruction and the link to our renewal form. For organizational members, this email is sent to the email included in the organizational membership information. Key Contacts emails are not sent this email. To review the email included as the contact email on an organizational membership, Key Contacts can login to their member profile and click on the My Profile wording located beneath the welcome banner. Once on this page, find the My Organization tab and your organizational contact email will be listed in this section and can be updated if needed.
All members will have until the May 31st expiration date to renew. Organization volunteers must renew their membership annually to be eligible to participate on NYLA committees and units. All members at this time have been removed from their unit groups in our membership database.
To be readded to your units, members must renew your membership and include the units you wish to participate in. For organizational members, the Key Contact can provide included sections for all members within their membership and any additional sections and roundtables. Key Contacts who are not going to provide additional units for their included members should contact all members and let them know that additional units are not included in their membership and members can use the 2026-2027 Unit Form provided in their member profile to add units to their newly renewed membership.
Just a reminder, each member gets one included section with their membership. This included section must be added via the renewal form. If it is not provided in the form, members must reach out to the office to have this manually added.
The office has compiled a list of FAQs on our website to assist our membership with the renewal process. While we have compiled this list from questions already received, anyone with questions about renewal or membership can reach out to Lauren Hoyt at [email protected]. Please note during the renewal period, communications may be delayed due to an influx in requests received by the staff. We kindly ask for patience as we navigate all requests.
Just 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.
Anyone looking to join for the 2026–2027 membership year, can use the Join Form on the website! All fees can be reviewed on the website.
Personal members can use the form to enter their profile and payment information. Organizational members will need to have one Key Contact listed on their membership that serves as the membership holder and enters all required information in the join form for their membership. This should not be completed by any members that are included in the organizational membership.
The Join Form will create a member profile with membership for the 2026-2027 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.
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.
The NYLA staff will be out of the office attending the YSS event on April 17th and the SSL event April 30th-May 2nd. The office will also be closed May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Communications may be delayed.
Check out reminders 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!
SPRING ON THE HILL
Registration for our Spring on the Hill event on May 19th in Albany at the Albany Capital Center CLOSES May 1st. Join us for a full day of educational programming focused on advocacy, which is vital in every season!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SPRING ON THE HILL!
The schedule includes a wide array of presentations and something for everyone – even our most experienced advocates. Lunch will be served, and there will be plenty of opportunities for professional networking during this one-day mini-conference. Don’t miss the chance to develop your advocacy skills and help to strengthen the library profession’s grassroots efforts.
Hotel accommodation can be made at Renaissance Albany Hotel for $239 USD per night. Our hotel block closes April 24th. Interested participants can book today using this link.
NYLA CONFERENCE
Who’s ready to go back to Saratoga Springs! Our 2026 Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York at the Hilton and City Center.
Every library story begins with a reason.
The 2026 conference theme, Libraries Because _____, invites you to name yours. There is no single answer to why libraries matter, but rather a powerful range of possibilities. Books and information are probably high on the list, but also access, democracy, community, culture, literacy, belonging, and opportunity.
Libraries are defined by our commitment to these values and the resilience we demonstrate in fighting for them. By naming our specific reasons, we affirm that they guide our decisions, strengthen our advocacy, and connect us to the communities we serve. Individually, these reasons are personal. Together, they form a shared narrative of impact and purpose.
Join us at the 2026 Annual Conference to celebrate the many reasons libraries matter and discover new ones together. The conference is a great opportunity to turn your “because” into action and impact.
Proposal submission for the 2026 Conference was a success! Thank you to all who submitted. The CE Committee is currently reviewing this information and will be meeting May 4tht to select our slate of programming. Approved program presenters will be notified if their presentation is selected in late May.
Trade Show Exhibitor and Sponsorship Information for our 2026 event has launched! Members who know any companies, organizations, libraries, etc. that wish to participate in our 2026 event can feel free to share this information. We are hoping to increase our sponsorships this year and have several fun opportunities including our newly added Conference Commercial Sponsorship that will air during a luncheon general session or at our annual reception.
NYLA AWARDS
Know someone who should be highlighted at our annual event for the great work they are doing I the library field! We are looking for NYLA award nominations for 2026. Awards winners will be recognized at our annual Award Reception.
Click here to nominate an Award Winner today!
We are also looking for conference stipends and education scholarship nominations as well.
The Lake Placid First Time Conference Stipend and Empire State Academic Scholarship applications are now open! Eligibility information and applications can be reviewed on the webpages noted above.
Applications for both awards and scholarships must be submitted by June 1, 2025.
This Thursday YSS will be hosting their 2026 YSS Conference, Joy in the Library in Buffalo, NY. The NYLA office kindly requests all open registration invoices for this event be paid as soon as possible. Registrants will continue to receive email reminders until payment is processed by the office regardless of who is paying for the invoice. We appreciate registrants reaching out to their billing departments to confirm all required payment information has been received and payment is on its way to the office.
Get your Continuing Education for the Event! CE information can be found on the YSS Conference website. Attendees have until, Friday, May 8th to submit all program evaluation forms and the CE Request Form.
The 2026 SSL Conference, Find Your Flow, will be held on April 30 – May 2, 2026, in Ithaca, NY. Registrants can find Information about the event the SSL Conference website.
Communication Reminder
Going into the new year we want to remind everyone; the office staff are here to answer all the questions and requests our membership has. NYLA members who wish to communicate with the office should send an email to the desired staff member address listed below. We kindly ask that email be the primary form of communication with staff and calls be reserved for necessary follow-up.
Emailing the office is our preferred form of contact because:
1.) The NYLA office does not have an official office administrator to aid in receiving phone calls. While the staff does their best to answer calls as they come in, we often miss them due to meetings, daily tasks, remote work, etc.
2.) During high periods of member requests (member renewal, conference registration, etc.) call and voicemail replies are often delayed. The best way to reach the office during these times is to email and wait for a reply. We kindly ask that members do not leave multiple emails and calls as this delay replies from being provided in a timely manner.
3.) The office staff typically must send an email with follow-up information after calls, so members have this information. Emailing from the start allows the office to be efficient in providing as much assistance as possible with attached information, links, instructions, etc. that members can be sent and have a record of to refer to later.
The office is always available to schedule a time to call members following an email if further assistance or help is needed. A scheduled call following an initial email communication allows the staff to be prepared to directly follow up with member requests to make this process efficient.
Please use the menu below to email us!
- Executive Director AnnaLee Dragon at [email protected]
- Communications, Marketing & Digital Advertising, Professional Development Programs to Becky Czornobil at [email protected]
- Membership, finance and general association inquiries to Lauren Hoyt at [email protected]
Event and continuing education inquiries to Lauren Hoyt [email protected]
- Legislation, Advocacy, and Government Relations Inquiries to Max Prime at[email protected]
We appreciate your continued membership with NYLA and stay tuned for more operational updates in the June edition of The NYLA Voice!
As we move further into the legislative season, I want to take a moment to connect the broader national landscape with the work happening here in New York, and why your continued engagement matters more than ever.
As I write this, we are still awaiting a final New York State budget. I’m encouraged by the strong advocacy efforts from NYLA members across the state. Together, we have continued to make the case for libraries as essential infrastructure. Regardless of the final numbers, it is important to recognize that sustained, visible advocacy is what ensures libraries remain part of these critical conversations.
Shortly after NYLA’s own Library Advocacy Day in early February, Max Prime (NYLA’s Director of Government Relations) and I had the opportunity to lead the New York delegation at ALA’s National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. During our meetings with federal lawmakers, we focused on several key priorities that directly impact libraries in every corner of our state:
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding: This foundational federal program supports locally identified priorities, resource sharing, and critical services that individual libraries could not sustain alone. Continued funding ensures equitable access to information and services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
- Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL): IAL provides targeted support for school libraries, helping to expand access to high-quality, diverse books and effective literacy programs for students who need it most. This funding is essential to advancing literacy and opportunity in low income communities.
- E-Rate program: We advocated for protecting and strengthening E-Rate, which provides affordable broadband access to public libraries. As digital access becomes increasingly essential, we emphasized the need for sustainable, long-term funding to ensure libraries can continue serving as community technology hubs.
- Right to Read Act (S. 3365; H.R. 6440): This proposed legislation would invest in evidence-based literacy programs, ensure that all students attend schools with effective school libraries, and protect librarians and educators that provide access to reading materials.
At the same time, we were reminded just how quickly challenges can emerge. As our day of our advocacy meetings came to a close, we received news that H.R. 7661, the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act”, had just been introduced. Despite its name, the bill represents a concerning attempt to control access to information, stifle the expression of certain identities and perspectives, and limit the professional autonomy of educators and librarians. Efforts like this reinforce the importance of remaining vigilant, informed, and ready to respond.
If there is a single takeaway from both the state and national levels, it’s this: progress is not permanent, and neither are the protections we value. They are the result of consistent, collective action. Advocacy is not a one-time effort tied to a single bill or budget cycle, it is our ongoing commitment to showing up, speaking out, and standing together. That is what NYLA (and YOU, our membership) is here for.
With that in mind, I have an important reminder: NYLA’s membership renewal period is now open! Please take a moment to renew your membership as soon as possible to ensure you stay up to date with your Unit’s communications and access to your NYLA membership. If you need documentation for your institution, you can easily generate a PO request through the NYLA website.
Your membership is what makes NYLA’s advocacy work possible. It allows NYLA to show up in Albany and in Washington, to monitor important legislation, to respond quickly to emerging threats, and to advocate on behalf of every library in New York.
Thank you for being part of the work to ensure that New York libraries lead the way!
Hello, NYLA members! Now three-and-a-half months into New York State’s 2026 Legislative Session, members of the Assembly and Senate are working with Governor Kathy Hochul to finalize the FY 2027 State Budget and leave time to address pressing policy concerns ahead of the Legislature’s scheduled June 4th adjournment.
As of April 15, New York’s FY 2027 State Budget is 14 days late relative to our Constitution’s April 1st deadline for passage. Leaders in Albany are currently deadlocked over policy proposed for inclusion in the legislation, including proposed changes to 2019’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, car insurance reform, taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, and others. Inability to find common ground on the most contentious of these issues has required three short-term funding extensions to date, the most recent of which was passed on April 14 and will expire on April 16.
So, where do New York’s libraries stand in these negotiations? Let’s take a step back and review what’s transpired since the release of Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget and how the Governor’s, Assembly’s, and Senate’s proposals for library funding compare.
Executive Budget:
Governor Hochul released her FY 2027 Executive Budget on January 20, 2026. Unfortunately, it advances cuts to both State Aid for Libraries and State Aid for Library Construction. It does, however, continued funding for NOVELny and $12 million in critically needed funding to help stabilize the Office of Cultural Education, including the New York State Library. Please find the topline funding numbers included in the Executive Budget below:
Library Operating Aid: $104.67 million
- -$1.655 million from FY 2026 Enacted Budget
Library Construction Aid: $34 million
- -$10 million from FY 2026 Enacted Budget
Library Materials Aid: $6.25/pupil
- No proposal included to change the $6.25 library materials factor currently set in law.
NOVELny: $3 million
- Stable funding at FY 2026 Level
Office of Cultural Education Stabilization: $12 million
- New dedicated funds for FY 2027
One House Budgets
Following the release of the Executive Budget, NYLA continued its work to advocate for library priorities through testifying at the FY 2027 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Elementary & Secondary Education on January 26, close collaboration and meetings with partners in the legislature, and a robust Library Advocacy Day on February 3 that saw library champions from across New York converge on Albany to fight for the funding and legislation they deserve.
The Senate and Assembly released their individual one house budget proposals on March 9, both of which include significant increases to core categories of state funding for libraries. Please find overviews of top-line funding numbers for each proposal below.
Senate:
Library Operating Aid: $114.67 million
- +$10 million from the Executive Budget
Library Construction Aid: $54 million
- +$20 million from the Executive Budget
Library Materials Aid: $11.33/pupil
- +$5.08/pupil from current law
NOVELny: $3.1 million
- +$100,000 from the Executive Budget
Office of Cultural Education Stabilization: $12 million
- Retains the new funding included in the Executive Budget
Assembly:
Library Operating Aid: $109.3 million
- +$4.63 million from the Executive Budget
Library Construction Aid: $70 million
- +$36 million from the Executive Budget
Library Materials Aid: $6.25/pupil
- No proposal included to change the $6.25 library materials factor currently set in law.
NOVELny: $3.0 million
- Even with the Executive Budget
Office of Cultural Education Stabilization: $12 million
- Retains the new funding included in the Executive Budget
In these final days and weeks of budget negotiation, NYLA continues to advocate for library funding priorities. We are working with allies in the legislature and continuing to speak with the Assembly Ways & Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and Division of Budget, each of which has the capacity to influence budget conversations.
As we do so, we are also working to advance non-budget priorities including the Freedom to Read, eBooks licensing reform, and more, in preparation for the end-of-session push to address non-budget policy matters before the legislature adjourns in June.
Our collective efforts as a unified community of library advocates will be essential for success in this session. Please remember to take action by sending a message to your state elected officials asking them to support funding for libraries in the final budget and keep an eye on the NYLA website for updates on all advocacy matters!
Thank you all for your continued advocacy work across New York. As always, please do not hesitate to reach me by emailing [email protected] or calling (518) 432-6952 x 102.
Sally Stieglitz, Communications and Outreach Coordinator at Long Island Library Resources Council (LILRC) and Editor-in-Chief, Association of Jewish Libraries News and Reviews, was named the 2026 winner of the ALA RUSA CODES Louis Shores Award. The Louis Shores Award recognizes an individual reviewer, group, editor, review medium, or organization for excellence in book reviewing and other media for libraries.
Outreach Beach and the Spaces in Between
When I usually write this column, I’m somewhere in Memeland, thinking about social media marketing, how libraries show up online, and how our digital presence can make the library feel more human before anyone even walks through one of our doors. Memeland is creative, fast paced, and sometimes I feel, in many ways, easier to navigate. This month, I’ve decided to stick around Outreach Beach, a place we visited together last January. I find myself on this beach often, usually with intention, sometimes by accident. The sun is out, the vibes are good, students are laughing, there are usually stickers and buttons involved... It’s mostly informal, always relational, and usually a bit unpredictable.
The more time I spend on Outreach Beach, the more time I spend thinking about academic library spaces. In academic libraries (and all libraries, honestly), space is always part of a conversation. How much is allocated to collections? How much and what kind of seating? Where are the quiet zones? The collaborative areas? Will we be asked to share our space with another campus unit? What programming is doable here? These are familiar questions that continually make the rounds. What feels different now is not just how we chose to design the space, but how students are choosing to use that space, and how varied that use becomes.
What I am constantly observing is that there is no single way students experience the academic library. Some come looking for silence and structure, a place to focus, to think, and to work without minimal interruption. Others are searching for something more flexible – a place to meet, to collaborate, and to exist between classes. Some are here for a specific purpose and leave quickly, while others linger, not always with a clear goal, but with a sense that this is a space where they have permission just to be. And increasingly, I notice how much these needs can exist side by side, even within the same student, sometimes even within the same visit.
Life on Outreach Beach has a way of making all of this visible. When we bring programming, pop-ups, or even small moments of activity into library spaces, we see different students show up in different ways to interact with our spaces. Some may engage immediately while others may just observe from a distance. Inevitably some students will just pass through entirely ignoring what is going on, but all of them are still encountering the library, not just as a static environment, but as something that can be far more dynamic - an organism that can shift, adapt, and respond to their needs. These cultivated moments don’t replace the traditional functions of an academic library, if anything they do more to enhance those functions while also sitting alongside them.
These cultivated outreach moments ask us to be more intentional. Intentional about where and how different kinds of engagement happen and intentional about how we communicate what a space is for and what it can be for. Even further, being intentional about recognizing that not all students arrive with the same expectations, the same comfort levels, or the same understanding of how to even being to use an academic library. This last part feels especially true in our post-COVID world. For many current students, the academic library is not a place they experienced in the same way as those who came before them. Some students are still trying to figure out what it means to even be in shared academic spaces at all. Others are seeking connections more actively, looking for places on campus that feel welcoming, flexible, and human. At the same time, the need for quiet, focused space hasn’t gone away, if anything, it’s become more important for some students.
Academic libraries are perfectly poised to sit right in the middle of a broad spectrum of student needs. For a long time, and sometimes still, the dominant image of the academic library has centered around collections and quiet study. Yes, these things are still essential since they speak to the core of what we do and how we support research and learning, but they are far from encompassing the entire picture. If we think about academic libraries only in those terms, we risk designing spaces and experiences that serve only a portion of our students and only a portion of what they need.
Spending some time on Outreach Beach, enjoying the sand and sun, reminds me that there are other ways students come into a relationship with our libraries. Sometimes that looks like a conversation that wasn’t planned that happened through an event they didn’t expect to happen at the library. And in those moments a student can have a moment of recognition that looks and feels like oh, I can be here like this! These moments are harder to measure and don’t always map neatly into traditional metrics or visions of what academic libraries once were, but they are increasingly important. These moments shape how students perceive the library and influence whether someone feels comfortable coming back; they also create openings for deeper engagement and reception to communication down the line.
All of this culminates in how we can think differently about our spaces, not just as something we manage but as something we and the populations we serve can actively shape together. Not every space needs to serve the same function, and not every moment in those spaces needs to look the same. But ultimately all of these spaces and the moments we spend time cultivating should reflect the diverse range of students we serve – the quiet and active, the structured studiers and the flexible wanderers, the purpose driven and the intrepid explorers!
So, spend a little time on the beach – become one with the sandy shores of your library spaces. On the beach is where we can come to fully understand our users' needs – after all, it’s where the edges of expectation become the most visible. It’s where we see, in real time, how students navigate our spaces and make meaning from them. It’s here that we are reminded that the question is never what the library is for, but rather who are we designing the library to serve and how many ways can the answer to that question exist all at once?
Happy creating and connecting!
See you in July!
See you in July!
See you in July!
Happy Spring! It’s been a while since I’ve recommended books. I recently read two YA books that I absolutely loved and would like to share them with you.
Moonsick by Tom O’Donnell was phenomenal. The best way to describe it would be this: imagine if instead of covid, there was a mysterious disease that turned you into a werewolf. The book is set some time after the disease has started. People are getting back to normal, well except for on the full moon when everyone has to be locked in their homes to prevent further spread of the disease.
Heidi pretends to be sick so she does not have to go to Hawaii with her family. She wants to throw a party at her home instead. (Teens, amirite?) The party is to be held after the full moon, but unfortunately for Heidi, there is a break in at her house which leads to a werewolf attack. Now she needs to ally with the person who broke into herself and precent anyone else from finding out she has bitten. Because those who are bitten are not treated kindly. In fact, they are sent away…Will Heidi be able to find a cure, or is she doomed to live with this curse forever?
I would recommend ages 14 and up for Moonsick. The werewolf change is a bit graphic. I do want to note that in the beginning of the book, the author has a message that there is body horror gore and violence.
If you are a big fan of the X-men, then you might want to read Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson. If I could have any superpower, I would want Storm’s, because controlling the weather sounds pretty cool!
I thought Jackson did a great job at capturing Storm’s character. The basic plot is, this is Storm’s origin story. We are reading about her struggles as a teen with powers she does not understand. We also see the appearance of the terrifying Shadow King who threatens Storm and everything/everyone she knows and loves. Will she escape the Shadow King or fall under his spell?
I would recommend ages 12 and up for Storm: Dawn of a Goddess. Even if someone is not familiar with the X-men and Storm, they would still be able to follow along and enjoy this book.
See you in July!
Hello, dear readers!
As winter (and so much snow!) softens into spring, I find myself thinking about movement, how our libraries shift not only with the seasons but also in response to the ever-changing needs of our communities. In past articles, I have explored makerspaces as rooms, as mobile carts, and as sites shaped by funding, accessibility, and even fear. But what happens when making no longer belongs to a space at all?
What happens when we check it out?
Across the field of library and information science, a quiet but significant evolution is underway. Often described as circulating maker kits or situated within the broader umbrella of the Library of Things, lending-based makerspace collections are redefining how, where, and by whom making occurs. Rather than asking patrons to enter designated spaces equipped with 3D printers, Cricut machines, or sewing tools, libraries are increasingly placing these tools directly in users' hands.
This shift from space to circulation represents more than a logistical adjustment. It signals a philosophical transformation.
Historically, makerspaces have been framed as hubs of innovation and creativity within the library, structured environments where patrons gather to learn, experiment, and collaborate (Moorefield-Lang, 2015). These spaces, while powerful, are inherently bounded by hours, staffing, comfort levels, and the unspoken question of who feels entitled to occupy them. As Sheridan et al. (2014) suggest, learning in makerspaces is deeply tied to context; when that context is restricted, so too is participation.
And for many patrons, that restriction is not hypothetical.
It is felt.
For individuals who have never “made” before, the makerspace can feel intimidating, a place where unfamiliar tools, specialized language, and visible expertise create a quiet yet powerful barrier to entry. When staff and regular users appear confident and fluent, often reflecting historically dominant identities within tech and maker culture, patrons may hesitate to reveal what they do not know. The fear of “doing it wrong,” or of asking what feels like a “basic question,” can be enough to keep someone from ever stepping into the space.
For bilingual patrons or those who are not comfortable asking questions in English, this barrier can be even more pronounced. Makerspace instruction is often delivered quickly, verbally, and in technical vocabulary that does not translate easily. Without multilingual signage, translated instructions, or staff who can communicate across languages, these patrons may find themselves navigating tools through guesswork or choosing not to engage at all. What appears to be an open, innovative space may, in practice, feel linguistically inaccessible.
For neurodivergent patrons, the challenge may be less about language or knowledge and more about the environment. Makerspaces are often lively, sensory-rich spaces filled with the noise of machines, overlapping conversations, and constant movement. While energizing for some, these conditions can be overwhelming for others who need quieter, more controlled environments in order to focus, process, and create.
Time, too, plays a critical role. Families balancing work schedules, childcare, and transportation may find it difficult to attend designated makerspace hours or structured programs. For caregivers, the desire to engage in creative learning with their children may exist alongside the practical reality that library schedules do not always align with their own.
Similarly, patrons with mobility challenges, chronic illness, or limited access to transportation may experience the makerspace not as an open invitation but as a distant resource.
And still, for some, the barrier is not time, language, or environment, but safety.
In recent months, many library workers have become acutely aware that not all patrons feel safe entering public spaces. For individuals and families concerned about immigration enforcement actions, including the possibility of ICE presence in or alarmingly near public institutions, even a library, long understood as a place of refuge, can feel uncertain.
As a result, some patrons may limit their time outside the home, avoid public buildings altogether, or seek services that do not require a physical presence during the day. In this context, the traditional makerspace model, rooted in physical attendance, may unintentionally exclude those who need access the most.
Amongst other intuitive co-creation design processes, circulating maker kits disrupt this model.
By allowing patrons to borrow tools, whether a robotics kit, embroidery machine, or digital recording device, libraries extend making beyond their walls and into homes, classrooms, and community spaces. De Boer and Kuhlman (2018) highlight how such kits foster family engagement and informal learning, enabling patrons to explore at their own pace and on their own terms. In this model, the library does not disappear; rather, it becomes distributed.
For the hesitant beginner, a take-home kit offers privacy and the ability to learn without an audience. For bilingual patrons, it offers the possibility of translated guides, visual instructions, or family-supported learning. For neurodivergent patrons, it offers control over sensory input. For families, it offers flexibility, the chance to create together on their own time, in their own way. And for those who do not feel safe entering public spaces, it offers continued access without exposure.
For those who have not historically felt welcome in makerspaces, it offers something quieter yet no less significant: a sense of permission.
And yet, as with many innovations in librarianship, the promise of expanded access is accompanied by new complexities.
The Library of Things (LoT) movement emphasizes access over ownership, an ethos that aligns closely with the mission of public libraries. Lending tools instead of books broadens the definition of a collection, inviting patrons to engage with resources that support not only knowledge acquisition but creation. However, these models also introduce operational and ethical challenges. What happens when expensive equipment is damaged or lost? How do policies such as identification requirements, fines, or liability agreements shape who feels comfortable borrowing these materials?
While these questions are frequently discussed in practitioner literature and local case studies, there remains a lack of standardized guidelines or widely adopted best practices across the field. As a result, many libraries continue to develop their own localized policies, reflecting both the flexibility and fragmentation of this emerging service model. Thus, in attempting to democratize access, we must also examine the barriers we inadvertently construct.
But back to the topic at hand.
Take-home maker kits are often celebrated for their inclusivity, particularly in reaching patrons who cannot attend in-person programs. But inclusion is not guaranteed by distribution alone. Access to space at home, familiarity with tools, and confidence in independent learning all influence how these resources are used. Without thoughtful design and support, lending collections risk replicating the very inequities they seek to address.
And so, we return to a familiar and ongoing question: who gets to make?
If mobile makerspaces brought tools to communities, lending makerspaces place agency directly with individuals. They challenge us to reconsider the role of the library, not as a fixed site of creativity, but as a facilitator of creativity wherever it unfolds. In this sense, the lending makerspace is not simply an extension of existing services; it is a reimagining of what access can look like.
“Un mundo donde quepan muchos mundos” - A world where many worlds fit.
And so, as spring unfolds, I am reminded that movement is not always visible, often unfolding quietly, across homes and communities, rather than within the spaces we formally designate for it.
Sometimes, it takes the form of a toolkit, leaving the building, a sewing machine carried home, or a child exploring circuits at their kitchen table. These acts of circulation may seem small, but they are part of a larger, often unseen shift, one that redistributes creativity, knowledge, and possibility beyond the walls of the library. They carry with them the potential to reshape our understanding of making, not as something that happens in the library, but as something that happens because of it.
Until next time!
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Audit & Finance
The Audit and Finance Committee has been meeting monthly, and plan to continue to do so through October. Our work has been to review our charged tasks, some of which occur as part of the Association’s regular business. The Committee heard a full presentation from Ann DeLucco, BST & Co., CPAs, LLP would lead her firm’s audit of the Association. The results of the audit were very satisfactory. The Association is following all accepted financial practices and our house is in good order. There were a few items to address in how some tasks are handled, but we have discussed methods of improving with the Executive Director. We have also begun the process of reviewing the draft 2026-2027 budget that the Executive Director has put together. This process also includes Section and Roundtable requests for their work over the course of the budget. The Committee has been reviewing this and hope to be able to offer a recommendation to the Council at their May 7 meeting. Finally, the other major task undertaken was a meeting with Daniel Weinberg, Chief Economist, All Square Wealth Management. Mr. Weinberg joined our February Committee meeting and informed us of the performance of our investments. Two of our committee members, Michael and Rob, have taken on the task of reviewing the investments and making sure it aligns with both our policies and advice from the auditors. I thank them both for this service to our Association. The best way for our Association to achieve the success each member may want from it is to support it. Encourage other to join. Attend NYLA events. Participate when an opportunity arises. Consider donating when possible. Each of these actions are necessary for a membership organization to succeed. It takes all of us.
Awards
The NYLA Awards and Recognitions Committee want to remind you that award season isn't over yet! Apply or nominate a library student or librarian for a NYLA Award! Multiple options are available for library students. The NYLA Empire State Academic Scholarship provides financial assistance to up to three library students and the NYLA Lake Placid First Time Conference Stipend awards a stipend for up to 4 library students to attend NYLA who have not attended before. Have you or a librarian you know implemented an innovative program or service, demonstrated extraordinary leadership within their community, and made significant advancements to the library profession? Apply for one of the many NYLA Annual Awards. The deadline for the Mary Bobinski Innovative Public Library Director Award, NYLA's Distinguished Achievement Award, Librarian of the Year (Academic/Special), Librarian of the Year (Public), Librarian of the Year (School), and the Intellectual Freedom Award are all Monday, June 1. The NYLA Awards and Recognitions Committee will review the applications for all these rewards and jointly select the recipients and the award recipients will be contact by NYLA in June. Visit the NYLA website to apply!
Continuing Education
The Continuing Education Committee is hard at work, reviewing 126 proposals for the NYLA Conference! As always, we have an abundance of nutritional proposals and only so many slots, but we’re excited about what this fall’s conference will have to offer. We’ve also revised our review process this year. This includes a detailed timeline that allows a little more time for questions and discussion, and an adjustment to our grading for more nuance. I’m very thankful to the committee members who discussed different options as we strive for an even more equitable process. It’ll be a few months before chosen conference sessions are made public, but I can guarantee it’s worth being excited for! I’m already wagging my tail thinking about the charm of Saratoga, high-quality continuing education, and reconnecting with my friends from across the state.
Communications
The NYLA Communications Committee has been working the past couple of months to collect content to share with members on various important happenings for NYLA, the annual membership renewal and Spring on the Hill to name a couple. The Committee is also planning a joint meeting with Membership in hopes to partner with them in future initiatives.
Fundraising & Sponsorship
No update submitted.
Governance
No update submitted.
Intellectual Freedom
No update submitted.
Membership
No update submitted.
Nominating
No update submitted.
As spring arrives, the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) is celebrating the good work across this community of practice and looking forward to continuing to collaborate with and support the NYLA member libraries throughout New York state. Together, we foster the mindset and practices to support the development of ever more resilient libraries and communities. We’re pleased to share some exciting SLI news and learning opportunities.
Sustainable Libraries Initiative Awarded $175,000 for Operationalizing Community Resilience: Creating a Training and Partnership Model for Libraries
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) has been awarded a $175,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation’s Public Knowledge program to lead a 15-month project titled Operationalizing Community Resilience: Creating a Training and Partnership Model for Libraries.
The project will pilot a training program designed to support public library staff in smaller and rural communities as they plan and implement locally relevant resilience activities in partnership with community-based organizations. The training will help participating libraries integrate the National Climate Action Strategy for Libraries (NCASL) into their daily operations, bridging national climate frameworks with the realities of local library work.
The pilot will train a total of 40 staff members drawn from 40 public libraries serving populations of 25,000 or fewer. Project outcomes will include:
- Up to 40 library-led initiatives addressing climate mitigation or adaptation
- Stronger partnerships between libraries and local organizations focused on climate preparedness
- A scalable, field-tested training model and curriculum, and stories from the field, to help inspire more libraries to engage in similar work nationwide
Together, these outcomes position libraries as trusted, place-based knowledge institutions capable of anchoring climate adaptation efforts and supporting equitable access to public knowledge infrastructure.
“The goal of Operationalizing Community Resilience is to equip small and rural public libraries with the tools, partnerships, and confidence to turn climate strategy into action,” said SLI Co-Founder and President, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich. “With Mellon’s support, we’re building a practical and replicable model that recognizes libraries as essential civic infrastructure in times of climate disruption.”
Read the full announcement on the SLI website. SLI thanks NYLA Executive Director AnnaLee Dragon, one of the state-level partners participating on the project’s advisory group.
Small & Rural Libraries: Call for Participation Is Open
The application to participate in the pilot training Community Resilience through Small & Rural Libraries: Building Partnership for Impact is open until May 4. This pilot is made possible by the Mellon Foundation’s award of the Operationalizing Community Resilience: Creating a Training and Partnership Model for Libraries grant to SLI. Four states, including New York, are taking part in the pilot; libraries in New York are eligible to apply.
Rebecca T. Miller Joins SLI as Sustainability Coordinator
We are excited to welcome Rebecca T. Miller as the new Sustainability Coordinator at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS). In this role, Rebecca will be responsible for supporting the 56 member libraries of Suffolk County as well as managing the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) and its Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). Formerly a longtime editorial leader and publisher of Library Journal and School Library Journal, Rebecca has consistently tapped on the evolving conversation around libraries as key players in creating resilient communities. She has written numerous editorials and articles focused on the topic, shaped event programming to explore aspects of it, and spoken on the subject in settings large and small—all to further amplify the potential of prioritizing sustainable thinking as central to responsible stewardship and solid strategic thinking.
Rebecca joined the team on Jan. 5, 2026, and has been working closely with Alex Blend as he moves to a new role in the Outreach Department for SCLS. She can be reached at [email protected] or 631.286.1600 Ext. 1369 and will be happy to answer any questions you might have about SLI membership or partnership, joining the Sustainable Library Certification Program, or getting help with certification activities. Read the full announcement in SLI’s newsletter.
Upcoming Webinar
Celebrate Citizen Science Month this April with an inspiring webinar: Join the Movement: Libraries as Hubs for Citizen Science. SLI has teamed up with SciStarter to showcase how libraries of all sizes and types are driving real-world scientific impact through community engagement. An expert panel will share "stories from the wild," detailing how they transitioned from traditional programming to hands-on scientific discovery. Featured speakers include Emma Giles, SciStarter; Vivienne Byrd, Los Angeles Public Library; and Margaret Woodruff, Charlotte Public Library (VT). It will be held Wednesday, April 29, at 2 pm ET. Registration is now open.
Recent Webinars on Demand Now
Several popular webinars are now available on demand via the SLI website. We invite library workers to follow the links to register explore these topics at your convenience:
SLI’s 2025 Annual Report Now Available
On March 27, leaders of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative presented the Sustainable Libraries Initiative's 2025 Annual Report. This presentation, now available in SLI’s annual report archive, provided a cohesive recap of SLI’s growth, reach, and impact as a community of practice, and celebrated the many contributors involved throughout the year.
ASLS
No update submitted.
FLS
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of FLS President Emeritus Randall Enos. Randy died unexpectedly on March 6, 2026. To say that he will be greatly missed is quite the understatement. From his obituary, “Randy spent much of his professional life as the Youth Services Consultant for the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) in Middletown, New York, where he worked from 1982 until his retirement in 2019. He was deeply involved with the New York Library Association (NYLA), serving as president of the Youth Services Section and holding numerous leadership roles. Randy served six terms as president of the Empire Friends Roundtable and remained a continuous and active member as the organization evolved into the Friends of Libraries Section (FLS).” He was named FLS President Emeritus in 2015.
Besides spending time with your favorite books, people, or dogs – in no particular order – you can honor Randy’s memory by 1) making a donation to the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship Fund, the family’s selected charity and/or 2) applying for the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship to attend this year’s NYLA annual conference, November 4-7, in Saratoga Springs.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday May 3 at Mountain Lake Park in Warwick, NY from 11:30-2:30. Read more about Randy in the March/April issue of Friends News and Notes.
Call for Applications: FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship
This is the year to do it – as it will be the first Memorial FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship (RECS). In an interview with Randy after the establishment of the scholarship, he was quoted as saying, "Some people are drawn to bars, some to church groups, I was drawn to the library!" He certainly was - and he dedicated his life to making libraries better. That’s why the Friends of Libraries Section developed this scholarship in his honor; now, in his memory.
So, here’s some questions for you: Are you a member of a Friends of the Library group? Do you serve as the Staff Liaison to your library's Friends group? Do you have a stellar Friends group at your library? Could you or one of your Friends volunteers benefit from a professional development opportunity?
Well, if you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then FLS has the scholarship for you to attend the 2026 NYLA Annual Conference (November 4-7 in Saratoga Springs). The award pays a maximum of $1,000 for an individual to attend the conference. Costs covered may include registration, tickets for events and meal functions, lodging, and travel expenses.
Whether a community volunteer or a library staff member, applicants must be a member of the Friends of Libraries Section as a part of their NYLA membership and involved in a local Friends group at any type of library in New York State. Now is the perfect time (beginning in mid-April) to renew your NYLA membership and include FLS as your included, or an added, Section.
To apply, submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to [email protected]. Use the same address for any questions. The Scholarship Committee will review all eligible applications and notify applicants of the results in early summer. It's not too soon to think about applying! Applications must be received by June 1. Learn more and find the application packet on the FLS RECS page.
The scholarship is underwritten through an endowment funded by designated contributions to NYLA/FLS. Thanks for your interest and support.
FLS Awards and Scholarships: Call for Nominations and Applications
Would you like an opportunity to honor an active library supporter, a community volunteer, or your Friends of the Library? The Friends of Libraries Section offers the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award to honor the efforts of volunteers who have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends of the Library organizations.
If a library support group has received the award in the past, they certainly may be nominated to be recognized again. Or if your Friends have been a recipient, perhaps you can think of an individual associated with that group that might deserve this recognition.
And please don’t forget about partner organizations supportive of the Friends. The award can also go to “a group … whose efforts have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends organizations.” The Award has previously been presented to a representative in the State Assembly, public library system administrators, system trustees, and county executives.
To nominate a group or individual, use the packet for the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award posted on www.nyla.org/friends under “Our Awards and Scholarships.” Nominations must include all relevant information outlined on the application form. Selection criteria include contributions of the nominee (group or individual) to library service, including positions held, years of service, and accomplishments such as successful fundraisers and volunteer engagement. Community outreach, marketing initiatives, advocacy, and leadership should all be highlighted.
Questions may be directed to Lisa C. Wemett, Coordinator for the Casey Award, at [email protected]. Nominations must be submitted electronically and received by 5 p.m. on June 1, 2026. Thank you for your interest!
Save the Date: Meet-up for Friends of Libraries Groups in Vestal
FLS is offering its annual meet-up, this time in Broome County on Friday, June 5. Representatives of Friends groups are invited to talk shop with the FLS Executive Board when they meet in-person at the Vestal Public Library.
The meet-up will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. It will offer a chance for representatives of local Friends of Libraries to come together to discuss topics of interest, such as fundraising ideas, best practices for book sales, advocacy, membership initiatives, energizing volunteers, and programs and services that the Friends offer to their community.
Over the past ten years, FLS meet-ups have been held at various locations around New York. They offer a great opportunity for Friends of the Library groups to meet with other library civic leaders, to exchange ideas, and make new contacts, all within a short distance from home!
There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required; no walk-ins, please. Watch for further information on how to register in the FLS newsletter, “Friends News and Notes,” and in NYLA’s “News You Can Use.” We’ll also be asking you to suggest discussion topics that are of interest to your group. We look forward to seeing you and sharing great ideas and conversation!
Friends News and Notes, March/April 2026
The March/April issue of Friends News and Notes is available on the FLS Newsletter page.
LAMS
No update submitted.
LTAS
No update submitted.
PLS
No update submitted.
SMART
No update submitted.
SSL
Happy School Library Month! We hope you’re all able to celebrate and highlight key points of your library within your district. Thank you, NYLA, for highlighting school librarians throughout the month.
Our conference is quickly approaching. Registration is now closed but we hope everyone is excited to attend. If you’re attending our conference please sign up to bring a Knickerbocker Basket. Knickerbocker baskets can be a range of many things. You can create a basket with books, for the summer, a movie night and more. Proceeds from purchasing Knickerbocker tickets go to funding our Knickerbocker Scholarships that help librarians attend the annual SSL Conference. This year we’re able to award three Knickerbocker Scholarships.
Membership renewal will be coming soon. Please make sure that you follow the instructions in the email clearly and that you continue your membership with NYLA SSL.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the end of the month for our annual conference.
Amber AldridgeNYLA SSL PresidentYSS
No update submitted.
CLWCRT
No update submitted.
CORT
On March 27th, CORT held a Friday night happy hour meeting from 7:30PM to 9PM via Zoom. Participants were encouraged to get comfy and bring their own beverages. Plans were to hold a discussion on various topics and then play some games. Participants were so engaged in the discussion (struggles and successes in our libraries) that we ran out of time and didn’t get to play the games! It was still a great event because of the connections and very constructive discussions.
ESRT
No update submitted.
IFRT
No update submitted.
MLRT
No update submitted.
MPRRT
No update submitted.
MSRT
No update submitted.
NYBLC
In our previous NYLA Voice feature, the New York Black Librarians Caucus (NYBLC - please follow us here!) introduced our mission to support, connect, and advocate for Black information professionals across New York. That work is rooted in a broader commitment to recognizing and sustaining Black knowledge systems, past, present, and future. This article builds on that foundation by examining how these traditions are being reimagined in contemporary conversations about Black information futures.
In February 2026, scholars, librarians, archivists, and community knowledge workers gathered at the University of Washington for the Black Information Futures Symposium, a multi-day convening dedicated to rethinking how information is created, preserved, and accessed in Black communities. Hosted by the University of Washington Information School in collaboration with CALMA, the symposium brought together interdisciplinary voices to explore the past, present, and future of Black information practices.
More than a traditional academic conference, the symposium served as a space for critical dialogue and collective imagination. Participants examined how libraries, archives, and digital systems have historically excluded Black voices, while also highlighting the innovative ways Black communities have built their own knowledge infrastructures. This dual focus, critique and creation, reflects a broader shift within library and information science toward what scholars describe as “knowledge justice,” a framework that challenges dominant systems of classification, access, and authority.
Grounded in the principle of Sankofa, learning from the past to shape the future, the symposium emphasized both historical analysis and forward-thinking design. Sessions such as “Sacred Geographies & Archival Justice” and “Fugitive Literacies, Information Access & Liberation” addressed epistemicide, censorship, and inequitable access, while panels like “Digital Sankofa” and “Black Spatial Futures” explored new possibilities for community-centered information systems.
A central theme was the evolving role of librarians, not only as stewards of information but as advocates, designers, and co-creators of equitable systems. This shift aligns with ongoing scholarship in critical library and information science, which calls for dismantling white supremacist structures embedded in classification, metadata, and institutional practices.
One of the most compelling contributions to this conversation comes from Eskimo Omolade’s research on the Negro Motorist Green Book, which reframes the guide as more than a historical artifact. Instead, Eskimo positions the Green Book as an early, community-generated information system, one that collected, organized, and circulated knowledge critical to Black survival and mobility during the Jim Crow era.
Rather than documenting exclusion, the Green Book centered possibility. It identified where Black travelers were safe, welcome, and supported, listing businesses, homes, and services that formed a nationwide network of care. In doing so, it functioned as both a practical tool and a living archive, preserving evidence of Black entrepreneurship, mobility, and mutual aid. As scholars of community archives note, such grassroots systems are not peripheral to information science; they are foundational models of how communities document themselves when institutions fail them.
Eskimo draws a direct line between these historical practices and contemporary digital spaces. Just as the Green Book enabled Black travelers to navigate hostile physical environments, today’s Black digital communities are developing strategies to navigate online spaces that often reproduce exclusion and invisibility. “We inherit a tradition of using information for plotting, planning, and preparing for the journey ahead,” Eskimo explains, emphasizing continuity between past and present forms of knowledge-sharing.
(Eskimo Omolade)
This perspective also complicates dominant narratives of desegregation. Eskimo’s work highlights how integration often came at the cost of thriving Black institutions and information ecosystems. The Green Book, in this sense, is not only a record of resilience but also a dataset that documents decades of Black economic growth, networks, and autonomy. Its disappearance raises critical questions: What was lost? And how might libraries and archives recover or reimagine those systems today?
These questions resonate deeply with the symposium’s focus on “Black information futures.” Across sessions, participants emphasized that the future of librarianship must be rooted in community accountability, participatory design, and reparative practice. Libraries are increasingly understood not as neutral repositories, but as active sites of power—capable of either reinforcing inequity or enabling transformation (Mehra & Gray, 2020).
Concepts like “digital homeplaces” and “information commons” further reframe libraries as spaces of belonging, care, and collective ownership. These frameworks challenge traditional notions of authority and invite librarians to think beyond access toward questions of agency, stewardship, and cultural sovereignty.
Ultimately, the Black Information Futures Symposium underscored that Black information work is not just about preservation; it is about power, identity, and future-building. From the Green Book to contemporary digital networks, Black communities have long created sophisticated systems for sharing knowledge, navigating risk, and sustaining one another.
For members of the New York Black Librarians Caucus and the broader NYLA community, the call to action is clear: to recognize these histories not as marginal, but as central to the field, and to actively participate in building more just, inclusive, and community-rooted information systems for the future.
And we would love you to join us.
PCRT
The Pop Culture Round Table activities are in full swing for 2026 with digital events, new initiatives, and all-around nerdy library fun! Here are some important announcements.
1) Our next online event is a Pop Culture Jeopardy game to be held on June 12, 2026 at 7:00p.m. and we want to thank everyone who played Jackbox with us in March – it was a blast!
2) OPEN CALL FOR PCRT MEMBERS! We are working on creating lists highlighting the best graphic novels for library collections and we want YOUR input! What are you reading? What are your patrons reading? Which ones influenced and inspired you to curate your collections? Email the titles and authors to [email protected] with the subject “Graphic Novel Picks”. Responses received by September 18, 2026 will be published in our first compilation. Suggestions for all ages are welcome. Stay connected to our social media (see below) and look out for new themes. Thank you!
3) We hope you love being a PCRT member! When you renew your NYLA Membership, please make sure to check the option for PCRT when selecting your round table options. We are excited to continue doing our part to add value to the library profession.
Did you know? We are highly engaged with our members on our Facebook page with weekly posts chock-full of educational and entertaining information and updates. Follow us today! Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/774183082674695 and you’ll find the NYLA Pop Culture Round Table’s homepage.
START
HAPPY EARTH DAY, NYLA! Wow, earthlings have been joining together for 56 years to protect our planet. We have come a long way since 1970 and there is still so much more work to be done!
What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day 2026? You may not think you have the time but you can still make an impact! Visit EarthDay.org to discover 50 Easy Ways to Help the Planet Every Day.
Sustainability is happening every day at our libraries. Just check out START member, Joanna Goldfarb, and the RCLS “America the Beautiful: RCLS Celebrates America 250” LibGuide. It’s got tons of great ideas for small, actionable change! We’d love to feature what sustainable action you’re taking at your library. Join our next member meeting to discuss it with us!
SAVE THE DATES! Thursdays at 5:30pm (on Zoom*)
- May 7, 2026
- August 6, 2026
- November 5, 2026 (*at NYLA, in-person)
If you would like a calendar invite for any/all the meeting dates, please email Maggie Foster ([email protected]).
Don’t know where to START? Join our board! The Sustainable Thinking and Action Roundtable is seeking candidates for President and Treasurer for 2026 - 2027 (terms begin/end at Conference).
Reasons to Nominate Yourself
- Connect and build relationships with library professionals from across the State
- Develop hard and soft skills that you will use in your current or future career endeavors
- Earn experience for upper level management exams
- No experience necessary.
- You believe Sustainability is a core value of librarianship!
If interested, please nominate yourself through the form on the NYLA website by Friday, May 1. For questions regarding the elections, email [email protected]. Have questions about START? Email us ([email protected]).
Yours in Sustainability ~~ Maggie Foster, Sharon Berg, Emily Spizzirri, and Amanda McCormick