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Welcome to the NYLA Voice January 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!

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Happy Summer to those who celebrate the heat and humidity! Hopefully, many of you are running successful summer reading programs or taking well-earned vacations. Here at NYLA, we are in the full swing of planning for NYLA Conference 2026. Lauren Hoyt, NYLA’s Director of Association Operations, is working hard to get our registration launched in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout for the announcement so you can take advantage of those early bird rates.

As registration is opening shortly, and Lauren will be taking a much-needed break the week it opens, I STRONGLY encourage you to ensure you’ve renewed your membership for this year before then. You need to have an active, paid membership to get the member rates for conference registration. If you need to renew your membership, and you wait until you want to register for conference, you’ll unfortunately face longer wait times for office assistance. So do yourself a favor and renew now, so that registration can be a cool breeze instead of a sticky summer situation. Remember, our membership year at NYLA now runs from June 1 – May 31 each year.

Speaking of conference, we have exciting news! Our keynote speaker this year will be author Denise Kiernan! Ms. Kiernan is a writer, journalist, and producer renowned for her New York Times-bestselling narrative nonfiction novels, The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City. For more than two decades, Kiernan’s work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Village Voice and more. Kiernan's next work, Obstinate Daughters, publishing this summer, is a sweeping chronicle challenging the traditional mythology of the nation's beginnings and championing the unsung women behind the American Revolution. Ms. Kiernan will also be signing books after her speech.

But that’s not our only big name…our Intellectual Freedom Breakfast will feature author/librarian Jarret Dapier. Mr. Dapier’s debut YA graphic novel, Wake Now In The Fire, illustrated by AJ Dungo and edited by Ginee Seo, is about teens fighting censorship in Chicago and is based on true events. It was published in February 2026. Mr. Dapier hosts a podcast called I'm With the Banned, which is devoted to examining censorship in American culture through conversations with writers, artists, and librarians. He will speak about censorship, the power of grassroots activism, and will also hold a book signing at the conclusion of his talk.

We have plenty of other fun surprises in store, so whatever you do, don’t miss out on NYLA 2026!

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, want to get more involved in your professional association, or just need a pep talk, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

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SUMMER IS FLYING BY AND WE ARE BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

The NYLA office is currently planning for our annual NYLA conference that runs November 4^th-7^th as well as running our daily operations.

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!

We had another great year of membership renewal. Many members were able to use the database we transitioned to in 2024 successfully and we appreciate those who reached out for assistance. As membership renewal is one of our busiest times of year, we appreciate the patience while we make our way through all member requests. Thank you to all our valued members for your continued support of the organization.

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 1^st – May 31^st.

Renewal for the 2026 – 2027 membership year opened April 15, 2025. All members were sent a renewal reminder with a link to the renewal form. This communication was sent to the organizational membership contact email, not the Key Contact for organizational memberships. Please note that this link can only be found in your email communications.

Memberships are now lapsed. If you have not renewed for the 2026–2027 membership year and still wish to do so, please submit your renewal form and finalize your renewal payment ASAP! Registration for the annual conference will open at the end of July and membership must be active for members to take advantage of our member rates. The office will not provide discounted rates without finalized payments  Renewal FAQS can be reviewed on the website.

New or prospect users can become members by completing 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.

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 Gude 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.

Office Hours - Normal business operations will resume February 18th. 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!

Looking for professional development? This program is open to individuals already working or newly hired in libraries, or people interested in working in public and academic libraries. To receive a certificate, participants must attend all sessions within the program.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE TUESDAY August 4, 2026.

Who’s ready to go to Saratoga Springs! Without skipping a beat, we are back to Saratoga planning our 2026 Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York at the Hilton and City Center.

Proposal Submissions have been accepted, and the final slate of programming is almost finalized!

Hotel Accommodations

Conference hotel accommodation information is now available on the conference website. We have contracted with several properties that range from $157- $210 a night. We strongly suggest booking your room as soon as possible to be included in one of our blocks.

Registration

The 2026 NYLA Conference registration will open at the end of July. Registration rate information has been added to the conference website. Please note, to take advantage of member rates, you must have active membership in the system. We strongly encourage everyone to review their profile prior to registration being made available to confirm membership is active.

Know an organization, business or someone looking to be an exhibitor at our trade show or a sponsor at our event? Both Trade Show Information and Sponsorship Opportunities are now available on the conference website!

Calling all interested 2026 NYLA Conference Volunteers!

The NYLA office is looking for volunteers to assist with various parts of our event at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs on November 4-7. Volunteers are provided with a discount on their conference registration following the event.

Following the deadline noted below, the office will review all submissions. Selected volunteers will be contacted to confirm volunteer dates/times, assignments, registration discount and general conference information, etc. The office staff will do their best to accommodate requests included.

The deadline to submit your information is September 25, 2026.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR VOLUNTEER FORM!

 

If you still have an outstanding invoice for your registration for the 2026 YSS Conference, Joy in the Library in Buffalo, NY, we kindly ask you to finalize payment 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.   

CE Certificates have been uploaded to the CE Trackers of those who submitted their requests. Attendees who would like to receive CE past the deadline, should complete all required form and submit a request by email to [email protected]. 

If you still have an outstanding invoice for your registration for the 2026 SSL Conference, Find Your Flow, in Ithaca, NY, we kindly ask you to finalize payment 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.   

CE Certificates have been uploaded to the CE Trackers of those who submitted their requests. Attendees who would like to receive CE past the deadline, should complete all required form and submit a request by email to [email protected].

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 Czornobilat [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 October edition of The NYLA Voice!

 

 

 

 

 

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I hope you're staying cool during the recent heatwaves and finding time to enjoy the season! While summer means something different for everyone in the library community, it has been a productive one at NYLA so far. Our committees and volunteers have recently brought several long-term initiatives to completion while laying the groundwork for what's next.

One of the highlights of the past month was the June 18 Council meeting, where the Governance Committee presented two significant items for approval. While both items were approved, the Council discussion highlighted several ideas that could strengthen them even further over time. Good governance is never static, so rather than viewing these as finished products, we see them as strong foundations that future leaders can continue to refine as NYLA evolves.

The first was our new Strategic Framework, which will help guide NYLA's decision-making over the coming years. The Strategic Framework identifies four “pillars” that define NYLA and our long-term priorities. The next part of this process is the collaborative development of specific goals, which will be based upon the pillars of Community, Education, Advocacy, and Organizational Excellence. Community emphasizes relationship building, diversity, and member engagement, while Education focuses on collaboration, inclusion, and lifelong learning. Advocacy highlights the organizational strength in building awareness to empower and engage advocates. Finally, Organizational Excellence guides us toward effective organizational practices and responsible governance through intentional planning, fiscal responsibility, and clear communication strategies.

The second item was the adoption of NYLA's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. Rather than viewing AI as something to embrace without question (or avoid entirely), the policy establishes thoughtful expectations for using these tools responsibly, ethically, and transparently in our work. It recognizes that AI can be a valuable resource while affirming that human judgment, expertise, and accountability remain central to everything we produce.

In the spirit of that policy, I'll offer a quick disclosure: ChatGPT assisted in refining portions of this article. I used it to help refine my wording, improve sentence flow, and strengthen my weak transitions. Every suggestion was reviewed, edited, and often substantially rewritten to reflect my own voice and better communicate the message I wanted to share. I truly believe that like any tool, AI is most effective when paired with thoughtful human oversight, and I appreciate that our new policy provides clear guidance for using it responsibly.

As we look ahead, I hope you'll join us at the NYLA Annual Conference on November 4-7 in Saratoga Springs, NY. This year's theme, “Libraries Because...”, is an invitation to reflect on the many reasons our work matters and to acknowledge the impact libraries have on the people and communities we serve. Planning is well underway, and I’m excited about the opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate our library community together. If you haven't already, now is a great time to book your hotel and start planning your conference experience. Hotel information and room blocks are now available, and Conference registration will open soon. Check the NYLA website and watch for email updates, since additional details continue to be added. I look forward to seeing you there!

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On Friday, June 6, the New York State Legislature completed its 2026 legislative session. Dominated by an extended budget process that resulted in the latest budget since 2010, this year Albany delivered New York’s libraries a mix of largely status quo spending and genuine legislative victories worthy of celebration.

Despite entering the calendar year with the notion that preservation of FY 2026 funding levels would be a win in FY 2027, we were able to earn small increases in several categories of spending, including a crucial $12 million dollars allocation that will be used to stabilize the Office of Cultural Education and New York State Library. At the same time, also worked with external partners to ensure the passage of priority legislation like the Freedom to Read Act, which cleared both chambers of the Legislature by wide margins.

Thank you for your activity and support for New York’s library budget and non-budget legislative priorities over the past six months. The wins secured and progress made this year are both beneficial in the short term and will serve as footholds for further advancements on long-term projects in the years to come.

Compiled below is an overview of the most significant library-related funding and legislation advanced this year. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] with any questions, concerns, or requests to connect!

• FY 2027 Enacted Budget:
• NYLA Budget Priorities
• State Aid for Libraries: $106.395 million
• +$70,000 from FY 2026 Enacted Budget
• +$1.725 million from FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• State Aid for Library Construction: $44 million
• Flat to FY 2026 Enacted Budget
• +$10 million from FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• Library Materials Aid: $6.25/per pupil
• No change in per-pupil rate from FY 2026 Enacted Budget or FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• NOVELny: $3 million
• Flat to FY 2026 Enacted Budget and FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• Office of Cultural Education Stabilization: $12 million
• New funding for FY 2027, included in FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• Additional Library Funding:

 

• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: $625,000
  • +$125,000 from both FY 2026 Enacted Budget and FY 2027 Executive Budget
    
    
• Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center: $332,500
  • +$110,00 from FY 2026 Enacted and FY 2027 Executive Budget
    
    
• Brooklyn Public Library Center for Brooklyn History: $100,000
  • For Tier 6 members in NYSTRS and NYCTRS the retirement age will be reduced by five years, from 63 to 58, for members with 30 years of service (without penalties).
  • For Tier 6 members in NYSERS, NYCERS and NYCBERS contribution rates will be reduced across most salary bands. New NYSERS/NYCERS/NYCBERS Contribution Bands:
  • For Tier 6 members in the SUNY and CUNY Optional Retirement Program (ORP), contribution bands will be adjusted to align with changes in the other retirement systems, and members will receive an additional 1% state contribution to their ORP accounts.

• Same as FY 2026 Enacted Budget, +$100,000 from FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• Love Your Library Account: $250,000 available for disbursement
  
  
• Library Social Worker Pilot Program: $500,000
• +$400,000 from FY 2026 Enacted Budget, +$500,000 from FY 2027 Executive Budget
  
  
• According to the budget’s text, this money will be used:
  
  For services and expenses of a grant program to expand social work services in public libraries. The purpose of this program is to make professional social work services available to the public at library facilities, in order to address social and economic needs of library patrons and to support libraries as trusted community hubs. Grants shall be available on a competitive basis to public and association libraries and public library systems located in economically disadvantaged communities, as defined herein, to support the establishment, expansion, or continuation of social work services at library locations. Eligible uses of grant funds shall include, but not be limited to, the employment of licensed social workers by libraries or library systems; contracts or agreements with nonprofit organizations, local departments of social services, institutions of higher education, or other qualified entities to make social work services available in libraries; partnerships with institutions of higher education to place social work interns at libraires shared service or regional service models; and other innovative or collaborative approaches that make social work services available at public and association libraries.
  
  For the purposes of this program, “economically disadvantaged communities” shall mean communities that have high poverty rates.
  
  
• Grants in Aid:
• Senate: $7.5 million
  
  
• Assembly: $9 million
  
  
• Executive: $10 million
  
  
• Policy:
• Tier VI Updates:

• $75k or less: 3%
• $75k - $100k: 4%
• $100k - $125k: 5.25%
• $125k or more: 5.75%

• For Tier 6 members eligible for overtime, the overtime cap used in final average salary calculations will increase from $22,500 plus CPI to $30,000 plus CPI.
  
  
• Protections for Immigrant New Yorkers
• Despite inclusion in Governor Hochul’s announcement of a budget deal on 5/7, public, association, and municipal libraries were not explicitly included in the budget’s provisions meant to protect immigrant New Yorkers. While some libraries are covered under existing sections of the bill, others are not. Municipal libraries are included under the bill’s section dealing with “restriction on use of municipal government resources for immigration enforcement,” while public library buildings located on properties/within buildings owned by public school districts might be covered under the section that creates protections for public schools.

 

• Unfortunately, libraries were left off the list of entities deemed “sensitive locations,” where policies established restricting access to non-public locations without a judicial warrant receive the backing of the NYS Attorney General’s office. Conversations regarding this decision and the extent to which the provisions included in the budget might cover libraries are ongoing. Meanwhile, Assemblymember Gabriela Romero has introduced legislation, A.11596, that would rectify the issue and add libraries to the list of sensitive locations for immigration enforcement purposes.

 

 

• Legislation
• The Freedom to Read Act – S.8630-C (May)/A.9537-B (Simone)
• For a second year in a row, we have successfully advanced a version of Freedom to Read legislation through the New York State Legislature. The bill will now wait to be called to Governor Hochul’s desk for consideration. After it reaches the Governor’s desk she will have 10 days to either sign or veto it.
• If enacted, this bill would add a new section to the Education Law requiring Board of Education to adopt and publicly post written policies for the development of school library collections and the reconsideration of school library materials. For these policies, it would establish baseline procedural components required for inclusion, including review committees, appeal pathways, and the provision that no library material shall be removed or restricted solely because of disagreement with themes, ideas, or viewpoints expressed within it or because of the identities of the author, subject, or characters.
• Furthermore, the legislation would also require that all materials remain available within the library while under review, protect school library staff from discipline for actions taken in reasonable reliance on district policy, and direct the Commissioner of Education to promulgate implementing regulations.
• School library systems may provide guidance, training, or professional development to assist school districts and school personnel in implementing this section, consistent with existing programs, resources, and offerings.
• Libraries Literacy Education Guidance Act –S.8044-A (Bynoe)/A.5835-B (Carroll)
• Passed Assembly & Senate and now awaits delivery to Governor Hochul’s Desk.
• If signed by the Governor, this legislation will require the State Librarian, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education and any other group deemed necessary, shall provide guidance on evidence-based practices for literacy education, focusing on reading competency in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, comprehension, including background knowledge, oral language and writing, and oral skill development, for students in pre-kindergarten through grade three based on the instructional best practices established by the Commissioner. Such guidance shall be distributed to every public library and association library in New York State.
• Such guidance may include but not be limited to texts, education technology, professional education, and public informational materials.
• The State Librarian shall update such guidance every two years and shall consider feedback from the public libraries and association libraries to which the guidance is distributed.  
• Relates to expanding opioid overdose prevention measures in certain settings – S.9272-A (Fernandez)/A.8814-A (McDonald)
• Passed Assembly & Senate and now awaits delivery to Governor Hochul’s Desk.
• If enacted, this bill will amend Section 922 of the Education Law to require certain entities, including public libraries, to stock opioid antagonists. It requires that upon the request from one of the entities, the department of health must provide the antagonists at no cost to the entity. It also requires the department of health to provide opioid antagonists in an amount sufficient for the school district at their request. Employees are not required to administer opioid antagonists to anyone and are shielded from liability.
• For the purposes of the section of law this legislation would amend, public libraries is interpreted to include association libraries.
• Relates to granting employees access to personnel records – S. 3460 (Gounardes)/A.2107 (Gonzalez-Rojas)
• Passed Assembly & Senate and now awaits delivery to Governor Hochul’s Desk.
  
  
• If enacted, this legislation would grant employees access to personnel records, require notice of negative information in such records and an opportunity for a review, and permit employees to include certain information – including written statements explaining the employee’s position on matters of dispute in the record which cannot be corrected through mutual agreement – in personnel records.
• Relates to requiring employers to obtain an acknowledgement of receipt from employees of their sexual harassment prevention policy and sexual harassment prevention training program. – A.368-A (Rozic)/S.10057 (Ramos)
• Passed Assembly & Senate and now awaits delivery to Governor Hochul’s Desk.
• If enacted, this legislation would amend labor law by establishing that when an employer provides employees with written notice of the sexual harassment prevention policy, the employer must obtain electronic or written acknowledgement of receipt of the notice which must be preserved for six years. Additionally, employers must notify employees in writing of any changes to the sexual harassmentprevention policy at least seven calendar days prior to the time of such changes.

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Elizabeth "Lisa" Bouchard has come out of retirement and is the Catalog Librarian at the East Greenbush Community Library. She recently applied for and received a grant from the Capital District Library Council to create and catalog a collection of digital archival items for NY Heritage, as well as catalog and organize the library archives. Lisa also worked with digital archival items for the NY Heritage collections at Maria College and Bethlehem Public Library. Lisa was the Director of the East Greenbush Community Library at the beginning of her career.

Share your job updates and celebrations with the NYLA community for our October issue here.

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 See you in October!

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 See you in October!

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 See you in October!

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 See you in October!

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This is my 13^th year as a children’s librarian. That means I have done a lot of storytimes! I would do the math to see exactly how many storytimes I have done, but I’m not good at math (which is why I’m a librarian and not a mathematician) and I don’t feel like calculating it. I just know it has been a lot!

So, after all these years, how do I keep my storytimes fresh and exciting? Well, I love having themes, and during summer I try to have connecting themes. For example, last summer, we read about a different color every week. Another summer, I read about a different shape every week. This year, I must have been hungry when I was planning my summer storytimes because each week is a different dessert!

I wasn’t sure how this would work out because how many different dessert books for children could there be? The answer to that was quite a lot! I found a variety of books about cake, brownies, ice cream, cookies, donuts, ice cream and even books about pie that were not seasonal!

Out of those themes, I’ve only ever done an ice cream themed storytime before, so I am excited about these new and different themes I am trying. I feel like I sometimes get in a rut of doing the same books and themes (because I love them) so having a theme I’ve never done before could introduce me (and the families who come to storytime) to new books and authors. I think I have found some really great books caregivers and their children will love and can’t wait to share them!

My ultimate hope is that someone will bring me a treat. Just kidding, although I wouldn’t say no to a delicious treat after storytime!

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Thinking outside the box, looking at accessibility not as accessibility but as universal design, as a proactive rather than reactive approach to designing services for our patrons can be so beneficial. Rather than thinking about this as 'who needs this?' think about 'who might benefit from this?'. Think of the old standby, the curb-cut effect. This was done simply with the idea of the wheelchair user; what a lot of work to do for such a small portion of the population. Yet, think about how many have benefited from this over time - people with strollers, walkers, shopping carts, crutches, delivery people, and more. Or consider audiobooks, originally intended for those with different vision abilities. Audiobooks have become a great way to read while commuting or doing other tasks, to learn English, for non-readers or those who are auditory learners, and more. We want our programming and services to be like this as well - they should not be tailored and aimed at a specific population, they should be available to make anyone's life easier who might need it. Whether it's an audiobook collection similar to the print collection, as best as budgets allow, materials in larger fonts and alternative formats, programming for a range of abilities and interests that are welcoming to as many as possible, choice of seating options, wider aisles, shelving that is not too high or too low, we can meet patrons where they are at, rather than asking them to change 'just to use the library resources.' This does not mean that we need to expand our budgets beyond our capabilities; sometimes we can't make things happen. But the more we think ahead and plan, the less we'll have to react in the moment because less issues will arise.

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Hello, dear readers!

I hope the busier tempo of summer hours is one of happy chaos, that your summer reading challenges, battles of the books, outdoor music events, and sensory story times are all going smoothly, and that you are still finding time to enjoy the warmer months outside of work hours!

Today’s topic is something I have been thinking about for some time, and that has become increasingly relevant with more years of experience in public librarianship, particularly now that I have finished my MILS degree from the University at Buffalo (hurray!).

As makerspaces continue to expand throughout public libraries, academic libraries, schools, and community spaces, librarianship finds itself in an interesting position. We have decades of scholarship examining the traditional reference interview - how librarians clarify questions, negotiate information needs, reduce patron anxiety, and guide users toward information resources. We have established standards, professional competencies, best practices, and entire bodies of literature devoted to understanding how people ask questions and how librarians respond. And yet, despite the rapid growth of library makerspaces, there is remarkably little discussion surrounding a deceptively simple question,

What would a makerspace reference interview actually look like?

Not technology help. Not equipment troubleshooting. Not “merely” teaching someone how to use a Cricut maker, laser engraver, sewing machine, or 3D printer. But an actual reference interview situated within the context of making.

The more I think about this, the more I suspect that interactions with makerspace library workers may fundamentally challenge many of the assumptions on which traditional reference work has historically been built. Traditional reference interviews generally assume that patrons arrive with an identifiable information need, even if they struggle to articulate it clearly. Reference scholarship has long established that patrons often ask incomplete, indirect, or poorly formed questions that require clarification and negotiation before the “real” need can emerge. Librarians, therefore, rely upon open-ended questions, active listening, clarification strategies, and relational communication to narrow ambiguity toward a more precise informational target.

But makerspaces complicate this process in fascinating ways. Because patrons often enter a makerspace and do not yet know what kinds of questions are even possible to ask. In a traditional public library setting, patrons generally understand the broad structure of the interaction (though this has not always been the case, and there is still much work to be done on the topic of ‘entry’). They know libraries contain books, databases, archives, forms, historical information, and research assistance. Even if they feel intimidated, they still understand culturally that librarians help people locate information.

There seems to be no equivalent cultural script for makerspaces.

Most patrons were never taught how to ask creative questions, brainstorm with unfamiliar technologies, navigate iterative design processes, or articulate ideas that are still taking shape. And perhaps this is why makerspace interactions often feel so different from traditional reference encounters. The patron is not necessarily searching for an answer. They are searching for the shape of an idea.

And honestly, I think this distinction changes everything.

Traditional reference interviews often assume that a coherent question already exists beneath the patron’s imperfect articulation. The librarian’s role is to help uncover, clarify, and retrieve the appropriate information. Makerspace reference interviews may be fundamentally different because the question itself may still be actively emerging.

A patron asking, “Can I make stickers here?” may not actually be asking about stickers at all. They may be wondering how to start a small business, whether they are creative enough to belong in the space, how to support a child’s interests, how to create adaptive classroom materials, or whether they are still capable of learning new technologies later in life. But perhaps even more importantly, they may not yet know what they are asking at all. And this is where I think makerspace reference interviews begin to diverge significantly from traditional models of librarianship. Because what if the conversation itself (usually ongoing conversations rather than one-time encounters) becomes part of the process by which the patron gradually discovers the question?

The existing literature surrounding makerspaces strongly supports this possibility. Research consistently describes makerspaces as constructivist, project-based, exploratory learning environments built around experimentation, collaboration, and iterative discovery. These spaces are intentionally open-ended. Learners often reformulate goals repeatedly, adjust projects during the making process, and discover new directions through experimentation itself.  In other words, understanding frequently emerges during the process rather than before it.

This creates a fascinating tension for librarianship because traditional reference interactions often reward efficiency, precision, and rapid clarification. Makerspaces, however, may require librarians to tolerate ambiguity for much longer periods. Asking too many clarifying questions too early may unintentionally interrupt experimentation, curiosity, or creative flow. Some patrons may need to handle materials, browse examples, observe others, or simply start trying things before they can meaningfully describe what they are hoping to accomplish. And many of us have probably already witnessed this without formally naming it.

A patron walks into a makerspace and says they “just want to look around.” Twenty minutes later, after touching vinyl samples, watching a laser engraver run, or seeing another patron’s finished project, entirely new questions begin emerging:

“Wait, can this machine engrave photographs?”

“Could I make classroom labels with this?”

“Could this cut fabric?”

“Could I turn my child’s drawing into a sticker?”

The material interaction itself generates the inquiry. This is something many traditional reference models do not fully account for. Existing information science frameworks often conceptualize information seeking as a process of uncertainty reduction. Yet in makerspaces, there may not simply be a problem to solve.  Patrons gather information not only through verbal questioning but through observation, experimentation, touch, social interaction, failure, iteration, and material engagement. In many ways, making itself becomes a form of information behavior.

Still others have written about how makerspaces are environments in which learning often occurs through embodied and observational practices rather than strictly through verbal exchange. Participation may involve watching, lingering, listening, experimenting quietly, or learning through co-presence before formally asking for assistance at all. This means that some patrons may already be participating in a makerspace reference interview long before they verbally articulate a question. Observation, too, may become part of the inquiry process. And perhaps this also explains why traditional reference interview models may feel insufficient for makerspaces. Conventional reference interactions are often structured around question-and-answer exchanges. Makerspaces, however, may involve nonlinear, iterative, and partially nonverbal forms of inquiry. Sometimes the patron does not yet need an answer. Sometimes they need exposure to possibility.

Samuel Swett Green argued as early as 1876 that librarians should actively assist readers while simultaneously encouraging intellectual independence. Over time, the reference interview evolved into a relational practice emphasizing empathy, communication, and collaborative inquiry rather than simple information retrieval (though there is much room for improvement in most public libraries in this actual adherence). It was later described that the reference interview is a form of partnership in which both librarian and patron contribute expertise to the interaction. The librarian understands systems, resources, and search strategies; the patron understands the contextual, emotional, and personal dimensions of the need. But makerspaces disturb this framework, because the patron may not yet fully understand their own goals. The interaction becomes exploratory. And here is where makerspace librarianship most significantly diverges from traditional models of reference service. The librarian is not merely helping patrons retrieve information. The librarian may instead be helping patrons identify possibilities, navigate uncertainty, develop confidence, brainstorm ideas, tolerate failure, and gradually articulate needs that did not yet exist in stable form. Failure itself becomes particularly important here. Traditional reference interactions often position successful retrieval as the desired endpoint of the exchange. But in makerspaces, failure frequently becomes an essential part of inquiry itself. A failed print, a misaligned vinyl cut, a corrupted design file, or an unsuccessful prototype may generate new questions more effectively than initial brainstorming ever could. In this sense, the makerspace reference interview may continue unfolding long after the original interaction technically ends.

The failed project becomes the next question. Research on pedagogical makerspaces reinforces this interpretation. Learners working in pedagogical makerspaces frequently struggled to define project goals, manage uncertainty, organize workflows, and adapt expectations during iterative project development. Participants repeatedly revised ideas as they experimented with technologies and collaborative processes. Rather than following linear pathways toward predetermined outcomes, making often involves cycles of designing, testing, failing, revising, and reflecting. This process-oriented structure fundamentally changes the nature of inquiry itself. A successful makerspace interaction may not end with a completed object, perfect design, or finalized answer. Success may instead involve increased confidence, reduced intimidation, expanded creative awareness, or a patron returning later with a clearer sense of possibility. I think this matters tremendously because makerspaces are not simply technological environments. They are emotional environments, too.  Participation in university makerspaces significantly increased students’ self-efficacy, innovation orientation, and sense of belonging. Yet makerspaces can unintentionally reproduce existing inequities within STEM culture, particularly surrounding gender and racial belonging. This has profound implications for library makerspaces. Many patrons entering these spaces may already feel uncertain about whether they belong there at all.

A teenager may worry about appearing inexperienced. An older adult may feel intimidated by unfamiliar technologies. A patron with limited financial resources may fear “wasting” materials. A bilingual patron may struggle with technical vocabulary. A neurodivergent patron may feel overwhelmed by sensory stimulation or social ambiguity, as well as by the many resources in the room that are not physically or digitally accessible. Thus, the makerspace reference interview may therefore partially become a negotiation of belonging. Not simply, “How do I use this machine?” but instead, “Am I allowed to be here if I do not already know what I’m doing?”

Research on self-efficacy and makerspaces strongly suggests that supportive environments significantly shape whether individuals develop confidence and persistence within creative and technical fields. This means the librarian’s role may extend far beyond procedural instruction. Approachability, reassurance, patience, and collaborative exploration may directly influence whether patrons continue to engage in making at all.

This idea aligns closely with decades of reference interview literature emphasizing relational dynamics. Patrons frequently evaluated reference interactions based on warmth, interest, patience, and approachability rather than on technical accuracy alone; they need instruction, empowerment, and confidence-building over the simple delivery of answers. And perhaps this is why makerspace reference interactions often feel less transactional and more longitudinal than traditional reference service. A traditional reference interaction may last five to fifteen minutes. A makerspace reference interaction may unfold across weeks, multiple visits, evolving prototypes, abandoned ideas, failed experiments, and entirely reimagined projects. The librarian may not simply participate in a single question-and-answer exchange, but in an ongoing process of collaborative development. And perhaps this is ultimately what makes makerspace reference interviews so compelling. They reveal that inquiry is not always linear. Questions do not always arrive fully formed. Learning is not always verbal. Creativity is not always efficient.

Sometimes people discover what they are asking only after they begin making.

And, as always, at its core, librarianship involves helping people navigate uncertainty. What may be changing within makerspaces is not the philosophy of reference itself, but the form that uncertainty takes. The patron approaching a traditional reference desk may say, “I need information.” The patron entering a makerspace may instead be saying, “I need help imagining what is possible.” And perhaps the future of makerspace librarianship will depend less upon perfecting procedural instruction and more upon developing new relational models of inquiry - models that embrace ambiguity, support experimentation, tolerate the ambiguity of design theory, and recognize that creative learning often unfolds before the patron can fully articulate the destination. Because perhaps the makerspace reference interview is not ultimately about answering questions at all. Perhaps it is about helping patrons discover what questions they are finally allowed to ask.

Until next time!

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

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Audit & Finance

I am pleased to report the Audit and Finance committee has been active. We met in April, May and June and our next meeting is scheduled for September 15. We suggested to the Council to amend the Investment Policy to better align with recommendations from both our auditor and investment management professional. We are overseeing the investigation of two open 501c3 organizations that have since joined under NYLA's 501c3 and are no longer necessary. The Committee reviewed the draft operating budget developed by our Executive Director along with requests made by our sections and roundtables. These were all considered in multiple meetings and presented to Council at their June 18 meeting. The operating budget was adopted. The committee is developing a compliance calendar in addition to reviewing our associations insurance coverage. The Association is in good financial order. It takes all of us to keep it that way. Promote membership, participate in the events and opportunities, donate when possible and make the most of the chances for fellowship and learning. I look forward to seeing as many members as possible in Saratoga Springs at our Annual Conference. I hope to see you there.

Awards

The NYLA Awards and Recognition Committee has been reviewing nominations for the 2026 NYLA Annual Awards & Scholarships. The extended nomination period closed on June 15th. Award winners are now being chosen, and award recipients will be contacted soon. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations! From allowing library students to attend the NYLA Conference for the first time to recognizing leadership and innovation within our library community, your participation is very important to us! You can learn more about scholarships & awards on the NYLA website.

Continuing Education

The Continuing Education Committee made it through our hardest task of the year: choosing sessions for the NYLA Conference this Fall. This was especially difficult given the nutritional, relevant, and high quality proposals we received. At this stage, presenters of accepted proposals have been informed, with the conference. After the intense selection of NYLA Conference proposals, another goal this year was to continue working on what NYLA’s webinar Continuing Education would look like. We’ve been talking about ways to improve the proposal submission form, and other procedures to get the most out of this process. This will be our focus for the rest of the year, and we look forward to reviewing some of the proposals!

Communications

As we hit the halfway mark for the year, the NYLA Communications Committee wanted to share a quick update on what we've been up to! We kicked things off with a goal of improving communication between NYLA Sections and helping out wherever we could across the organization — and it's been a good year so far. We've lent a hand on a couple of marketing campaigns and dug into some bigger-picture questions, like how e-lists are being used and how different Sections can comfortably navigate the NYLA messaging on the website.

Along the way, we found a great opportunity to pivot and team up with the Membership Committee on a couple of initiatives, including the Annual Conference. We're excited about this partnership — the goal is to reach a wider audience and give members even more ways to connect with each other. Looking ahead, we'll also be creating social media content to get people excited about registering for the conference.

More updates to come as the year continues!

Fundraising & Sponsorship

No update submitted.

Governance

No update submitted.

Intellectual Freedom

No update submitted.

Membership

No update submitted.

Nominating

No update submitted.

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Summer is in full swing at the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI). Together, with engagement from libraries across the state we build a better library system throughout New York State, working hard to create a meaningful and lasting change not only in libraries- but the communities they serve. Here are a few key updates and some links to recent webinars you can watch on demand.

Sachem Public Library is Certified as Sustainable

The SLI, Sachem Public Library (NY) has joined the growing number of libraries achieving SLI’s Sustainable Library Certification. Through their long-term dedication to the environment, social justice, and a healthy economy, Sachem Public Library has evolved from the inside-out. Dig into the library’s final presentation to learn more about their work. A few examples include, the outdoor “Discovery Grove,” provides an immersive experience that builds a connection to nature for kids, teens, and adults alike. In all seasons, Sachem Public Library keeps the “green times rolling” by incorporating live plants throughout the library. With two live plant walls and a plant cutting station, the community has a place to escape summer highs and winter lows, as the plants do the hard work of improving indoor air quality. The plants aren’t the only hard working green machines in Sachem, however. The library collaborates alongside many agencies, volunteering as a collection center for donations, and their staff to monitor these events. Sachem Public Library even conducts their own drives for essentials such as winter accessories, school supplies, and children’s costumes to give back to their community while promoting a sustainable mindset. Congratulations to Sachem Public Library!

Community Resilience through Small & Rural Libraries: Building Partnerships for Impact Cohorts Announced

With the application of this pilot training program coming to a close in early May, the SLI announced 40 participants who have been accepted to the pilot program. Ten of these trainees come from New York and will be working along with the SLI thanks to the Mellon Foundation’s grant awarded to the SLI. Over the course of the next few months and through continuous training programs, participants will work with their SLI mentors to develop emergency response programs. These programs will focus on building outside connections, strengthening communities, and preparing participants for the increased risk of climate related disasters.

Recent Webinars on Demand Now

Past and popular webinars are always on demand on the SLI website. Have an interest in these topics but couldn’t make it? Follow the links below to explore at your convenience.

• Join the Movement: Libraries as Hubs for Citizen Science
• The Most Delicious Solution
• What if Everything was Shareable?

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ASLS

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FLS

Congratulations to the Newly Elected FLS Board Members!

The results are in.

All candidates running for positions on the 26-27 FLS Board have been elected.

First Vice President/President-Elect

Nicole Scherer - Term Expires November 2029

FLS Councilor

Jerrie Grantham* - Term Expires November 2029

Treasurer

Terry Mulee* - Term Expires November 2028

Members At Large - Term Expires November 2028

Jennifer Allen*

Marjorie Focarazzo

Meg Sgombick*

*incumbent

The members of FLS are grateful to all who volunteer and serve with the Section.

Add FLS to your NYLA Membership!

Calling all library supporters… Friends are an integral part of the library fabric. FLS exists to help library supporters, both paid and unpaid, network and find creative, useful, and fruitful ways to ensure that libraries thrive. You can be a part of this friendly group of library Friends! Add FLS to your NYLA membership using the Unit Join form to stay up to date on the latest news and opportunities. Thanks for your support of FLS and the Friends who make things happen at your library!

Friends News and Notes Newsletter

Be on the lookout for the upcoming July/August issue of Friends News and Notes. It will be a jam packed issue with information about the NYLA Conference in November, an article about our very successful Friends Group Meet-up held at the Vestal Public Library in June, the announcement of the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship Recipient, and much more. Currently, you may view the May/June issue online.

May/June 2026

The May/June issue of Friends News and Notes is available on the FLS Newsletter page.

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: [email protected] or  www.nyla.org/Friends

LAMS

No update submitted.

LTAS

No update submitted.

PLS

No update submitted.

SMART

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SSL

The Section of School Librarians would like to thank everyone that attended our annual conference in Ithaca this past spring. We had a great lineup of authors and amazing sessions. We hope everyone that attended enjoyed the experience. At our 2026 conference we were happy to announce that the next three years will be holding our conference at the NEW Turning Stone Conference Center. Our 2027 conference will be held April 29-May 1. Our website is live: https://sites.google.com/view/nylassl-2027/home. Check out our line up for 2027. Pre Conference with John Schu, Breakfast with Kate DiCamillo, Lunch with Alan Gratz, Knickerbocker Winner Brian Selznick and ending our conference with Angie Thomas! For the first time ever our Call for Proposals will open early September and be due back the first week of October. So that we’re able to announce our full schedule when registration goes live! This has been an ask for several years and we’re working to make it a reality this year. Get your proposal ideas ready. Through my AASL Chapter Delegate role I have learned that The National Education Association has, in the past, had a Library, Information Literacy, and Technology Caucus for Teacher-Librarians and other related professionals this group did not collect the required members (50) to renew as a caucus this year. You can learn more about the NEA LIT Caucus on their website here: NEA LIT Caucus. To join, visit https://forms.gle/SKT5i4QCad5pdv3z8 . As a certified teacher in NYS we all are members of NEA. If you would take a moment to explore the information and join if you’d like to we’d all greatly appreciate that. As always please make sure to renew your NYLA SSL membership so that you’re able to take advantage of information shared out through our newsletters, discounts for events and more. Our fall general membership meeting will take place virtually after the NYLA conference. Communication about this meeting will be coming out in early October. As always please don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the executive board for questions. I hope the rest of your summer is enjoyable and that your school year starts off smoothly!

Amber Aldridge

NYLA SSL President 2025 & 2026

 

YSS

Highlights

Buffalo Public Libraries librarian, Jennifer Lelinski and members of her committee, held a fantastic Spring Conference in Buffalo, Joy in the Library! On Friday, April 17, 2026. Past President, Julia Farrar, organized a well-attended Past Presidents’ Dinner at the Explore & More: The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum. If you are ever in Buffalo, we highly recommend a visit.

Our keynote speakers left a lasting impression. Matt de la Peña’s shared the story of his upbringing from aspiring professional basketball player to award-winning author. Author-Illustrator Rachel Dinunzio entertained us with the origin story behind her award-winning Forsynthia series and announced that Forsynthia and the Accidental Capturing of the Tooth Fairy will be released in Fall 2027.

2026 NYLA Elections results

We are excited to welcome our newly elected board members:

• 2027-29 President- Elect: Katherine Pizzuto, Children’s Librarian, Lackawanna Public Library
• 2027-29 Secretary: Kate Lambert, Children’s Librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public Library
• 2029 Spring Conference Planner: Dania Souid, Assistant Director and Teen Librarian at the Baldwinsville Public Library

Appointments by the Board

• 2028 Spring Conference Planner: Sarah (Nashak) D'Amico, Children's Outreach Coordinator, Oceanside Public Library
• YSS Liaison to the NYLA Legislative Committee, Haleigh Mikolajczyk, Program Consultant, Southern Tier Library System

Awards & Scholarships

The Piped Piper Committee awarded the 2026 Piped Piper Award to Diana Hurlburt, Children’s Librarian at Schenectady County Public Library, for the Teen program called Grab Bag Clothing Carnival. The program began with a Grab Bag Clothing Donation Drive where donors could drop up 2 bags of clothing and receive a donation receipt and a handbill entry form to shop. You can read more about this program in the April YSS Newsletter. The Pied Piper Award recognizes excellence in the creation of an individual program that promotes service to the young people of New York State Libraries and is replicable at other libraries. Winner receives $200.

The YSS Scholarship Committee selected the 2026 New Member and Lisa C. Wemett Spring Scholarship 2026 winners, Maggie Gibson of the Webster Library and Katie Smith of the Wood Library. Both recipients received their full registration fee of the conference paid, reimbursement for hotel charges, meals, and transportation costs in an amount up to $250.

We invite YSS members to keep providing thoughts on the scholarship processes and future YSS conferences using this form.

Chinasa Seyse

YSS President

 

CLWCRT

No update submitted.

CORT

Proud to mention that a few of our correctional members will be presenting at NYLA about collection development in correctional facility libraries.

ESRT

No update submitted.

IFRT

No update submitted.

MLRT

No update submitted.

MPRRT

No update submitted.

MSRT

No update submitted.

NYBLC

Carrying Forward a Legacy: Remembering Dr. Stanton F. Biddle

For more than five decades, Dr. Stanton F. Biddle helped shape the landscape of Black librarianship through scholarship, leadership, mentorship, and unwavering service. His influence extended across the New York Black Librarians Caucus (NYBLC), the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), the American Library Association (ALA), academic libraries, and countless professional organizations dedicated to preserving Black history and expanding opportunities for future generations. Throughout his career, Dr. Biddle understood that librarianship was more than the stewardship of collections; it was the stewardship of people, institutions, and collective memory.

Dr. Stanton Biddle (1943 - 2026)

At a time when libraries continue to confront questions of equity, representation, intellectual freedom, and community trust, Dr. Biddle's career reminds us that these conversations are not new. Long before diversity, equity, and inclusion became widely adopted institutional priorities, he was building organizations, documenting Black library history, mentoring emerging professionals, and advocating for greater representation throughout the profession. His life's work demonstrated that preserving Black history and supporting Black library workers are essential to building stronger libraries for everyone.

Among the many organizations fortunate to benefit from his leadership was the New York Black Librarians Caucus. As an Executive Board member, historian, mentor, and trusted advisor, Dr. Biddle helped strengthen the caucus while ensuring its history would never be forgotten. His co-editorship of Looking Back, Moving Forward: Celebrating 50 Years of the New York Black Librarians Caucus reflected a lifelong commitment to documenting the people, milestones, and movements that shaped Black librarianship in New York State. Through this work, he reminded us that institutional memory is itself a form of advocacy.

His impact extended nationally through decades of service to BCALA. Over more than forty years, Dr. Biddle served as a Steering Committee member, Executive Board member, President, and Treasurer, helping guide the organization through periods of growth while mentoring generations of Black librarians entering the profession. His leadership combined thoughtful governance with a deep understanding that professional organizations must not only serve today's members but also preserve the stories and accomplishments of those who came before.

Throughout his academic career, from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to Howard University, the University at Buffalo, Baruch College, and the City University of New York, Dr. Biddle consistently connected scholarship with service. He authored books, edited conference proceedings, advanced genealogy and archival research, and contributed to landmark works, including the third edition of the Handbook of Black Librarianship. Whether writing about library planning, multicultural librarianship, African American genealogy, or institutional history, his scholarship sought not simply to document the profession but to strengthen it.

Yet colleagues often remember something even more enduring than his professional accomplishments: they remember his generosity.

Dr. Biddle was known for welcoming new librarians, encouraging students, sharing his knowledge freely, and making time for meaningful conversation. His warmth, humor, and genuine interest in others made him a mentor to many and a friend to even more. He understood that leadership was measured not only by titles held or publications written, but by the people one helped along the way.

Dr. Biddle's legacy will also endure in an innovative digital form. In collaboration with his family and colleagues, Zakia Ringgold created an extraordinary online Living Archive that preserves the breadth of his life's work through photographs, biographical essays, professional milestones, publications, tributes, and historical documents. More than a memorial website, the archive serves as a dynamic scholarly resource that reflects Dr. Biddle's own lifelong commitment to preserving history and making knowledge accessible. By bringing together materials from across his distinguished career, the Living Archive ensures that future librarians, researchers, students, and members of the public can continue to learn from his remarkable contributions to librarianship, genealogy, and the preservation of Black history.

(QR code for Zakia Ringgold’s digital memorial and archive of Dr. Biddle)

 

As NYBLC reflects on Dr. Biddle's remarkable life, we also recognize the responsibility his legacy places upon us. His career reminds us that preserving Black librarianship requires more than remembering the past; it requires continuing the work of mentorship, scholarship, advocacy, and community-building that defined his life's mission.

As our organization continues to support Black library workers across New York State, strengthen professional networks, and document our collective history, we do so inspired by leaders like Dr. Stanton F. Biddle. His legacy lives not only in the institutions he strengthened or the books he wrote, but in every librarian committed to advancing equity, preserving history, and ensuring that future generations inherit a profession that is stronger, more inclusive, and more just.

The work continues, and because of Dr. Stanton F. Biddle, we are better prepared to carry it forward.

(Featured in the photo above, from left to right: Mrs. Phyllis Mack, Taina Evans, Tova Harris, Brenda Bentt-Peters, Edwin Maxwell, Shauntee Burns-Simpson, Zakia Ringgold, Andrew Sekou Jackson)

PCRT

No update submitted.

START

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