$165

$185

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REGISTRATION POLICIES

NYLA members are eligible for discounted member rates for NYLA events. Registrants must be active members to receive discounted rates. Registrants will not be provided member rates if their account is not active. Registrations completed with non-member pricing in error will only be changed by the registrant reaching out to the NYLA office at [email protected] prior to registration deadlines listed below. Failure to contact the NYLA office prior to the deadline will result in the registrant being liable for the non-member rate.  

The rates provided below will be honored until the noted deadlines. On-site registration is not available for this event. 

Attendees are required to submit an electronic registration form to attend the event. This registration form serves as a contractual agreement to attend said event and all monetary requirements will be the responsibility of the registering party regardless of attendance and billing entity provided (Bill Later/PO). Registrants are responsible for providing all noted billing entities’ required documentation to finalize payment for their registration. All registration payments must be received within 30 days of receipt of the registration submission. NYLA reserves the right to charge prevailing rates (i.e., Regular) for lack of payment. 

REFUNDS /CANCELLATION POLICY

Written requests for refunds or cancellations for a full refund must be submitted by May 1, 2026, to [email protected]. Registrations will not be “swapped” for alternate attendees. Registrants who have paid their registration fee and wish to cancel their registration, can use the paid fee to cover an alternate registrant. A written request must be made to the office at [email protected] to set this up by the May 1st deadline.

After the May 1, 2026, deadline has passed, no refunds will be issued. Registrants who do not attend the event and fail to submit a written request of cancellation will be liable for their entire event fee.

Questions? Registration form and event questions can be directed to [email protected]. 

Renaissance Hotel

The Hilton

The Hampton Inn

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8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Check in at the registration desk to receive your swag item powered by NYLA!

8:30AM - 9:30AM

Welcome Keynote with Sam Helmick, ALA President

Policy, Power, and the Public Good
In a moment of challenge and possibility, libraries must gather their collective strength, clarify their values, and build boldly toward a more prosperous and informed future. 

Sam Helmick serves as President of the American Library Association and is a nationally recognized advocate for intellectual freedom, equitable access, and the essential role libraries play in sustaining democracy. With professional roots in public librarianship, Sam has dedicated their career to strengthening community-centered services, advancing policy advocacy, and supporting library workers nationwide. A frequent speaker on censorship, governance, and the civic power of libraries, Sam believes deeply in collaboration, courage, and the enduring impact of local library leadership.

9:45AM - 11AM 

Speaker: Joe Bonilla, Managing Partner/Senior Media Director of Relentless Awareness LLC

Learn more about the ever-evolving media landscape and how to make your library into your own "network" to not only promote, but to defend funding and priorities. Hear about tactics to gain more attention not only in the press, but through social and digital media and other tools.

9:45AM - 11AM

Speaker:  Jery Huntley

Founder and President of the nonprofit OurStoryBridge Inc., will communicate the power of storytelling in advocacy, especially relevant in our divided times. She will share her experience with OurStoryBridge Listens: Present in the Moment, the new, non-partisan Partner Project by OurStoryBridge that documents, through online short-form oral histories, the current circumstances in the United States that are deeply impacting Americans and others around the world and also reflect upon her experience as a librarian and teacher, NYS Assembly and U.S. Congress staff, environmental lobbyist, and association CEO that led her to believe so strongly in stories.

11:15AM - 12:30 PM 

Libraries and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union
Speaker: Lauren Moore, State Librarian, and Kent Sopris, NYSED Office of Government Relations

Advocating for libraries is also advocating for a set of ideals. When we talk about the work libraries do to benefit all community members, we have an opportunity to tell a new kind of library story, one that reflects our shared values and aspirations. And our stakeholders are listening!   

12:30PM- 1:30PM

Enjoy the buffet catered by Mazzone while networking with your fellow attendees!

1:45PM - 3PM

Formalizing Regional Advocacy – Government Relations Staff at the System Level
Speakers: Jen Park, RCLS Government Relations Specialist, Kerri Souto, SCLS Government and Community Relations Coordinator and Max Prime, NYLA Director of Government Relations and Advocacy

 Hear from Jen Park and Kerri Suoto about how their systems have formalized system-level advocacy structures through the creation of staff positions dedicated to leading local and regional efforts, as well as how those positions interact with and support NYLA’s statewide library advocacy. 

1:45PM - 3PM

Speaker: Stephanie “Cole” Adams 

3:15PM - 4:30PM

Speaker: Amelia Aldred, ALA

Amelia Aldred, Deputy Director of State and Local Advocacy for ALA , will present on state/local library advocacy trends across the US. Hear about what is going on around the nation regarding library funding and legislation, giving context to our statewide advocacy efforts.