Category Archives: NYLA

Small Library Gauntlet- NYLA Webinar

Small Library Gauntlet

Thursday, February 11
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

How do you lead a small library, strengthen local identity, collaborate with larger libraries, and improve workflow with a small staff that does it all? Learn how to effectively navigate this gauntlet.

Attendees will:

  1. Learn the essential characteristics of small libraries
  2. Recognize the various and distinct roles of a library director in small libraries
  3. Differentiate between the leadership and the management of an organization
  4. Identify resources and determine best practices

Register Now

Registration for each is $25 for NYLA members and $35 for non-members.  You must be logged in to receive membership pricing.

N.B.: Credit card is required for webinar registration.  Checks and purchase orders not accepted.

Group viewing registration is available if you plan to share the webinar with a group.  Hook up the LCD projector and share the program with a group of staff members!  The group viewing rate is $75 for NYLA members and $98 for non-members.

Library Advocacy Day Carpool: Seats Still Available!

Library Advocacy Day 2016 is quickly approaching: on March 2nd hundreds of librarians, trustees & other library advocates will flock to Albany to meet with their legislators.  

Why is it important to travel to Albany to talk with your legislators about library issues?

  •  Libraries need you to speak out for them.
  •  Libraries need more state money.
  •  Legislators need to learn what libraries do for citizens of New York State.

A car will be leaving SALS (22 Whitney Place, Saratoga Springs) on March 2nd at 7AM – please let Laurie Buckley know if you would like to carpool from the SALS parking lot, or if you plan to join us for our Advocacy Day visits.

Car parking is available under the Empire State Plaza in the Visitor Lot. You can get to this lot by taking the Empire State Plaza Exit off I-787. There is a fee to park in this lot and it usually fills up fairly early. In addition, the driver has to show a photo ID to enter the parking lot. Further information, directions, and additional information on downtown parking lots can be obtained by visiting the NYS OGS web site

View/Download the SALS Legislative Day Schedule

View/Download the NYLA 2016 Legislative Agenda

View/Download the 2016 SALS Advocacy Guide

As always, if you are unable to travel to Albany – please consider visiting our legislators in their home offices, or reaching out through NYLA’s Advocacy Page.  It only takes a few minutes to contact your elected officials to ask them to support libraries.

Check out our 2015 Library Advocacy Day Photos, and we hope you’ll join us on March 2nd: 

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) for 2016- Important Update

There is an important update to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) which will impact member libraries that hold elections.  The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), signed into federal law in 2002, required states to transition to more accessible balloting, namely, optical voting machines, by 2006.  Several extensions were passed over the years to provide a cushion for this transition.  However, as of January 1, 2016, libraries which continued to enjoy an exemption from the requirements of HAVA and ERMA must now come into compliance with the provisions of these acts. Libraries which previously used lever voting machines in the conduct of elections must now move to optical scan balloting, or, in the alternative, use paper balloting methods compliant with existing law.

Any library in New York State which has not previously transitioned to conducting their elections through optical scan voting technology must do so for any election held after January 1, 2016, or use paper balloting that is compliant with statutory requirements. Due to the cost-prohibitive nature of purchasing and maintaining this technology, we (The New York Library Association) recommend coming to an independent agreement with your local county Board of Elections where necessary, or working with your local school district where applicable.

Read More About HAVA Compliance on the NYLA Website