Outreach Services
Outreach Mini Grants | Talking Book and Braille Library | Accessibility | Jobseekers | Literacy | Seniors | TASC | Reentry Guide | COSAC | Volunteer Resources | Helpful Links
The following resources are available to help underserved groups and people with special needs to use their library. Our targeted outreach groups include: 55+ individuals, people with visual, physical, or developmental disabilities, residents of institutional facilities, individuals with an educational disadvantage, jobseekers, individuals who are geographically isolated, ethnic minorities, incarcerated individuals, and individuals with criminal records. Please contact Jenny Shonk, Continuing Education and Outreach Librarian, for more information: jshonk@flls.org.
Outreach Mini Grants
Do you have an idea for an outreach project but lack funding? Member libraries in our service area can apply for an Outreach Mini-Grant. Have a question? Stuck on an idea? Read our FAQs or email Jenny Shonk at jshonk@flls.org.
The 2016-2017 cycle has closed. Check back for the 2017-2018 cycle this fall!
2016-2017 Final Reports are due June 30, 2017.
Past Projects:
- 2016-2017 recipients and projects
- 2015-2016 recipients and projects
- 2014-2015 recipients and projects
Demographic Data Resources:
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Diversity Data Kids
- Kids Count Data Center
- National Center for Education Statistics
- New York State School Report Card
- United States Census Bureau
Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL)
People who cannot easily use printed materials can receive free audiobooks by mail or download through the NYS Library.
Application for Children/Teens 
- Eligibility Requirements
- BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download)
- BARD Mobile App Information
- Victor Reader Streams – TBBL provides a free player to each patron (pictured above), but many patrons also prefer to purchase a third-party alternative. The Victor Reader Stream is a popular option due to its small size. The National Library Service also provides a descriptive list of all compatible commercial audiobook players.
- Printable Handout
TBBL Contact Information: 1-800-342-3688 or tbbl@nysed.gov. The phone line is staffed M-F between 9:00am-4:30pm, or you can leave a message anytime with your question/request and they will call you back. See the TBBL website for more contact information.
Available TBBL Services from FLLS: As a sublending agency, FLLS provides applications, local exchanges for nonworking machines, and informational outreach in our service area (please note we do not provide books in this format directly; they are mailed directly to qualifying individuals). Contact us at 607-319-5613.
Resources
Accessibility Resource Guide: This guide includes information about accessible reading formats at your local library, signing up with other special-need lending libraries, local disability resources, and a collection of disability-related links: www.flls.org/outreach/accessibility/
Jobseeker Resource Guide: Search for jobs online, get help with your resume, plan your career, and find local assistance resources. This guide is tailored for residents of Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins Counties: www.flls.org/outreach/jobs/
Literacy Resource Guide: Find materials and resources for people of all ages who need help with reading, writing, or speaking English and/or basic computer skills: www.flls.org/outreach/literacy/
Programming Materials for Seniors: Our collection includes several games and group activity resources for older adults. They are perfect for reminiscing, sparking conversations and exercising minds. Reserve them through our catalog by searching for the “Senior Programming” series. See also our Programming Section of the website.
TASC Tests: New York State has selected a new high school equivalency test called the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™) to replace the General Educational Development (GED®) as the primary pathway to a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma effective January 2, 2014. More information on the new test, please visit: www.acces.nysed.gov/ged/. Free practice tests are also available through our Learning Express database with a valid library card from any of our member libraries.
TASC Brochure English
TASC Brochure Spanish
Services to Correctional Facilities and Jails
Correctional Facilities
As outlined in the Guidelines for the New York State Public Library System Services to State Correctional Facility Libraries State Aid Program , the Finger Lakes Library System serves four correctional facilities in our service area:
- Auburn Correctional Facility
- Cayuga Correctional Facility
- Five Points Correctional Facility
- Willard Drug Treatment Campus
Services to these facilities include:
- Interlibrary Loan: Includes interlibrary loan of FLLS materials systemwide, as well as materials borrowed from other libraries worldwide. Holds can be placed electronically from the correctional facility using OCLC and the PowerPac catalog.
- Reentry Guide: FLLS publishes a reentry guide for our service areas to help inmates prepare for release. The guide is supplied to each facility librarian to reproduce as needed.
- Our bilingual reentry guide lists community resources for people returning from prison or jail to our service area.
- Consultant Services: Training, bibliographies, identification and location of vendors for specialized materials, and visits to facility libraries to assist the librarians in making effective use of resources, assistance with program development, workshops for inmates, exhibits, etc.
- Collection Development/Programming: Purchase of all types of library materials to supplement the collections of the correctional facility libraries, or to provide speakers/performers at the facility. Consultation with the facility librarian ensures that the most-needed materials are purchased for long-term loan to the facility. Such materials remain the property of the public library system. Materials may include books, audiobooks, materials for the blind, newspapers, periodicals, equipment (note: office equipment does not qualify).
- Reference Services: Responses to reference question requests, supplemental material for educational purposes, booklists for patrons needing non-English material or other special needs, and other research to help inmates and staff find the information they need.
- Special Formats: Assistance in gaining access to library materials in alternate formats, including Braille, large print, recorded and digital format for people with print-related and other disabilities.
- Delivery: Materials are delivered and picked up at regular intervals determined by FLLS and the CFs.
- Continuing Education: Continuing education and specialized programs are offered to system member libraries and the CFs we serve.
County Jails
The Finger Lakes Library System also serves the five county jails within our service area by providing a number of paperback titles to maintain their reading rooms each year.
For more information on either program, please contact the Continuing Education and Outreach Librarian, Jenny Shonk at jshonk@flls.org.
Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Council (COSAC)
COSAC advises FLLS’s Outreach Department, assists in the evaluations of its coordinated outreach activities, and works to promote collaborative efforts and partnerships. The Council is comprised of a mix of library directors and representatives from local human service agencies and institutions who serve our targeted outreach populations.
COSAC Members:
- Shannon Alvord, Tompkins Learning Partners
- Jeffrey Boles, Finger Lakes Independence Center
- Gail Bundy, Cortland County Community Action Program
- Elizabeth Helmetsie Spencer Library
- Kaitlyn Laskoski, Seneca County Jail
- Brenda Walsh, Auburn Correctional Facility
- Brenda Wiemann, Cayuga County Office for the Aging
Volunteer Resources
- Hands on Help
- Literacy Volunteers of Broome and Tioga County
- Literacy Volunteers of Seneca County
- R.S.V.P. of Tompkins County (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)
- Tompkins Learning Partners
Helpful Links
The Advocacy Center: Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Services: Support, advocacy and education for survivors of domestic violence.
Alzheimer’s Association: The world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
American Association of People with Disabilities: Access to education from preschool through post-graduate work. Advocacy, partnerships with educational institutions, and programs designed to break down barriers to education.
Campus Pride: Resources, programs and services to support LGBTQ and ally students on college campuses across the United States
Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes: Information, training, and resources to parents, child care providers, and businesses in Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties.
Cortland Community Re-Entry Program
Every Student Present: Public awareness campaign designed to help school staff, parents and communities understand the impact of chronic absence.
Family and Children’s Services of Ithaca: Mental Health and Children’s Mental Health Program, Psychiatry, Employee Assistance Program, Youth Services and Senior Services.
Families Together in New York State: Non-profit, family-run organization that strives to establish a unified voice for families of children and youth with social, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Finger Lakes Independence Center: Assistance and resources for individuals and organizations.
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
It Gets Better: The It Gets Better Project was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years. The It Gets Better Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone — and it WILL get better
Library Services for Youth in Custody
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities: Resources for parents and educators.
National Organization of Rare Diseases
Range App: Help youth find a meal and a safe place in the summer
Senior Health: Makes aging-related health information easily accessible for family members and friends seeking reliable, easy to understand online health information.
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service
Techboomers: Comprehensive tutorials of popular websites for digital immigrants.
ZacBrowser: Web browser designed for children with autism and autism spectrum disorders.