2025 Annual Meeting Summary

Description: This post is a narrative-based accompaniment to our Annual Meeting in October and looks back on our accomplishments over the last year.

Board of Trustees

• Priscilla Berggren-Thomas, President, Cortland County (2025)
• Cynthia Mannino, Vice President, Tompkins County (2025)
• Elaine Meyers, Secretary, Cayuga County (2025)
• Martin Toombs, Treasurer, Seneca County (2025)
• Patricia Schaffer, Member, Tioga County (2027)
• Stevan Knapp, Member, At-Large Trustee (2025)
• Bonnie Thomas, Member, Cayuga County (2026)
• Kathryn ‘Kasia’ Maroney, Member, Tompkins County (2028)
• Kristina Furi, Member, Cortland County (2025)

2025 System Financials

January  2025 to September  2025

Directory

Administration Team:

Sarah Glogowski – Executive Director
Advises member libraries and trustees on trustee education, advocacy, library funding opportunities, library legal issues, training, customer service and personnel matters, construction grants, and strategic planning.

Diana Leigh – Administrative Assistant
The administrative liaison to the FLLS staff. The recording secretary to the Board of Trustees who prepares packets for the FLLS Board. Handles accounts receivable records and cash deposits. Keeps system records and files in order and oversees the supplies budget line. Coordinates the Annual Meeting and other special events. Creates and publishes the Member Library Directory.

Carlos Pérez – Business Manager
Responsible for formulating and tracking the FLLS financial budget and financial policies, its accounting practices, the maintenance of its records, and the preparation of financial reports. The Business Manager manages FLLS’ relationships with independent auditors including the treasurer, banks, insurance providers, and legal counsel.

Consultant Services:

Jenny  Shonk – Continuing Education and Outreach Librarian
Responsible for developing methods of improving libraries and library services in the areas of outreach, DEI, reference, and adult services. Provides continuing education and support to member libraries and FLLS staff. Assists member libraries with completion of Annual Reports and completes system Annual Report. Provides support to local prisons and jails.

Heidi Eckerson – Member Services Librarian
Responsible for assuring that the unique needs of the member libraries are met, concentrating on policies, procedures, rules and regulations, marketing, & social media. Provides support for member libraries working with youth, oversees Summer Reading, and manages eContent for the system. Heidi also works with library boards.

Computer Network Services:

Eric Franks – Computer Services Specialist
Provides Integrated Library System (ILS) technical support, assists with the planning, installation and support of computer hardware/software and network equipment. Provides training on PC applications for the System and its member libraries. Oversees and makes recommendations for the System website.

Wayne Stephenson – Computer Network Services Manager
Responsible for overseeing all functions of the Integrated Library System (ILS) hardware/software, network infrastructure, System servers and computers.

Delivery Services:

Tom Smith – Fleet Manager
Responsible for the hiring and supervision of drivers for the System, delivers library materials to member libraries and agencies within the System service area, and oversees the regularly scheduled cleaning and maintenance of the System vehicles.

Technical Services (Catalog & ILL):

Deborah Geier – Technical Services Librarian
Oversees cataloging and performs database maintenance. Responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the FLLS catalog of holdings and performs original and copy cataloging in all formats. Oversees all operations of interlibrary loan services.

Arlene Krebs – Interlibrary  Loan Assistant & Shelving Page
Processes interlibrary loan (ILL) materials borrowed from and loaned to libraries outside the system. Maintains records and monitors the status of ILL requests, and schedules the return of ILL packages. Assists with paging.

Aimee Dorward – Shelving Page
Sorts delivery bags and sort materials for distribution to different departments and member libraries. Assists the ILL Department as needed.

Computer Network Services

The Computer Network Services department started working on three new projects in 2025; adding Princh remote printing for interested member libraries, migrating to Vega as the future of our public-facing catalog, and working on our website to make sure it meets the new accessibility standards as well as presenting relevant information to our members as well as patrons.

We purchased a total of 30 new computers (23 desktops and 7 laptops) for 15 libraries as part of our annual Bulk Buy purchase. The staging and installs are nearly complete for the year.

At the beginning of October 2024, we had 45 open support tickets. During the year from October 1, 2024 through the end of September 2025 there were 522 new tickets opened and 508 have been resolved. We continue to work on all open tickets.

eContent

Currently, our OverDrive collection features 10,972 audiobook, 26,618 ebook, and 5739 magazine unique titles. As of September 2025, patrons have borrowed 229,996 items this year.

And we are closing in on two million checkouts since we first started our digital collection in November 2007!

In August 2025, two FLLS staff members attended OverDrive’s Digipalooza conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The three day event included a tour of OverDrive’s Blue Sky Campus and sessions on everything from AI to the Science of Reading to bringing digital users into the library. FLLS staff also participated in round tables to share collection development, budgeting, and marketing strategies with other libraries around the USA and the world.

Summer Reading

Summer programming is a delicate balance between community needs and the library’s capacity. In December 2024, FLLS hosted the “Re-thinking Summer Reading”, webinar with Courtney Tsahalis from the Millbrook Library in the Hudson Valley. Courtney provided an overview of summer reading research and trends and shared her library’s experience in re-focusing summer programming to set kids up for future success. A key message was to simplify; doing less creates space for more impactful patron experiences and avoids staff burn out.

In February and March 2025, FLLS participated in two virtual Summer Reading Collaborative workshops with fourteen other New York State public library systems. These workshops featured library program ideas from library staff around the state, including a presentation from our own Groton Public Library.

In April, member library staff gathered at FLLS for a full day of networking, activities, and workshops. Our partners at the Sciencenter unboxed STEM kits and materials available for libraries while the Family Reading Partnership shared StoryWalk tips and tricks. Polyphony Lit was also on hand to discuss their poetry program for young adults.

The Collaborative Library Summer Program theme “Color Our World” inspired many art-based programs at libraries this July and August. FLLS and the Sciencenter received a NASA grant to create Nebula Spin Art kits which were distributed to libraries for free.

Libraries had their own spin on the kit and incorporated it into programming, like Science on the Lawn at the Hazard Library in Poplar Ridge, as shown in the following image!

Grant Funding for Libraries

Love Your Library Mini Grants

Thanks to a 2017 amendment to New York State finance law, taxpayers can make contributions to the state Love Your Library Fund when completing annual tax filings. The “Love Your Library Fund” is used exclusively to support the Summer Reading Program. These funds are allocated to library systems who then distribute the funds to their members. FLLS awarded two libraries from each of the five counties in our services area $250 to offset costs for summer reading program presenters like Dan the Snakeman, Lilypad Puppets, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension PowerHouse.

IMLS Grant

In August 2024 FLLS and the Sciencenter were awarded a $250k IMLS grant to continue our work creating STEM programming kits for libraries. Based on the solar eclipse kit pilot program in 2024, the project also includes opportunities for member library staff to come together and participate in professional learning communities to discuss successes, challenges, and share ideas. The proposed plan has had to adapt to meet the changing funding landscape. We are building kits and plan to host our first professional learning community session later this fall, giving library staff a chance to meet up and learn from each other.

Family Literacy Grants

The FLLS Family Literacy Grant awards funded library literacy forward programming. Seventeen libraries were awarded a total of $10,000 for projects like “Color Our World” with Graphic Novels at the Candor Free Library and Wednesday Wildlife in the Park at the Southworth Library Association in Dryden.

The Cortland Free Library’s project Building Early Literacy incorporated magnetic SuperSpace tiles for kids (and their grown-ups) with which to literally build structures – and stories.

Aunt Flow Mini-Grants

In 2025, we introduced a brand new program, the Aunt Flow Mini-Grants! We sorted through over 72 boxes of menstrual products that made their way to the 10 member libraries who applied for mini-grants for dispensers and/or display boxes along with pads/tampons. This will help our members provide period products to underserved groups and individuals with disabilities in the FLLS service area. FLLS also added products to all bathrooms at the system headquarters. Aunt Flow is focused on reducing the stigma around menstruation and believes that period products should be freely accessible in public space.

Outreach Mini-Grants

The Outreach Mini-Grants help our members provide library services and resources to underserved groups in the FLLS service area; specific populations can be found at the top of the Outreach Services webpage. Recipients are selected by the FLLS Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Council (COSAC). We are thankful to our COSAC members for their continued dedication and insight each year! As of April 2025, FLLS and COSAC have awarded over

$176,363 in mini-grants to 137 recipients!

For the 2024-2025 grant cycle, 14 libraries received $15,035 to support programs, services, and collections. These projects will benefit our communities through providing programming for seniors & children, diversifying collections, introducing innovative technology, and making adventure passes & backpacks available for checkout. Pictures from some of the projects are on the next page. Congrats on the success of your projects!

2024-2025 Outreach Mini-Grants

Cataloging & InterLibrary Loan

Technical Services Librarian Deborah Geier continues to import and edit bibliographic and authority records for new items in the catalog and replace older records, bringing them up to current standards, and catalog items not found in OCLC.

Arlene Krebs, our ILL Assistant, continues to fill ILL requests and page. Aimee Dorward continues to work as a page and also works in the interlibrary loan department as needed.

We’ve already filled 4,500 out-of-system ILL requests in 2025!

For the same time period in 2024, 4,209 requests had been filled!

Continuing Education & Consulting

We also introduced a brand new opportunity, a system-wide community read for directors and staff. We held two lively discussions of The 12 Steps to a Community Led Library by Audrey Barbakoff and Noah Lenstra.

FLLS staff continue to provide expertise, advice, or referrals in all areas of librarianship to member library directors, staff, and trustees. We are always available to answer questions, assist with library issues, or listen to your concerns. Please continue to connect with us via phone or email.

We love to see you at our monthly meetings! During the pandemic when we could not meet face to face, we developed the The Directors’ Meeting and the Member Library Support Group. These virtual meetings have remained popular and well attended. They provide space for our member libraries to receive important updates, network, ask questions, and support each other!

Outreach & IDEA

In addition to the Outreach Mini-Grants, we have also been working on other outreach projects. Thanks to the New York Immigration Coalition and New York State Library, we distributed over 1,500 Know Your Rights wallet cards to all 33 member libraries. Another shipment is arriving soon!

FLLS also participates in The Great Give Back each year. Staff from FLLS and SCRLC donate urgently needed items to our local SPCA!

We have kept our Little Free Bookshelf stocked for anyone that visits the system headquarters. To date, over 100 youth and adult books have been taken to new homes! Books are provided by the Friends of Tompkins County Public Library and Family Literacy Grant funds.

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee met several times in 2025 to collaborate and plan FLLS IDEA-related initiatives. In 2025, the committee helped to update the FLLS I.D.E.A. Statement (coming soon!), develop the system-wide community read, re-work the IDEA Resource Guide, and develop the Know Your Rights blogpost. Thank you to each and every committee member, your input and support has been invaluable!

Correctional Facilities

FLLS currently provides services to Auburn Correctional Facility, Cayuga Correctional Facility, and Five Points Correctional Facility. Cayuga and Five Points currently have professional librarians in their facilities, while Auburn is seeking a librarian to fill the open position. FLLS services for the facilities include purchasing and packaging items for the facilities, interlibrary loan & delivery, and reference. We have provided 221 in-system and out-of-system ILL items to the facilities as of September 2025. We have answered 29 reference questions for incarcerated individuals and have fulfilled 12 Reentry Guide requests.

FLLS also provides collection development assistance, purchasing of materials, and delivery to the jails in each of our counties.

We are very thankful for the Friends of TCPL for allowing our correctional facility staff to select hundreds of free items for their collections each year!

We Appreciate You!

Thank you for your continued commitment  to  your  communities! Your programs, services, and collections are vital resources for your patrons!