FLLS Bulletin May 2026
Member Library Monthly Bulletin | May 2026
Table of Contents:
- Announcements
- From the Director
- Member Library News
- Website Accessibility NEW!
- Continuing Education
- Programming
- Grants
Announcements
Reminder! You can submit requests for CLSA (Central Library Services Aid) books at any time using this CLSA Request Form! All purchases will be made available to the entire system immediately, no restrictions. Not all requests can be fulfilled and some titles may not be available in the format you requested. If the item is purchased, it is not guaranteed that your patron will receive the item first.
Did you know? The ADA Website Accessibility Rule has been extended to April 2027 for organizations with populations over 50,000 and April 2028 for organizations with populations under 50,000. Learn more on the Federal Register website. Check out the special Website Accessibility section of this bulletin for more information.
From the Director
Here are some updates for the month of May:
State and Federal Updates – There continues to be significant activity at both the state and federal levels impacting libraries and library systems across New York. At the time of writing, New York State still does not have an approved State budget, and current indications suggest a final budget may not be adopted until sometime next week. Until a budget is finalized, many funding details and timelines remain uncertain.
At the federal level, President Trump’s proposed federal budget once again includes no funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), consistent with previous proposals. Encouragingly, both the House and Senate budget proposals continue to include strong support for IMLS funding, which remains positive news for libraries nationwide.
There has also been an important legal development related to IMLS. The American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees recently reached a settlement in ALA et al. v. Keith Sonderling et al., a case intended to prevent the dismantling of IMLS. On April 9, all parties agreed to a voluntary dismissal of the case.
School Ballot Referendums – We are in the final stretch of the school ballot referendum season, with votes taking place on May 19. Many of our libraries are currently preparing messaging and community outreach materials to support their referendum efforts.
As a reminder, libraries are permitted to share factual information such as voting date, times, location, and what patrons would receive if a vote passes, including expanded hours, additional programming, or enhanced collections and services. However, messaging that could be interpreted as advocating for a “yes” vote is not permitted.
If you would like assistance reviewing messaging, newsletters, mailings, or social media posts before they are shared publicly, please feel free to reach out to Sarah or Heidi. We are happy to help.
Minimum Standards Updates – In March, the Board of Regents approved updates to Minimum Public Library Standard #4 regarding board-approved written policies. These revisions expand and clarify the policies that libraries must review and update at least once every five years, or sooner if required by law.
Required policy areas now specifically include:
- Selection and reconsideration of library materials
- Public use of library spaces and meeting rooms
- Codes of conduct
- Confidentiality of library records
- Internal policies related to personnel practices, disaster preparedness, and financial controls
These updates are intended to support strong governance practices, consistent operations, and long-term organizational sustainability for public libraries across New York State.
The Public Library System Directors Organization and the New York State Library have also updated the Helpful Information for Meeting Minimum Public Library Standards webpage to reflect these changes. Libraries are encouraged to review their current policies and begin planning for any needed updates over the coming months.
In addition, the New York State Library has begun hosting a series of webinars focused on the updated policy areas. These sessions will run from May through July and are open to both directors and trustees.
FLLS Closed Monday, May 25 – Finger Lakes Library System will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. There will be no deliveries. All libraries will be receiving a delivery on Tuesday, May 26.
Sarah
Member Library News
In the News: Apalachin Library
Tracy’s letter to the editor is a great example of how to discuss your school ballot referendum.
Congratulations on 130 years at Hazard!
Sarah visited the future location of Hazard Library’s new building on Monday, where the library was celebrating their 130th anniversary with a gorgeous cake!
Carla Piperno-Jones Named as Person of the Month During National Library Week!
Congratulations to Carla Piperno-Jones, the librarian at Springport Free Library in Union Springs for being named as Person of the Month in the Auburn Citizen in April! A well-deserved honor. Please note: you have to be a subscriber in order to read the article.
Submissions are always welcome! Do you have something to share? Please email jshonk@flls.org.
Website Accessibility
In April 2024, the Department of Justice published a rule that set technical requirements for state and local governments to ensure their websites and mobile apps were accessible to people with disabilities.
At the time there were many questions about what the Title II Rule meant (does this include libraries? How are we going to accomplish this?) and not a lot of answers. Our initial work of understanding the ruling and its implications for our services and workflows began in mid-2024. The next year saw many webinars and discussions on the ruling roll out as organizations like FLLS worked to meet the April 2026 compliance date.
Four days before our April 24, 2026 deadline, the DOJ extended the compliance dates by one year.
At its core, accessibility is part of good user design and experience. We kept coming back to the phrase: “Essential for some, good for all.” Over the next several months, we will share stories from our experience and provide resources and guidance on how your library can meet the Title II Ruling guidelines in time for April 2028. Although it sounds faraway, it’s worth considering the time it takes to identify and address concerns on your library’s website, social media and other mobile applications. It is a process. (We were still making minor adjustments the week of the compliance date.)
Our first resource recommendation is the recent American Libraries Magazine article, “Getting Started with Website Accessibility”. This good overview is an excerpt from the book, The Digital Accessibility Handbook for Libraries, which we have in our professional collection (A20519413849).
As always, please feel free to reach out to us with questions or to set up a time to meet and discuss your library’s needs.
Continuing Education
America at 250: Black Perspectives of the Founding Era Toolkit (BCALA/NYSL)
Tuesday, May 26 | 12:00-1:00pm | FREE
On July 4th, 2026, the United States will commemorate the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While this is arguably one of the most important historical events in United States history, it has a different and more complex meaning for Black Americans. In partnership with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Team D of the 2025 ALA Emerging Leaders have combined their expertise and experience to create a toolkit that will support users in their learning journey. In this webinar, a group of the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders will present the America at 250: Black Perspectives of the Founding Era Toolkit and encourage attendees to use their organization’s resources to create opportunities for everyone to acquire the necessary knowledge to understand our country’s origins. Our goals for this webinar are to help information professionals and educators gain a deeper understanding of Black agency during the Founding Era and how they can transform the toolkit’s programming suggestions for their own learning environments.
That All May Read: An Overview of the NYS Talking Book & Braille Library (FLLS/TBBL)
Thursday, May 28 | 11:00am-12:00pm | FREE
New York State Talking Book and Braille Library Senior Librarian Laurenne Teachout will provide an overview of services, focusing on eligibility for service and the important role public libraries play in connecting community members to accessible reading materials. Learn more about TBBL: tbbl.nysed.gov. Registration is required. Session will be held on Zoom and will be recorded. View our Code of Conduct for Programs.
Future-Proofed Resource Sharing: Libraries of Things (SCRLC/CLRC)
Wednesday, June 3 | 12:00-4:00pm | FREE
This joint mini-conference hosted by SCRLC & CLRC will feature 5 virtual sessions, view the full schedule and register on the SCRLC website. Sessions will be recorded and made available to all who register. The full conference recording will also be posted to the CLRC and SCRLC websites. This event is free and open to all ESLN members (including FLLS member libraries). All participants will have the option to request a certificate of attendance for 3.5 contact hours. All attendees are expected to follow CLRC’s Code of Conduct. Questions? Please contact co-chair Christine Brown (SCLRC) at cbrown@sclrc.org.
Universal Design – It’s Not Only About Accessibility (NYSL)
Friday, June 12 | 11:00am-12:00pm | FREE
In this webinar, we will discuss what Universal Design (UD) is, and what it entails. UD is often considered synonymous with accessibility, but in reality there’s a lot more to UD. Come learn about accessibility, DEI, and more that come together to make UD the most effective and proactive response possible to the needs of our patrons and communities. Dr. Sine Rofofsky holds an MLS in library science from Queens College and an MEd in educational technology / instructional design from the University of Missouri. They have been an advocate of Universal Design in all its components since 1997 and strives to incorporate these principles into all their work.
Programming & More
Summer Programming
A common question we hear is “what are the start and end dates for Summer Reading?” The answer: It’s up to you! FLLS and the New York State Library do not set dates. Libraries are strongly encouraged to approach summer programming in a way that meets their community’s needs and their library’s capacity. The FLLS Summer Reading 2026 LibGuide has more info on all things summer and is updated with the latest information on webinars and resources.
Summer Meals
From the Summer Reading at New York Libraries LibGuide: In 2025, over 100 libraries served summer meals or snacks through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federally funded program that enables qualified organizations – including libraries – to serve free meals to kids and teens in low-income areas.
Three FLLS member libraries–Berkshire Free Library, Lodi Whittier Library, and the Seneca Falls Library– have been part of this effort.
Learn more about the program at Connecting Kids and Teens with Summer Nutrition on the Summer Reading at New York libraries website.
Even if your library is not a site, you can be part of this essential and underused child nutrition program by:
- Providing information to help families learn about summer meal sites near them.
- Serving snacks or meals right at the library to enhance your programming.
- Providing summer reading activities at local sites.
- Encouraging more partners in your community to get involved.
Hunger Solutions and No Kid Hungry New York are also excellent resources.
Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program is Back
Perhaps you recall this program from your (or your kids) childhood. Initially rolled out in 1984, Pizza Hut is reviving its Book It! Program this year with its “Summer of Stories” program. While the summer program is designed for parents to track their children’s reading progress, some franchisees offer library certificates. Reach out to your local Pizza Hut to learn more about library participation in the program..
CSLP Social Media Toolkit
The Social Media Toolkit is now available on the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) website! Inside, you’ll find a collection of eye-catching images ready for downloading and sharing across your social media channels and platforms to help promote Summer Reading at your library. Many graphics are also offered in Spanish, making it easier to reach a wider audience and more people in your communities.
In the toolkit for Unearth A Story you’ll also find links to customizable Canva templates, allowing you to add your library’s logo, adjust text, and tailor designs to your specific needs.
To access the social media toolkit, go to the CSLP website and login into the 2026 manual with your passcode and then head to the Graphic Resources section. All of the available downloads can be found there as well as the Canva link to editable templates.
Grants
Community Foundation of Tompkins County Grants
Reminder that the final report for any projects funded by the Community Foundation of Tompkins County 2025 Library Grant Cycle is due June 30. The report can be found in your library’s GLM account.
FLLS Aunt Flow Mini-Grants
The Aunt Flow Mini-Grant program allows FLLS member libraries to provide menstrual products to underserved groups and individuals with disabilities in the FLLS service area. Applications are due May 31. The application link, guidelines, a copy of the application, and the report are available on the Outreach Grants LibGuide! For this grant, you will apply for dispensers or products for your building and FLLS will purchase on your behalf and deliver to your library. Please reach out to Jenny with questions.