FLLS Bulletin June 2026
Member Library Monthly Bulletin | June 2026
Table of Contents:
Announcements
Free Resources! The NYS Library publication, New York at 250: A Resource Guide for Public Libraries and Partners, provides ample ideas and advice for gathering community members around thematic discussions and explorations related to New York State’s revolutionary history. Other resources are available through the NYS Library New York at 250: Resources for Librarians and Educators LibGuide and the BCALA America at 250: Black Perspectives of the Founding Era Toolkit!
Did you know? NYLA has a Library Use Value Calculator Widget!
From the Director
It’s State Aid for Library Construction season! Here is important information for you to know:
FLLS was awarded $1.17 million to distribute to member libraries through the FY 2026-2027 State Aid for Library Construction Program.
If your library is considering a construction project, accessibility improvement, energy efficiency upgrade, or infrastructure improvement project, now is the time to begin planning. Please review the important dates and requirements below:
- State Construction Portal Opens: The portal officially opened on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
- Required Site Visit Deadline: If you are planning to submit a project, you must schedule a site visit with Sarah and Jenny so we can review the proposed project at your library. All site visits must be completed by Friday, August 21, 2026.
- Application Deadline to FLLS: Completed applications and all required supporting documentation are due to FLLS by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
- FLLS Board Allocation Meeting: The Finger Lakes Library System Board of Trustees will review applications and vote on funding allocations at its meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Applications Submitted to New York State: FLLS will submit all approved applications to the State on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Because the construction program is competitive and projects require substantial planning and documentation, we encourage libraries to begin discussions as early as possible. Early planning will help ensure that your project is complete and eligible for funding.
If you are considering a project or would like to discuss whether a proposed improvement may qualify for funding, please contact me as soon as possible to schedule your site visit and discuss the next steps.
FLLS Board – The Finger Lakes Library System Board of Trustees is undergoing some leadership changes. Board President Priscilla Berggren-Thomas has had to step down from our Board due to health issues. Vice President Stevan Knapp will chair our July Board meeting and the trustees will vote on the President and Vice President positions. I will provide further updates on our board leadership positions after our July 15 board meeting. I personally would like to thank Priscilla for her excellent leadership over the past several years and her continued dedication to all of our member libraries.
Holiday Closing – A reminder that FLLS will be closed Friday, July 3 to celebrate Independence Day. There will be no deliveries on that Friday. Instead, all libraries will receive a delivery on Thursday, July 2.
Sarah
Member Library News
In the News: Looking for a new friend? Waverly Free Library offers Pen Pal Club
Contact Director Meaghann CampBell-Beard at Waverly Free Library to learn how your library can join this pen pal network!
In the News: Peck Memorial Library receives $1 million for Opera Hall renovation
Pajama Storytime at Hazard Library in Poplar Ridge
Submissions are always welcome! Do you have something to share? Please email jshonk@flls.org.
Continuing Education
Path to Belonging: Social Media and Marketing (NYSL)
Tuesday, June 30 | 10:00am-11:00am | FREE
When we think about belonging, we think about the power of participation and the benefit of having multiple perspectives on the work we do each day. For libraries, inviting people to participate often begins with marketing and social media. How do we ensure that our marketing efforts are representative of, accessible to, and reflective of our communities? Join us at 10 am on Tuesday, June 30, for the next Path to Belonging: Social Media and Marketing interactive webinar. The Path to Belonging is a framework designed for small and rural libraries to collaborate with their communities to create resilient, healthy futures. Due to the participatory nature of this webinar, it will not be recorded.
Minimum Standards for Libraries – Policy Development for Public Usage of Library Space and Meeting Rooms (NYSL)
Friday, July 10 | 2:00pm-3:00pm | FREE
As libraries are increasingly referenced as “third places,” it’s important to have policies in place to guide the use of meeting rooms and other spaces within our buildings. Article VI of the Library Bill of Rights states that such facilities should be made available to the public served by the given library “on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.” Developing these policies will help library staff and volunteers uphold the First Amendment and the Library Bill of Rights, while ensuring that access to library spaces is provided in a fair, equitable, and consistent manner.
Libby Lifesavers: Practical Tips for Everyday Support (OverDrive)
Wednesday, July 15 | 11:00am-12:00pm | FREE
Are you on the frontlines supporting Libby users? Join this 60‑minute session for practical, real‑world guidance from Libby experts. OverDrive’s Training and Technical Support teams come together to share troubleshooting tips and best practices for addressing common questions—from syncing across devices to managing downloads, holds, and notifications. Designed for staff who are familiar with Libby, this advanced session focuses on elevating your support conversations. You’ll gain practical workflows, clear talking points, and greater confidence in addressing the questions users bring to the desk most often.
Programming & More
eContent
Libby Reads: The Global Digital Book Club
The next Libby Reads is July 9-July 23 and features the title I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney. Readers worldwide can check out this title with no waitlists or holds in the Libby app. Check out these related programming resources from Libby:
- A marketing kit with ready-to-use promotional materials.
- A blog post with programming ideas on how to engage your patrons in this program.
- A patron-facing page where readers can learn more about the title and enjoy bonus engagement activities including a discussion board and an author letter.
- A free Q&A session with author John Kenney at 12pm EST on July 23
Important Note: During the July 13 Polaris upgrade, patrons will not be able to access our OverDrive Collection or other databases that require them to log in with their library cards.
Libby Promotional Tools
You can find more OverDrive and Libby messaging tools here: Libby Resources for Public Libraries. Includes the Libby How-To Halfsheet for patrons.
Libby Staff Training
OverDrive provides on-demand training webinars for library staff. Check out their Staff Training Library for more information. Coming up on July 15 at 11am is a live session, Libby Lifesavers: Practical Tips for Everyday Support. (Sessions are recorded.)
eBooks in the News
June has been a watershed month for sustainable digital collection development as libraries voice their concerns about licensing models, accessibility, and privacy. Recently, major national library organizations issued a joint statement regarding the sustainability of digital collections.
On June 22, Readers First, an organization dedicated to improving ebook access for libraries and their patrons, introduced their Library License Standards Project, which continues the conversation by asking the “Big 5” publishing companies to come to the table and discuss fair licensing practices.
The month wraps up with ALA Annual’s eBook Friday on June 26. One of the sessions, “Best Practices for eBook Collection Development”, will discuss this important new skillset for librarians. FLLS was privileged to be part of the working group that explored digital collection management and drafted guidelines and recommendations for our colleagues that will be shared out by Amy Mikel, Nicole Allen, and Jessica Russell.
Mango Merch Giveaway
Enter your library for a chance to receive a Mango Languages Merch package (pens, note pads, and bookmarks) to promote this free database to your patrons. Two libraries will be drawn from the list of entries on July 1. Use this form to enter your library by June 30, 2026.
FLLS Physical Collection
Fun and (Giant) Games
FLLS has several outdoor games that your library can borrow for summer fun. Corn toss, Connect 4, and Sorry! are easy to set up and encourage learning through play. You can search for these items (and others) in Polaris using the general call numbers Board Game OR Giant Board Game.
All these items can be placed on hold using the catalog. We don’t take reservations on these items so it is “first come, first serve”.
We also have a selection of quality puppets (General call number: Puppet), Storytime kits (General call number: Storytime Box), and Adult Book Kits (General call number: Book Group Kit) for libraries to borrow.
Don’t forget about our Super Space Tile kits! Reach out to Heidi to coordinate delivery for your next library event.
Do you have a suggestion for items or kits for the FLLS Physical Collection? Reach out to Heidi or Jenny to share your thoughts.
Summer Meals
Summer means no school, but for some youth that also means no easy access to a nutritious breakfast and lunch. Share out the Summer Food Resources Toolkit!
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.