FLLS Monthly Bulletin October 2026
Member Library Monthly Bulletin | October 2026
Table of Contents:
- Announcements
- From the Director
- Polaris Tip
- Member Library News
- Continuing Education
- Programming
- Grants
Announcements
Thank you to everyone that participated in The Great Give Back this year! Please send any photos of your events and programs to Jenny, the survey used to collect statistics will be sent out next week. Scroll down to Member Library News to see pictures from projects at Phillips Free Library and FLLS!
From the Director
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Finger Lakes Library System’s 68th Annual Meeting on Friday, October 16, at Shepard Hills Country Club in Waverly. It was wonderful to spend the day with 74 library directors, staff, trustees, and guests who share a commitment to our libraries and the communities we serve. I especially appreciate everyone that took the time from their busy schedules to travel to one of our furthest locations!
During our Business Meeting portion of the Annual Meeting, trustees from our member libraries perform the important duty of electing trustees to the Finger Lakes Library System Board of Trustees who will help guide FLLS in the years ahead. Please join me in welcoming Deb Lewis back to the Board as our At-Large representative, congratulating Amy Dames on her election to represent Cortland County, and thanking Bonnie Thomas for continuing her service as our Cayuga County representative. Their terms begin January 1, 2027. Each brings valuable experience, a love of libraries, and a commitment to public service. We appreciate their willingness to dedicate their time and talents to supporting FLLS and our 33 member libraries.
Another focus of our day was Adam Di Filippe’s presentation, “Crafting an AI Policy for Your Public Library.” Adam, Director of the Holderness Free Library in Holderness, New Hampshire, joined us to discuss a topic that is becoming increasingly relevant to libraries of all sizes. As artificial intelligence continues to raise questions about its use in our workplaces and communities, having opportunities to learn and think through our approaches together is especially valuable. Thank you to Adam for sharing his knowledge and helping us consider how library policies can guide thoughtful decisions about AI.
We know that one of your favorite parts of our Annual Meeting is networking and connecting with your colleagues. Some of the most meaningful moments of our Annual Meeting happen between the scheduled activities. Over breakfast, during breaks, and around the lunch tables, there was time to reconnect with familiar colleagues and get to know others.
A special thank you to the Waverly Library for welcoming visitors after the meeting. Those who stopped over had the opportunity to tour the library and learn about its programs and displays. Visiting another library is a wonderful way to gather inspiration and we appreciate Meaghann and Deborah from Waverly for sharing their library with us.
Finally, a huge thank you goes to the FLLS staff for all the planning, preparation, and attention to detail that helped make the day a success, and to the FLLS Board of Trustees for their leadership and continued support. Diana Leigh, our Administrative Assistant, truly is a magician each year for coordinating our Meeting. A special thanks to our Board President, Stevan Knapp, for his slides of all 33 libraries!
Each year, the Finger Lakes Library System creates our Annual Meeting Summary, which looks back on our accomplishments over the last year. Thank you to Jenny Shonk at FLLS for creating our 2026 Summary. We hope you enjoy all the great achievements both FLLS and our members had over the past year.
Sarah
Polaris Tip
Polaris Leap Logging In & Out
Visit https://fllsleap.flls.org/LeapWebApp/ and enter your unique username and password. Don’t forget to add the domain, for example a staff member named John Doe would enter jdoe@flls.org or flls\jdoe. Type the regular password for your Polaris client and click SIGN IN or hit enter on the keyboard.
Next, select a branch and workstation and click Continue.
To log out, go to the top right-hand corner of the screen and click on your username. Then select Logout. Logging out will close any workforms you may have left open.
Member Library News
Phillips Free Library
Phillips Free Library participated in the Great Give Back this year with Beautiful Bags for Bountiful Food! People were invited to pick up a paper grocery bag to decorate at home or at the library. The library collected the decorated bags for people to pick up and fill with food for the food pantry. Everyone was able to participate, either by coloring, by buying groceries, or both.
Finger Lakes Library System
Finger Lakes Library System staff generously donated urgently needed items to the SPCA of Tompkins County!
Submissions are always welcome! Do you have something to share? Please email Jenny.
Continuing Education
Transforming Teen Services – Train the Trainer (NYSL)
Thursday, November 12 | 10:00am-12:00pm | FREE
The T3 interactive workshop will introduce library staff to the core concepts of Connected Learning as part of the Transforming Teen Services framework. Participants will explore principles of Connected Learning and connecting theory to practice. Connected learning explores the library’s role at the intersection of teens’ interests, relationships, and opportunities for the future. This is a participatory online workshop, so attendees will be expected to contribute to discussions and engage in workshop activities.
Creating an Accessible Summer Reading (CSLP)
Thursday, November 12 | 2:00-3:00pm | FREE
Join Talking Book and Braille Library staff as we explore creating accessible summer reading challenges. During this session, we’ll talk about what it means to begin with accessibility in mind, discuss workflows, and share ideas that can create a more universal design for creative summer programming.
We Are Still Here (NYSL)
Friday, November 13 | 11:00am-12:00pm | FREE
The New York State Library’s NY250 webinar series continues at 11 am Friday, November 13, when Justin Cree, Director of the Akwesasne Cultural Center, leads us through a conversation about Indigenous history and the unlearning it requires. This discussion pushes back against historical erasure by insisting on our presence and making our existence known. It speaks to the isolation and struggles Indigenous people face when our colleagues, and our children’s schools, still operate on inaccurate assumptions and hurtful stereotypes. Above all, it’s a conversation about how to tell the truth in a way people can hear.
Programming & More
Youth Services
Libby Reads: November 24-December 8
Libby Reads is a global ebook club, and it’s completely free! Readers around the world can enjoy the same featured book at the same time, with no wait lists and no holds. All you need is a library card.
“Secrets of the Broken House” by Taryn Saunders is next Libby Reads title. Starting November 24 your patrons can access this mystery fiction title for kids in ebook or audiobook format with no holds or waitlists. Learn more at Libby Reads.
Collaborative Summer Learning Program (CSLP) 2027
CSLP is where summer never ends. The CSLP website is updated, the store is open, and new webinars are in the works. Mark your calendars for:
- Creating an Accessible Summer Reading (November 12)
- Summer Symposium 2026 (December 3)
FLLS member libraries received an email earlier this week containing the code to access the 2027 online manual. (CSLP no longer produces flash drives that contain manual files.
eContent
Libby Password/PIN Update
You may have seen or heard that Libby now requires users to enter both their library card and password/PIN when they sign in. In the past it was optional.
However, FLLS has always required this, so our patrons are not affected. They should be able to access Libby as usual.
AI Disclosures and Content Controls in Libby
OverDrive has introduced AI Content Controls in Libby. Patrons can now choose their AI content preferences.
Here’s how:
- Open your Libby app and tap on the Menu icon
- Scroll to the bottom and tap on Content Controls
- Tap on AI Contributions
- Set your filtering preferences for titles with content generated by AI. You can choose whether to allow any involvement by AI authors, narrators, artists, or translators. The options are: all, human-involved, or human only.
- That’s it! You can now enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines and know that your preference about AI generated content is being respected.
Prefer instructions with screenshots? Check out our Libby AI Controls Flyer.
Please note that AI disclosures are provided by publishers.
Libby Troubleshooting
Do you or your patrons need help with the Libby App? Libby Help can, well, help! You can browse the categories or search for your specific issue.
Libby’s Troubleshooting Guide is also a good resource to point folks to. Often, it’s simply an app or browser update that will do the trick.
If the problem persists, please reach out to FLLS so we can escalate it to OverDrive’s Tech support.
FLLS Digital Resources: Spotlight on JobNow
Patrons can use their FLLS member library card to access JobNow a free online career assistance and resume-building platform. Some key features of JobNow include:
- Personalized Job Search Resources
- All-in-One Resume Assistance
- Live Interview Coaching and Practice
- Skill Building for Career Advancement
Grants
2027 ALSC/Candlewick “Light the Way” Grant
The Grants & Awards Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) is now accepting applications for the 2027 ALSC/Candlewick “Light the Way” Grant!
This annual award is generously sponsored by Candlewick Press and is presented in honor of Kate DiCamillo and the themes she eloquently explores in her novels. The grant provides $3,000 to help a library conduct impactful outreach to underserved populations through a new program or an expansion of existing work. The award committee recognizes that underserved populations vary from community to community, and all programs designed to directly address local needs and reduce barriers to library access are encouraged to apply.
Who Can Your Project Serve? The grant is open to any project that seeks to engage an underserved population of children from birth through age 14. These populations may include (but are not limited to):
- Children with learning or physical differences
- English language learners
- Children in non-traditional school environments
- Children in non-traditional family settings (such as teen parents, foster youth, children in the juvenile justice system, and children in LGBTQ+ families), etc.
Key Details:
- Award amount: $3,000
- Deadline to apply: December 18, 2026
- Grant implementation period: One calendar year– with reports due on June 30 and September 15
- Eligibility: Projects focused on underserved populations of children 0-14.
- Where to apply: ALA ALSC Website
If you have questions about your application, please reach out to the co-chairs of the Grants & Awards committee, Lauren Brandstetter and Sarah Clarke.