Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Group (COSAG)

“Under New York State Education Law, §273 (1) (h) (1), and Commissioner's Regulations §90.3, Public Library Systems provide Coordinated Outreach Library Services directly and through their member libraries to New Yorkers who are most in need and who often are not regular library users.

“Each System maintains a Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Group which meets at least twice a year, includes 5-11 members, includes members of the target population groups and agencies who work with these groups within the system's service area, and one director of a member library. Council members are to serve three-year terms.”

–New York State Library Coordinated Outreach Services Program

By-Laws

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this committee shall be the OWWL Library System Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Group (COSAG).

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of COSAG is to serve in an advisory capacity to the OWWL Library System in order to ensure a quality, planned, and integrated program of library outreach services designed to identify, contact, and serve the targeted outreach populations as as defined by the Division of Library Development’s Coordinated Outreach Services Program.

The nine target populations:

• People who are Blind or who have a Physical Disability
• Seniors
• People who have a Developmental or Learning Disability
• People living in Institutionalized Settings
• Members of Ethnic or Minority Groups in need of special services
• People who are Educationally Disadvantaged
• People who are Unemployed or Underemployed
• People who are Geographically Isolated
• At risk youth from birth to age 21

ARTICLE III - OBJECTIVES

• To review and evaluate current System outreach programs and services.
• To identify needs for new outreach programs and services
• To identify community resources to meet the needs of target populations

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

The OWWL Library System Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Group shall have six members, five members representing organizations or agencies or groups who work with target populations within the System's service area plus one Director of a Member Library.

Appointments to COSAG are made by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Program Director who coordinates the System’s library outreach services. The Board shall act on COSAG appointments annually at the January meeting. COSAG terms shall be on the calendar year and are three years. COSAG members may serve no more than three three-year terms.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

Two regular meetings shall be held each year, in June and December. Additional special meetings may be called as needed. An agenda will be sent to COSAG members one week in advance of meetings. Meetings will be chaired by the System’s Program Director.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

Ad hoc committees may be appointed as needed.

ARTICLE VI - EVALUATION

These By-Laws shall be reviewed bi-annully by the Board of Trustees.

Adopted: April 15, 2022 by the System Board of Trustees

2024 Membership

1. Daniel Ammon, English Instructor, Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center (expiring 2025)
2. Danielle Amore, CEO-Head Start Director, Early Head Start & Head Start, Cattaraugus & Wyoming Co. Project Head Start (expiring 2024)
3. Tim Niver, Director, Victor Farmington Library (expiring 2024)
4. Petrea Rae, Coordinator of Pre-Employment Transition Services, Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES (expiring 2026)
5. Cara Rager, Manager of Educational Training & Family Engagement, WXXI (expiring 2024)
6. Ingrid Welch, Program Manager, Center for Dispute Settlement (expiring 2026)

These appointments were approved on December 13, 2023 by the OWWL Library System Board.

2023 Meetings

• Thursday, June 13 @ 4pm
• Thursday, December 19 @ 4pm

Meetings will be conducted virtually. A Zoom link and Agenda will be emailed to COSAG members one week prior.

Previous Meetings

• Thursday, December 14, 2023
• Thursday, December 15, 2022
• Thursday, June 9, 2022

Questions can be forwarded to the System's Program Director at outreach@owwl.org.