Director Briefing - July 21, 2025

Extended through Wednesday: System-Wide Community Survey for 2025 Long Range Planning Cohort

The System-wide Community Survey is now accepting responses through Wednesday, July 23! As a reminder, this survey was designed to gather valuable insights from library users across the System. While specifically intended to support libraries participating in the 2025 Long Range Planning Cohort, the insights gathered will benefit all member libraries.

The Great Give Back

Prep is underway for The Great Give Back this October. This statewide community service initiative is optional for libraries.

This year, participating libraries are encouraged to identify, contact, and collect appropriate donations for a community organization in their service area.

Please email Piety by Friday, August 1, 2025 if your library is interested in participating.

Reach Out, Read On: Alternative Delivery Grant

Application Deadline: September 1, 2025

This one-time seed or pilot grant is intended to help libraries test or expand new ways of getting library materials directly to patrons. Projects must serve at least one of New York State’s nine targeted outreach populations. Funds may be used for things like postage, mileage reimbursement, promotional materials, or limited temporary staffing.

Eligible project ideas might include:

• Book delivery for homebound patrons
• Bulk lending to residential facilities or daycares
• Drop-offs at food pantries or senior centers
• Neighborhood-specific or community-based delivery models

We’re here to help workshop ideas, talk through logistics, or connect you with sample materials. Just reach out to Piety if you’re interested.

Action Item: Please remove all Books by Mail promotional materials or website links from your library’s digital and print communications.

Thank you for helping us pilot this service and for continuing to find meaningful ways to reach your communities. We’re looking forward to seeing the local solutions you develop next.

Complete the application here: https://forms.gle/LMmkMnxG1nT6qizJ7

FOIL Reminder: Text Messages = Public Records

Public libraries are subject to New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). That includes trustee and staff communications made via text message, if they concern library business.

• Treat texts the same as emails: professional, transparent, and retrievable.
• Advise your board that using personal devices doesn't exempt them from FOIL compliance.
• Consider reminding trustees to keep library business on a single email account (e.g., Gmail label or shared board address).

Trustees and Directors can find training done by our attorney in the Niche Academies.

NYLA Awards: Nominations Due August 18

Help celebrate excellence in our profession! The New York Library Association is accepting nominations for its annual awards:

• Mary Bobinski Innovative Public Library Director Award
• NYLA’s Distinguished Achievement Award
• Librarian of the Year (several categories)

Nomination deadline: Monday, August 18, 2025

Details and forms: https://www.nyla.org/page/nyla-awards-2025-473.html

Plan Now: Construction Aid Estimates for 2026–2031

We’re at the end of our current five-year planning cycle for NYS Library Construction Aid.

To help with advocacy and long-term planning, please complete a quick form listing your potential or ideal projects for 2026–2031. You don’t need finalized plans, just a rough idea. If you have a cost estimate, great, if not, I'll do my best to pull something together based on project information.

Submit your 5-Year Construction Project Estimate

Book Pick from Rebecca: ”Angelica”

Rebecca Budinger-Mulhearn (former director of Avon Free Library) emailed me to recommend:

''Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution'' By: Arthur S. Lefkowitz | Published by W.W. Norton

A vivid historical portrait of Angelica Schuyler Church — sister to Eliza Hamilton and daughter of Revolutionary War General Philip Schuyler. It’s rich with ties to colonial New York, women’s history, and political intrigue.

Perfect for OWWL Libraries with local history readers, Hamilton fans, or book clubs looking for something timely and substantial.

Hochul Response to Federal Budget Cuts (July 17)

Governor Hochul’s July 17 press conference addressed the devastating impact of the federal “Big Ugly Bill,” which slashes funding to New York State.

Key impacts include:

• Up to $13B/year in healthcare cuts — 2 million people may lose coverage
• State/local SNAP costs to increase by $1.2B with $900M in lost benefits
• $29M cut to SNAP-Ed — affects partners like Cornell Cooperative Extension

Potential Implications for Libraries:

1. Increased community need for health info, benefit navigation, and job support
2. Local funding may be squeezed as counties/towns absorb new costs
3. Loss of SNAP-Ed partners for food, cooking, and nutrition education
4. Economic ripple effects could impact fundraising and donations

What Libraries Can Do:

• Monitor rising community needs
• Communicate with boards and funders
• Coordinate with at-risk partners
• Advocate locally and statewide

Let me know if you'd like help framing this for your board or local stakeholders.

New Law: Election Data Requirements for Libraries That Run Their Own Votes

The Doctor John L. Flateau Voting and Elections Database of New York Act imposes new requirements on entities that administer their own elections — including school district public libraries that run independent votes.

If your library runs its own election, you must:

• Submit election results by district
• Provide voter lists, polling place info, and affidavit/absentee ballot data
• Comply starting with any election held after April 1, 2026

Next steps:

• Confirm if your library is affected
• Plan to capture and retain required election data
• Include this in 2026 planning conversations

Noncompliance may result in public listing or referral to the Attorney General. I’ll share more as technical standards are released.

HBR: Tip of the Day

Communicating with Your Team When Times Are Tough

When business challenges mount, your team doesn’t need spin—they need clarity. Here’s how to be transparent, steady, and constructive, even when you don’t have all the answers.

Acknowledge what’s working. As you address uncertainty, point to areas of progress. Use a “yes, and” approach: Yes, things are messy—and we’re doing good work. Be honest about challenges without slipping into blame or false optimism.

Make space for real questions. Don’t redirect or minimize concerns. Ask your team what’s weighing on them and how it’s showing up in their day-to-day work lives. If no one speaks up, check in with trusted team members behind the scenes to get a fuller picture.

Respond with care. When you don’t have answers, explain what could influence the outcome. Share details only if they affect the team’s reality; disclosing what’s irrelevant or uncertain creates confusion.

Stick to the facts. Avoid speculation. Use data and observable progress to ground your message. Reinforce how the team’s work supports key business goals like revenue or efficiency.

Model resilience. Show up with calm and clarity. In tough moments, consistency builds trust—and helps your team focus on what they can control.

Read more in the article "How to Communicate with Your Team When Business Is Bad" by Rebecca Knight.