NYLA is our valued partner in advocating for state funds, advancing legislation important to your library, and the provider of one of the best professional development opportunities available – the Annual NYLA Conference. Membership in NYLA is an investment in your library.

As this will be the first renewal in their new database, they want to make sure NYLA members are provided with all necessary information to complete this process with minimal stress and frustration. Please check out the Renewal FAQ’s page.
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How do I renew?⁠
1. If you are a personal member you were sent a renewal link to the email on your profile. (Not there? Be sure to check your spam!)⁠
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2. If you are a member through your organization (Organizational member) the key contact is responsible for renewing.⁠
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If you still have questions after checking the FAQ’s page please email Lauren at membership@nyla.org. Not a member of NYLA? Now is the perfect time to join! Learn more about NYLA.

• Mini-Grants – funds Mid-Hudson Valley organizations interested in capacity building projects to improve administrative, governance, and/or programmatic functions. Mini-grants enable nonprofit board, staff, and volunteer leaders to develop new skills through consultant-led capacity-building activities, or through conferences, seminars, and other training opportunities.
• Strategic Restructuring – funds Mid-Hudson Valley organizations interested in exploring, planning, or integrating a formal relationship between two or more government entities or independent organizations. Opportunities and motivations for restructuring include competition from similar organizations, executive transition, geographic or program expansion opportunities, and significant shifts in the service delivery and/or funding environment.
• Cash Flow Loans – provides interest-free, short-term loans to Mid-Hudson Valley grantees. Cash Flow Loans are made on a first-come, first-served basis from a limited, revolving pool of funds. The Foundation will consider cash flow loans against fully approved government contracts and foundation or corporate grants. Loans generally range from $25,000 to $150,000 and are provided on a one-year term with no service charges.
• Professional Development Scholarships – offers individual program scholarships to Mid-Hudson Valley organizations interested in professional development opportunities for staff and board members. Professional development scholarships are available toward nonprofit finance, grantsmanship, and executive leadership programs to support nonprofit board and staff development and retention.

This year, the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) is producing a series of events for library trustees and directors to help strengthen the financial future of your library.

This series is designed to meet directors and board members where they are, providing assistance for a range of developmental activities such as:

• Helping Association and Municipal Public Libraries to a pattern of annual votes;  
• Creating budget goals to address issues such as a living wage for staff, benefits, adequate funds for digital collections, programming or your facility
• Building an adequate reserve fund structure or
• Minimizing risk to your organization through adequate insurance coverage

All events for trustees count toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirement for 2025. 

414 Votes – Kick-off Meeting | Tuesday, April 29 | 10 – 11:30 AM | Online | Register here

This is the kickoff meeting for the 414 Vote Libraries Meetups. At this meetup we’ll be conducting a review of steps and check in with MHLS member library teams going for a 414 vote this year. We’ll share best practices and ensure your team is on track to hit all of the required milestones for a successful vote. This is an opportunity to learn from your peers also working on 414 vote campaigns this year.

This workshop is part of the MHLS Sustainable Funding & Trustee Education Series and is intended for MHLS member library trustees only. Attendance at this event can be applied toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirements.

New York State Public Officer’s Law §10 requires all public library trustees (but not association library trustees) to take and file an oath of office within 30 days of beginning their term of office. Public library trustees are public officers, and the oath of office is required to officially undertake and perform the duties of a public library trustee. If a public library trustee does not properly complete and file an oath of office, the trustee’s position may be deemed vacant. See Public Officer’s Law §30(1)(h). For more information about how and why the oath of office is administered, and where to properly file an oath of office, please see the Oaths of Office FAQ on the New York State Library website https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/trustees/oath.htm