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Mission Statement

"The Friends of the New York State Library supports the New York State Library and its programs through public education and advocacy. We work with state government, library systems, local libraries, and individuals to strengthen library services for all the people of New York State. Everyone is welcome to join The Friends."

-Adopted by the Governing Board in August 2001

Values and Common Understandings

  1. The Friends is the only Library user/advocate-initiated-voluntary membership group for the New York State Library. The State Library is part of the State Education Department and the governance of the Regents, Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner; the Department also has a Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, the Visiting Committee and other standing and ad hoc groups from which it receives advice and help. We therefore have a unique role and relationship to the State Library.


  2. To be effective and to assure continued support from our members, The Friends should do something for both the State Library and our members.


  3. Members will know what the Library is doing, particularly if members are to advocate with legislators and others.


  4. As an independent organization of interested people with a formal commitment to advocacy for the Library, the Friends can be particularly important in helping the Library make clear how its diverse services affect all people of the State.


  5. We are aware of pending appointments and new leadership for the New York State Library and we are proceeding on the assumption that the [new] State Librarian, the Director of the Research Library, and others will value the kinds of help we are prepared to give to the Library.

History

  • Governor Mario Cuomo's 1993-1994 proposed budget threatens massive cuts to the State Library's funding. Albany Times Union columnist Fred LeBrun points out the damage that the proposed reductions would have on the Library's services.


  • Blame unexpectedly shifts from the Governor to the Regents and Education Commissioner.


  • To prevent attention from being diverted from the budget crisis to a criticism of the Regents and Education Commissioner, several proactive friends of the Library come forward to inject new energy into the Library's advocacy efforts.


  • This original Committee is made up of: Morris Moses, a retired engineer and author, and Helen V. Collard, retired from the State Library serving as co-treasurers; William F. Kennedy, Pulitzer-Prize winning author as honorary chair; and Richard V. Halsey, Professor at the University at Albany serving as chair of the organizing group (predecessor to the Governing Board).


  • With advocacy as their primary concern, the Committee helps restore $500,000 to the acquisitions budget.


  • In August of 1994, the Committee develops into a formal organization, and in 1996 the first Annual Meeting is held where officers are elected to the Governing Board. Since its inception, the Governing Board has met regularly, sponsored a number of public programs, and in partnership with the State Library, published a quarterly newsletter, the New York State Library News. However, it wasn't until November of 1997 that their present name was adopted: The Friends of the New York State Library. On February 10, 1998, the New York Department of State incorporated their non-profit organization, and The Friends were born.

Bylaws

The bylaws of The Friends of the New York State Library were amended on December 2, 1997.

The Friends of the New York State Library

BYLAWS

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY, herein referred to as “The Friends.”

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to generate public awareness of, and concern for, the New York State Library (herein referred to as “The Library”); to inform the public, the Governor, the Legislature, the Regents, and others regarding resources needed to ensure that the New York State Library can serve the government, people, and libraries of the State.

The Friends is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, in accordance with Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.  No part of the net earnings of The Friends shall inure to any private person.  No substantial part of the activities of The Friends shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence individual legislator’s actions; and The Friends shall not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Article III – Membership

  1. Eligibility. Membership in The Friends is open to all individuals and organizations in sympathy with its purposes, including regular and occasional users of the Library, legislators, libraries, and other individuals and organizations who use the Library for government, professional, scholarly, or personal purposes.


  2. Dues. Dues, payable annually, shall be determined by the Governing Board.


  3. Rights and Privileges. All members in good standing shall receive The Friends’ publications and shall be entitled to vote for officers and directors.


  4. Membership Year. Dues apply to the membership year, which shall be the calendar year.


Article IV – Officers and Governing Board

  1. Officers. The officers of The Governing Board shall be a President, Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, five elected Directors, and four ex-officio Directors. The State Librarian, the Director of the Research Library Division, the Director of the Library Development Division, and the State Librarian Emeritus shall serve as ex-officio directors. The officers shall perform all duties pertaining to their respective offices. The President shall preside at all official meetings.


  2. Governing Board. The Governing Board shall consist of the officers.


  3. Honorary Chairperson. The Governing Board may appoint an Honorary Chairperson or Chairpersons.  William Kennedy will serve as the first Honorary Chairperson.


  4. Policies. All policies and programs shall be approved by the Governing Board.


  5. Term. The term of office for each elected officer shall be two years. Three directors shall be elected in even-numbered years, and two shall be elected in odd-numbered years.  Membership on the Governing Board shall be limited to three consecutive full terms.


  6. Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled by vote of the majority of the Governing Board.


  7. Quorum. Five members of the Governing Board shall constitute a quorum.


  8. Meetings. The Governing Board shall hold a minimum of three meetings each year.


Article V - Executive Committee

  1. Duties. The Executive Committee shall serve as the policy-making body in the interim period between meetings of the Governing Board. It shall deal only with matters which cannot await the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Governing Board.


  2. Membership. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the State Library, the Director of the Research Library Division, the Director of the Library Development Division, and the State Librarian Emeritus. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee.


Article VI - Committees

  1. The Governing Board may create such committees as it deems necessary. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.


  2. Nominating Committee. There shall be a Nominating Committee. No person shall serve more than one consecutive term. It shall be composed of three members, no more than two of whom shall be members of the Governing Board. The Governing Board shall appoint the Nominating Committee.


Article VII - Elections

  1. Candidates. Candidates for offices shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee or by members of The Friends. All candidates shall be members of The Friends.


  2. Elections. Elections shall be conducted at the Annual Meeting.


Article VIII - Meetings

  1. Annual Meeting. There shall be an Annual Meeting in March of each year on a day selected by the Governing Board, for election of officers and such other business as may come before the membership. Members shall be notified in writing at least two weeks in advance of such meeting.


  2. Special Meetings. A special meeting of The Friends may be called at any time by the Governing Board.


  3. Quorum. The members attending a meeting shall constitute a quorum.


Article IX - Finances

  1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of The Friends shall be the calendar year.


  2. Financial Reports. The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the membership.


  3. Audit. An annual audit shall be ordered by the Governing Board.


Article X - Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Governing Board, provided that notice of the proposed amendment is sent ten days in advance of the meeting at which action is proposed to be taken.

Article XI - Authority

Parliamentary authority shall be based on Robert's Rule of Order, most recent edition, on all matters not specifically covered in these Bylaws or by the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York.

Approved by the Organizing Group, August 29, 1994 Technical Changes made November 27, 1995 to reflect changes in Organizing Group (Article IV, Section 3) and references to the first annual meeting (Article IV, Section 6), and corrected number of Articles. Amendments approved November 13, 1997: Name changed; purpose amended; membership clarified; dues section changed; ex-officio officers added; vacancy section clarified; references to Organizing Group deleted; annual meeting month changed; fiscal year changed; conforming changes in reference and numbering made.

ByLawNv.97

December 2, 1997

Committees

The Friends support seven standing committees, including:

  1. Advocacy
  2. Executive
  3. Finance
  4. Membership
  5. Nominating
  6. Program
  7. Public Information/Relations

Policies and Guidelines

The following policies and guidelines for the committees were adopted in 1996 and revised in 1998.

  • Each committee will have at least three members, including one or more members who are not serving on the Governing Board.


  • Each member of the Governing Board will serve on at least one committee, and all will identify potential committee members from the membership of The Friends.


  • The Governing Board will establish a schedule for reports of committee, either periodically, or as the affairs of a committee dictate.


  • Committee chairs will coordinate with the chairs of other committees where responsibilities intersect.


  • Each committee is expected to develop policies for its work and a work plan, to be approved by the Governing Board.


  • The president is a member ex-officio of each committee.


Responsibilities of Committee Chairs

The president appoints, subject to Board confirmation, chairs of Committees of the Governing Board. The responsibilities of a Committee Chair are to:

  • Organize and convene productive meetings of the committee.


  • Lead the committee in developing reports, recommendations for Board action, policies, and programs. Such reports and recommendations should be in writing and provided to the Board in advance of Board meetings.


  • Report to the Board at stated intervals on work, needs, and progress of the committee.


  • If a committee intends to seek Board approval of plans or policy, the committee chair should consult the President. If the President believes that it is warranted, the committee chair should meet with the Executive Committee at its meeting that precedes the Board meeting at which the matters will be discussed and acted upon. This procedure intends to ensure that the Board can act expeditiously on the matters.


  • Keep alert to possibilities for recruiting new committee members and follow up on expressions of interest by Friends and others.


 
Last modified on July 20, 2007
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