Member librarians, trustees, volunteers, friends, and advocates are warmly invited to the 2024 STLS Annual Meeting and Reception. This year's event will be held at the Steele Memorial Library - Chemung County Library District in Elmira, New York (Chemung County). The cooperative library system's social gathering takes place Friday, October 4th from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm. There will be morning beverages at the beginning of the event, and a reception of appetizers and refreshments will be held at the end of the event. 

The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for STLS members to come together for the purpose of celebrating the accomplishments of member libraries, elect STLS trustees, and hear from professionals who can help us deliver on public library mission.

This is the second annual meeting over a course of five years where the event moves from one STLS county to another. Each year it will be held at a member library within one of our five counties. In 2023, we visited David A. Howe Public Library in Allegany County. This year we will host in Chemung County at Steele Memorial Library (2024). Future years will include Yates (2025), Steuben (2026), and Schuyler (2027). 

Below you will find this year's details. 

AGENDA

9:30 – 10:00 am: Meet & Greet for Member Librarians, Trustees, Volunteers, Friends, and Advocates

10:00 – 10:10: am: Welcome from STLS Board President Kathy Green & Election of STLS Trustees

10:10 – 10:20 am: Annual Remarks from STLS Director Brian M. Hildreth

10:20 – 11:10 am: Celebration of Award & Scholarship Recipients

11:10 – 11:50 am: Guest Speakers: NYLA Executive Director AnnaLee Dragon and NYLA Director of Government Relations & Advocacy Max Prime

Program Description: Advocating for NYS Libraries & the Impacts of Your Professional Association – Leaders of the New York Library Association will provide an overview of behind the scenes advocacy efforts to help fund and support NYS libraries and library systems, which is a year round initiative. And discuss how grassroots efforts at the local level through STLS members libraries makes all the difference.  

11:50 am: Closing remarks to go forward and do the good work! 

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Membership Reception

“STLS’ sole purpose is to connect, empower and advocate for all Southern Tier public libraries. It is the relationship between our members and the system that makes STLS so special.”

2022 – 2026 Southern Tier Library System Plan of Service