New York State Library

Division of Library Development


NEW YORK STATE'S SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS

Ensuring that all New York's students are information literate

WHAT IS A SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM?

New York State's School Library Systems are State-funded consortia designed to support the school library media programs of member public school districts and nonpublic schools. School Library Systems provide specific services and programs that support the learning process of students, teachers and staff. School library systems promote increased student achievement through the use of quality school library media resources, information and programs.

SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS: Access, Content, Training

SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS SERVE Students, school library media specialists, faculty and administrators in public and nonpublic member schools.

Connect Pre-K–12 students to a world of information:

Conduct professional development and awareness activities:

  • EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAMS IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

    BACKGROUND INFORMATION

    • In 1984, the State Legislature authorized the establishment of school library systems in Education Law 282-284.Governance and function are established in regulations of the Commissioner of Education (CR 90.18). School Library Systems are based within the State's Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and the Big 5 City school districts.
    • The 41 school library systems are supported primarily by State Aid. Systems qualify for aid based on an approved five-year Plan of Service, annual budget and annual report. In addition to a base grant, State Aid is allocated by a formula that includes the number of member school districts, the number of pupils in the service area and the square mileage of the system service area.

    NEW YORK STATE'S SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS

    BIG 5 CITIES

    • Buffalo
    • New York
    • Rochester
    • Syracuse
    • Yonkers

    BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (BOCES)

    • Albany-Schoharie-Schenectady-Saratoga (Capital Region)
    • Broome-Delaware-Tioga
    • Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming
    • Cayuga-Onondaga
    • Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington (Champlain Valley)
    • Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego
    • Dutchess
    • Erie 1
    • Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus
    • Franklin-Essex-Hamilton
    • Genesee-Livingston-Steuben-Wyoming (Genesee Valley)
    • Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery
    • Jefferson-Lewis
    • Madison-Oneida
    • Monroe 1
    • Monroe 2-Orleans
    • Nassau
    • Oneida/Herkimer/Madison
    • Onondaga-Cortland-Madison
    • Orange-Ulster
    • Orleans-Niagara
    • Oswego
    • Otsego-Northern Catskills (Otsego-Delaware-Schoharie-Greene)
    • Putnam-Northern Westchester
    • Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene (Questar III)
    • Rockland
    • St. Lawrence-Lewis
    • Schuyler-Steuben- Chemung-Tioga-Allegany (Greater Southern Tier)
    • Westchester #2
    • Suffolk, Eastern
    • Suffolk, Western
    • Sullivan
    • Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga
    • Ulster
    • Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex
    • Wayne-Finger Lakes (Ontario-Seneca-Yates- Cayuga-Wayne)

    FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS:

    For more information on and links to School Library Systems and school libraries:

    Click on this for an image map of school library systems in New York State


    For more information on the New York Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVELNY):
    Visit the New York State Library's NOVELNY web site
    NOVELny

    Back to the School Library Systems Program Page | Back to the Libraries and Library Systems Page