In 1966, the New York State Legislature authorized the establishment of reference and research library resources systems (councils) in Education Law. Governance and function are established in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. Each system is governed by a board of trustees and has a variety of advisory committees to help carry out its work.
The State created the regional councils to expand the availability of the resources of academic, medical, law, business and special libraries to more New Yorkers and to enable libraries of all types to buy services and share resources cooperatively in order to strengthen programs and services.
All nine of the reference and research library resources councils are supported by a combination of State Aid, membership dues and other revenue sources.
Counties served: Albany, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington
Counties served: Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga
Counties served: Nassau, Suffolk
Counties served: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Westchester
Counties served: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence
Counties served: Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming
Counties served: Allegany, Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Yates
Counties served: Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster
Counties served: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans