Overview
In the late 1950s, the State Legislature and Governor authorized the establishment of public library systems in Education Law. Governance and function are established in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. Each public library system is governed by a board of trustees.
The State created library systems to expand the resources of all local libraries, enabling them to buy services and share resources cooperatively. Most of the 23 public library systems are supported entirely by State Aid. Systems qualify for aid based on an approved five-year plan of service and annual report. A portion of the State Aid is direct aid for member libraries.
System List
Brooklyn Public Library
County served: Kings
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
County served: Erie
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System
Counties served: Chautauqua, Cattaraugus
Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System
Counties served: Clinton, Essex, Franklin
Finger Lakes Library System
Counties served: Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga, Tompkins
Four County Library System
Counties served: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego
Mid-Hudson Library System
Counties served: Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Ulster [part]
Mid York Library System
Counties served: Herkimer, Madison, Oneida
Mohawk Valley Library System
Counties served: Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, Schoharie
Monroe County Library System
County served: Monroe
Nassau Library System
County served: Nassau
The New York Public Library
Counties served: Bronx, New York, Richmond
Nioga Library System
Counties served: Genesee, Niagara, Orleans
North Country Library System
Counties served: Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence
Onondaga County Public Library
County served: Onondaga
OWWL Library System
Counties served: Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming
Queens Borough Public Library
County served: Queens
Ramapo Catskill Library System
Counties served: Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster [part]
Southern Adirondack Library System
Counties served: Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington
Southern Tier Library System
Counties served: Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates
Suffolk Cooperative Library System
County served: Suffolk
Upper Hudson Library System
Counties served: Albany, Rensselaer
Westchester Library System
County served: Westchester
Types of Public Library Systems
Consolidated
Chartered as a single entity under a board of trustees. Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Borough Public Library are consolidated systems.
Federated
Created by action of the board or boards of supervisors or legislature of the county or counties involved while member libraries retain their own charters. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, Monroe County Library System, and Onondaga County Public Library are federated systems.
Cooperative
An association created by agreement of boards of chartered member libraries, which retain their autonomy. All other public library systems fall under this category.