Membership Requirements

See Article III, Section 1 of the constitution. All institutional members must operate in Nassau or Suffolk County.

Membership Fees

The exception is fees for historical societies, museums and archives are fixed at $80. See the definitions below to determine which membership level is appropriate.

Definitions

Academic Library

An Academic Library is defined as the library associated with a degree-granting institution of higher education. Academic libraries are identified by the post-secondary institution of which they are a part and provide all of the following:

• An organized collection of printed or other materials or a combination thereof;
• A staff trained to provide and interpret such materials as required to meet the informational, cultural, recreational, or educational needs of clientele;
• An established schedule in which services of the staff are available to clientele; and
• The physical facilities necessary to support such a collection, staff, and schedule.

(based on the definition from NCES)

Library Systems

These are chartered by the NY Dept. of Education. All three types of systems are clearly identified by the NY Department of Library Development (Library Systems Page). The systems operating in Nassau and Suffolk County are the only systems eligible for membership.

Public Library

New York state law clearly defines how a public library can be established in Education Law Section 255 Establishment of a public library. The NY Department of Library Development also has an established list of public libraries that includes explanations of the different types of public libraries.

Hospital Library

HLSP legislation establishing the program includes the following definition:

(1) Hospital library shall mean a library in any hospital licensed by the New York State Department of Health which serves the professional information needs of professional and related staff. A hospital shall mean any not-for-profit hospital licensed by the New York State Department of Health, under article 28 of the Public Health Law, except:

(i) a facility against whose certificate action has been taken pursuant to Public Health Law, section 2806;
(ii) a diagnostic and/or treatment center, a nursing home, or a home health agency; or
(iii) a psychiatric hospital, even though housed within a hospital as defined under section 2801 of the Public Health Law.

School Library

Commissioner's Regulations -  NYCRR Title 8 – Education - §91.1 School libraries

A school library shall be established and maintained in each school. The library in each elementary and secondary school shall meet the needs of the pupils, and shall provide an adequate complement to the instructional program in the various areas of the curriculum.

(a) For secondary schools in which the average daily attendance is fewer than 200 pupils:

(1) the library of a junior high school shall contain at least 1,000 titles;
(2) the library of a high school shall contain at least 1,000 titles; and
(3) the library of a junior-senior high school shall contain at least 2,000 titles.

(b) The library of a secondary school in which the average daily attendance is more than 200 but fewer than 500 pupils shall contain at least 3,000 titles.

(c) The library of a secondary school in which the average daily attendance is more than 500 but fewer than 1,000 shall contain at least 5,000 titles.

(d) The library of a secondary school in which the average daily attendance is more than 1,000 pupils shall contain at least 8,000 titles.
§90.18 School Library Systems with a mention of school libraries

Special Library

Special libraries offer unique institutions in places such as corporations, non-profits, hospitals, the military, law firms, advertising agencies, professional associations, private businesses, and the government. Special libraries can serve particular populations, such as the blind and physically handicapped, while others are dedicated to special collections, such as the Library of Congress or a presidential library.
(based on ALA definitions)

Historical Societies, Museums, and Archives

All member historical societies and museums must have a state charter as an historical society or museum (see NY state requirements). There is an exception in this requirement for municipal and religious archives.

Historical Society

An organization that seeks to preserve and promote interest in the history of a region, a period, or a subject.
(based on the Society of American Archivists definition)

Museum

A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying and/or preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private collections that are used by researchers and specialists. Compared to a library, a museum hosts a much wider range of objects and usually focuses on a specific theme such as the arts, science, natural history, local history, and other topics.

Municipal and Religious Archives

This includes town, city, county, and religious organizations that collect the records of individuals, families, and/or their own organization. These organizations must provide some level of public access to be eligible.
(based on the Society of American Archivists definition)