2023 Annual Report Guide: 7 & 8 - Minimum Standards

Section 7: MINIMUM PUBLIC LIBRARY STANDARDS

MINIMUM STANDARDS

As of January 1, 2022, all public and free association libraries in New York State are required to meet the new minimum standards.

As communicated to Library Directors by RCLS Executive Director, RCLS will audit member libraries to ensure minimum standard number 1 and number 11 are met.

• Standard 1: Written Bylaws -  RCLS will be auditing member library websites to confirm that the posted Bylaws have been re-approved by the board of trustees at least once every five years or earlier if required by law.

• Standard 11: Provides Access to Current Library Information - RCLS will be auditing member library websites to confirm online information includes at a minimum the elements required by law. To meet this standard, a library must also post the following board-approved information online:
  • ByLaws (see Standard 1)
  • Long-Range Plan (see Standard 2)
  • Annual Report to the Community (see Standard 3)
  • Policies (see Standard 4)
  • Budget (see Standard 5)

Section 8: PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION

8.6 Minimum Weekly Total Hours - Main Library - The instructions state to excluded natural disasters or other events. 

8.10 should equal 9.15, unless your library has branches such as Haverstraw, Newburgh, Western Sullivan and Woodbury, then it’s the sum of all the branches.