Friends of Libraries Section | Randall Enos Conference Scholarship
About the Scholarship
The FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship will provide financial assistance for one member of the Friends of Libraries Section, who is also a member of a Friends of the Library group at any type of library in NYS, to attend the current year's NYLA Annual Conference. The scholarship is named in honor of FLS President Emeritus Randall Enos, a founding member of the Empire Friends Roundtable (EFR) established in 1992 and the precursor to FLS. Randy served as EFR President for six terms and has been a continuous member of both EFR and FLS. His dedication to the library community and support of Friends of the Library groups across the state is exceptional. He was the Youth Consultant at the Ramapo Catskill Library System in Middletown, NY from 1982 through his retirement in 2019 and he was recognized with the NYLA Outstanding Service to Libraries Award in 2000. Randy was named President Emeritus of the Friends of Libraries Section at the 2015 NYLA Annual Conference by the Executive Board of the Section.
What will the scholarship cover?
The FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship will reimburse costs associated with attending a NYLA Annual Conference, including conference registration, travel, meals, and lodging up to a maximum amount of $1000.
Who is eligible?
The FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship recipient is chosen based on the following criteria.
- The applicant is a community volunteer or staff member who is currently and actively involved in a local Friends of the Library group (verified by a statement from the local group).
- The applicant may or may not have previously attended a NYLA Annual Conference.
- The applicant must be a member in good standing of NYLA and the Friends of Libraries Section including:
- NYLA Personal and Organizational Associate members or
- Included in a NYLA Friends Group Organizational Membership
- Individuals may only receive one FLS Scholarship in their lifetime.
- Involvement in activities that contribute to and advance the library community (e.g., beyond the Friends group, volunteer experience in the library, and other professional, educational, or community volunteer roles).
Current elected Board members of FLS, the FLS Scholarship Coordinator, the Readers for the Scholarship, and student members of NYLA are not eligible to apply for the award.
How do I apply?
- Complete the scholarship application form and include the requested documentation and letter(s) of recommendation as outlined below.
- A letter (not to exceed two pages) that includes the following:
- Why do you wish to attend the NYLA Annual Conference?
- How do you plan to integrate your conference experience into your work with your Friends group?
- A statement from your local Friends of the Library organization to verify your membership in your local Friends group
- At least one letter of recommendation from an officer or committee chair in your Friends of the Library group or the library director
Additional Details:
- The FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship recipient will be notified during the summer so that they may register for the NYLA Annual Conference promptly. The recipient will be reimbursed for conference registration, travel, meals, and lodging expenses not to exceed $1000.
- FLS will provide clear instructions to the recipient regarding the process for reimbursement of acceptable conference expenses. Mileage will be reimbursed at the current NYLA-approved rate.
- The recipient should attend as many FLS-sponsored conference programs as possible.
- The recipient is asked to submit an article for the FLS newsletter, post-conference, reflecting on their conference experience and highlighting "take-aways."
- The award recipient is encouraged to publicize the award via their public library system regional library council newsletters and local media outlets including the library and/or Friends social media accounts.
- The recipient may be asked to evaluate the scholarship application process and procedures
- The recipient will be expected to attend the FLS Annual Membership Meeting (generally held as a virtual meeting in November).
What's the deadline to submit the application packet?
Submit application packets to the FLS Scholarship Coordinator by 5:00 p.m. on June 1. To apply please complete the form and email it, along with all supporting documentation, to Marie Bindeman, FLS Enos Scholarship Coordinator, at [email protected].
Questions?
Please direct questions to Marie Bindeman, (716) 433-0548, [email protected].
Nomination Packets
The deadline for submission of nominations for this prestigious award is June 1 by 5:00 p.m. It's not too early to think about applying for this scholarship!
FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship Nomination Packet PDF
FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship Nomination Packet DOCX
2021 FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship Recipient
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the 2021 recipient of the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship, Christopher Lund, President of the Friends of the Cortland Free Library.
2019 FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship Recipients (inaugural year)
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the first recipients of the FLS Randall Enos Conference Scholarship. They are Marianne Michaud from the Friends of the Fairport Public Library and Meg Sgombick from the Friends of the Florida Public Library.
In this inaugural year, scholarship recipients were selected based on a personal letter describing their interest in attending the NYLA Annual Conference and a statement of accomplishments. A letter of recommendation from their library director or Friends group officer was also required. The scholarship provides $750* to each of two FLS members to attend the NYLA Annual Conference in odd-numbered years.
*As the process for the scholarship evolved the FLS Executive Board determined to raise the amount of the scholarship from the advertised $500 to $750 to help provide a more expansive conference experience for the recipients who also receive free registration for the Continuing Education Workshop sponsored by FLS on the Pre-Conference day
Who Is Randall (Randy) Enos?
 Since 1988, Randy Enos has been a Friend of the library. He retired in February wrapping up a nearly 45-year career in service to libraries. FLS Scholarship Coordinator Anne Andrianos recently interviewed Randy. Here are some excerpts from that conversation.
How would you like to see the recipient use the scholarship?
It is my understanding that the scholarships will be used for attending the NYLA Annual Conference. People need to meet others from different communities to learn, get inspired - and perhaps see their own communities and community work in a new light. For librarians and library staff, attendance at the NYLA conference is usually subsidized by the library organization. This isn't the case for Friends, so I'm glad the FLS Board came up with a way to give some Friends an incentive to attend the conference - and I'm thrilled that my name is attached to it.
As a professional librarian, how did you get, and stay, so involved with Friends?
Some people are drawn to bars, some to church groups, and I was drawn to the library! The director of the Middletown Thrall Library asked me to start a Friends group. It was not only a life-changing experience, it made me look at my job as a librarian differently. My involvement with the Middletown Thrall Friends was personally rewarding in that I made lifelong friendships. I was also doing something positive for the community. To build support for a new library, the Friends (including me) went door-to-door asking residents what they thought about a new library building. Everyone I talked to favored a new library and eagerly told me how much they loved libraries. This was such an eye-opener for me as a librarian. I knew people who use libraries are passionate about them, but I was unaware that the general population was so passionate. This is one small example of how being involved with Friends has given me a different perspective on my profession.
Friends are a special kind of people. They care about the community and each other. They work together for the community's good. I've been very fortunate that all the Friends groups I've worked with have been so wonderful - you just want to do the most you can for them.
What Friends memory brings a smile to your face?
The brightest Friends "moment" would easily be the opening of the new Middletown Thrall Library which was the fruition of a lot of advocacy and blood, sweat, and tears. The opening of the library is one of the best things that ever happened in downtown Middletown. The library moved into a greatly expanded space in a formerly abandoned, but beautiful, train station. It was a real win-win situation - for the community, for the library staff, for the history (by saving the building), and for everyone involved. I am proud that our Friends group, which I helped form, made it happen. It not only makes me smile, it makes me beam!
What outcomes for scholarship recipients do you envision?
I hope that someone who might not have attended NYLA otherwise will take advantage of the scholarship and not only get inspired about their work with their local Friends but also be inspired to get involved in FLS and NYLA advocacy activities. I would love it if - in the future - a scholarship recipient ends up being FLS President.
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