Western New York Library Resources Council - WNYLRC

06/23/2026

We are so excited to announce that the Boston Free Library has been awarded a grant for our project, Connecting the Community to Nature: A Native Plant Garden & Outdoor Educational Space! This grant is made possible through the generosity of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation Rural Library Grant Program.

We are so grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to begin this project. We will be sharing the results with you throughout the process!
Thanks also to Western New York Library Resources Council - WNYLRC and Rochester Regional Library Council!

06/23/2026

Two additional study rooms are on the way!
Our deepest thanks to The Rural Libraries Grant Powered by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, whose generous support is making this project possible.

https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/
Western New York Library Resources Council - WNYLRC
Rochester Regional Library Council

06/09/2026

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

We’re thrilled to share that we have won a grant for our project, Roots of Elma: Rural Homesteading Through Libraries! This grant was made possible through the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation Rural Library Grant Program.

Thanks to this funding, we'll be bringing a variety of fun, hands-on homesteading programs to our community this fall. 🌱🐓🍞

Be sure to keep an eye out in September and October for exciting opportunities to learn new skills, connect with neighbors, and explore the traditions of rural homesteading.

Western New York Library Resources Council - WNYLRC Rochester Regional Library Council

06/09/2026

06/08/2026

From the Vault:

We’re dusting off some of the oldest bones in our collection with this photo… 🦕This is what our Hall of Geology and Paleontology looked like back in 1940! If you’re familiar with the Museum today, this space is now the In Motion Science Studio, while our dinos live on in our Rethink Extinct exhibit.

📸 This photo that was digitized as part of a project funded under an Access and Innovation Grant—a member grant awarded by Western New York Library Resources Council - WNYLRC . You can view this and over 1,200 glimpses of the Museum’s history just like it here: https://nyheritage.org/collections/hidden-views-salvaging-historic-images-buffalo-society-natural-sciences

Want to see these spaces or yourself and get in on some hands-on prehistoric fun? Stop by this Saturday at 2 p.m. for our Dinosaur Deep Dive family workshop, where you and your kids can learn about fossils and make your own fossil craft to take home!

06/08/2026

We are proud to be working with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and Rochester Regional Library Council on this grant supporting our rural libraries in the Western New York and Rochester regions!

The Aurora and Elma public libraries are among nine rural libraries selected to receive grants aimed at strengthening rural communities across Western New York.

📰: June 4
🔗: bit.ly/4uhVZIf

05/28/2026

In NYS, we are hoping to see eBook Licensing Reform happen. Currently, there is legislation (A.3589/S.9339) supporting a requirement that any contract between libraries and publishers who offer electronic books (eBooks and eAudiobooks) be governed by the laws of New York State under its authority to regulate intrastate commerce. Additionally, it would establish a list of provisions prohibited from inclusion in said contracts, thereby affording library patrons across our state equitable access to the content they seek.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9339

Digital access of library patrons is under threat…all because of rising e-book costs. Libraries are spending up to 3 times more than consumers to buy e-books, only for that content to expire.

That’s why we’re calling on North America’s Big Five publishers to work with libraries together to identify and implement real, sustainable solutions. Read our full statement: https://bit.ly/4dBnwj6

05/27/2026

Have you seen the Trail Birds mural at the Amherst Public Libraries Hon. Shirley Chisholm Branch yet?

05/13/2026

Did you know there is a local option in Western New York for ordering and processing your library acquisitions? See below!

There's a new kid in town for library book processing and fulfillment. 100% human, 100% local & independent, 100% billionaire-free. Just nice people, great books, great prices, gorgeous processing, and friendly service.