Outreach Services: Coordinated Outreach Services Program

The Southern Tier Library System provides coordinated outreach library services both directly and through our member libraries to target populations who are most in need and who often are not regular library users.

Target populations include:

• People who are Blind or who have a Physical Disability
• Seniors
• People who have a Developmental or Learning Disability
• People living in Institutionalized Settings
• Members of Ethnic or Minority Groups in need of special services
• People who are Educationally Disadvantaged
• People who are Unemployed or Underemployed
• People who are Geographically Isolated
• At Risk Youth, ages birth - 21 years

Under New York State Education Law, §273 (1) (h) (1), and Commissioner's Regulations §90.3, Public Library Systems provide Coordinated Outreach Library Services directly and through their member libraries to New Yorkers who are most in need and who often are not regular library users.

Each library system maintains a Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Group which meets at least twice a year, includes 5-11 members, includes members of the target population groups and agencies who work with these groups within the system's service area, and one director of a member library. Council members are to serve three-year terms.

Current members of the STLS COSAC include:

• Angela Gonzalez, Director of the Penn Yan Public Library
• Phyllis Balliett, Deputy Director of CSS Workforce NY
• Krystle Blencowe, Director of Steuben Rural Health Network
• Wendy Harrison, Manager of Employment & Training at Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc.
• Lois Wilson, Manager of Communications and Media Relations at United Way of the Southern Tier
• Keturah Cappadonia, Outreach Consultant at Southern Tier Library System