Competitive Wages and Benefits Survey of North Country Libraries, Archives, and Museums
About the survey
Many of us likely have had conversations about the challenges (and joys) of working in libraries, archives, and museums in the North Country, especially in relation to competitive wages and benefits. Yet limited data exists on which to build a shared understanding about how workers are compensated and how they feel about their work—a prerequisite for action.
That gap has motivated the Competitive Wages and Benefits Survey of North Country Libraries, Archives, and Museums.
Data on wages, benefits, and working conditions for staff of North Country libraries, archives, and museums will allow us individually, institutionally, and collectively to tell a more complete story about the field’s contribution to our region and to advocate, internally and externally, for workers and organizations by 1) raising public and cross-institutional awareness; 2) providing concrete data to guide discussions with workers, funders, policymakers, board members, organizational leaders, and others; and 3) establishing benchmarks and collecting innovative ideas.
We are interested in gathering information from all libraries, archives, and museums with at least one paid staff member in the North Country. All employees in any of these institutions are invited to complete the survey.
About the team
This survey was developed as a collaborative inquiry project convened through the Northern New York Library Network, in response to the question, “What actions do we need to take to determine and achieve competitive benefits and wages for library staff?” The first step in a plan toward progress is gathering information on where we are and how workers feel about that. The collaborative inquiry team brings together a group of diverse workers from public libraries, academic libraries, historical associations, Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, North Country Library System, and the Northern NY Library Network.
Ask questions, share ideas
We welcome your questions, thoughts, and ideas for how information collected in this survey might be used to advocate for stronger workers and institutions in the North Country. Contact compensationsurvey@nnyln.org at any time.
Please also join us on May 6, 2026, at 11am to learn more about the survey or share ideas. This short information session will describe the survey and its goals, and provide ample time for Q&A with the team of workers leading the project. Register to receive the Zoom link.
FAQ
Who should complete the survey?
We are interested in gathering information from all libraries, archives, and museums with at least one paid staff member in the North Country. All employees in any of these institutions are invited to complete the survey.
Is everyone on staff allowed to complete the survey?
Yes. In order to provide the most comprehensive picture of our region, we welcome submissions from any paid staff member of any library, archives, or museum in the North Country.
If my organization is all volunteer run, can we participate in the survey?
Not right now. This survey seeks to gather information from all libraries, archives, and museums with at least one paid staff member in the North Country. But we recognize the tremendous and critical role that volunteers play in so many libraries, archives, and museums in the North Country. Because of that, in the future, we hope to collect and explore more comprehensive data on volunteer contributions to these organizations.
When will the resulting analysis be made available?
The survey will close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. We anticipate that follow-up analysis will be complete two months after the survey closes.
In what form will you share the resulting analysis?
Results will be shared in the form of aggregate analysis. All survey analysis will be structured to ensure responses cannot be related to a specific individual or organization. Any personally identifiable information, including institution name, collected through form submission will be separated from the data set.
Survey analysis will be shared publicly at this website and sent out via email to lists associated with the Northern New York Library Network, Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, and North Country Library System.
Survey analysis will further be presented by members of the collaborative inquiry group in live virtual forums. Dates for these forums will be announced after the survey closes, and all will be welcome to participate.
Is the survey anonymous?
Yes! Results will be shared in the form of aggregate analysis. All survey analysis will be structured to ensure responses cannot be related to a specific individual or organization. Any personally identifiable information, including institution name, collected through form submission will be separated from the data set.
Are staff members at library systems supposed to complete the survey?
Yes. In an effort to gain the most comprehensive data, we seek submissions from all workers at library systems in the North Country. This includes public library systems, school library systems, and the Northern NY Library Network.
Who is collecting the data? Who will analyze the data?
The survey was developed as a collaborative inquiry project convened through the Northern New York Library Network, in response to the question, “What actions do we need to take to determine and achieve competitive benefits and wages for library staff?” The first step identified in a plan toward progress was gathering information on where we are in the region and how workers feel about where we are. The collaborative inquiry team brings together a group of diverse workers from public libraries, academic libraries, historical associations, North Country Library System, Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, and Northern New York Library Network, and the resulting analysis will be conducted by this group.
Team members include:
Carlene Berman, St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture
Matt Corey, North Country Library System
Amy Dickinson, Northern NY Library Network
Emily Hastings, Canton Free Library
Regan Keefe, Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System
Ed Komara, SUNY-Potsdam Crane Music Library
Katelyn Legacy-Roulston, Northern NY Library Network
Dawn Vincent, North Country Library System
How can I learn more?
Please join us on May 6, 2026, at 11am to learn more about the survey or share ideas for how information collected might be used.
This short information session will describe the survey and its goals, and provide ample time for Q&A with the team of workers from North Country libraries, archives, and museums who are leading the project.
Register to receive the Zoom link.
You can also email compensationsurvey@nnyln.org at any time with questions or thoughts.