Florida Library Association

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Florida Library Association
A palm tree standing over what looks like a book with the words Florida Library Association across the middle
NicknameFLA
Formation1920; 101 years ago (1920)
59-1159907
HeadquartersTallahassee, FL
Parent organization
American Library Association
Websitewww.flalib.org

The Florida Library Association (FLA) is a regional, non-profit organization that promotes professional discourse and opportunities for the library community in Florida.[1] The FLA publishes the Florida Libraries Journal.[2]

The organization's mission shares similar goals with the American Library Association (ALA), in that organization members promote adapting to the new information age. The Florida Library Association began meeting in 1906,[3] but it was officially formed in 1920 by Helen Virginia Stelle, director of the Tampa Public Library.[4][5] In addition to its publication, Florida Libraries , the FLA provides a forum for issues and advocacy.[1]

History[]

Prior to any formal organization, the first state-wide assembly of Florida librarians took place in December 1906 in St. Augustine. On April 26, 1920, the Florida Library Association was officially established. The institution started out with 23 charter members, their primary goal was to embolden the state government to establish a state library agency and to endorse legislation that allowed for counties to establish their own libraries within their own communities.[6] They were successful in their efforts and in 1925 the state library was established. It was to be fully realized in 1927 and in 1931 and a county library law was sanctioned. The first chairman and then president of the Florida Library Association was Helen Virginia Stelle.[6] Each year since 1920, with the exception of 1943-1945 (due to WWII), the conference has taken place in various libraries throughout the state. This federation and assembly of Florida librarians have brought about progress in discourse, activism, and forward-thinking adaptations to the way libraries function throughout the state.[6] Themes explored include “Threshold of a New Decade” in 1969, in 1966, the goal was to become “The Enlightened South”, in 1986 the discourse was about libraries’ functioning as a “Renewable Resource”, and the conference in 2000 focused on “Diverse Libraries to Serve Floridians”. All the themes mentioned above combined with the continued goals detailed in the 1935 Florida Library Survey, which states that the organization “must take the lead to inform citizens of the desirability of library service to meet their practical and cultural needs.”, has and will continue to inform the assembly, its mission, and its activism.[6]

Advocacy[]

The FLA addresses important or impactful issues that affect Florida's libraries or intellectual freedom.[7] Their Statement on Professional Education states that Librarians and Library Directors must have a master's degree in Library and Information Sciences or Studies to uphold professional standards. The Statement on Privatization of Publicly-Supported Libraries advocates that efforts to privatize libraries by for-profit organizations should be opposed.

FLA organizes a yearly Library Legislative Day where librarians, library advocates, and other supporters meet at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee to speak with legislators in order to raise awareness of library issues.[8]

Court cases[]

In 2006, the FLA filed an amicus curiae memorandum in the United States District Court in support of an ACLU and Miami-Dade Student Government Association lawsuit. The Miami-Dade County School Board removed the book Vamos a Cuba and "A Visit to..." book series from the Miami-Dade School Board libraries and classrooms. In early 2009, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision to return the book to the school libraries.[7][9]

Censorship[]

The FLA supports the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) in their opposition to filed Florida legislation HB855 and SB1454, which has been criticized by the National Coalition Against Censorship for weakening First Amendment rights to freedom of speech by "authorizing any Florida resident (even if they have no connection to a particular school or library) to sue for injunctions to remove material they deem controversial and burden school districts with legal fees and court action."[10]

Public awareness tools[]

The FLA works to show the benefits of Florida's libraries. On their website, the Association promotes several tools and information sources, including Return on Investment information, data to support advocacy messages, Access Studies, and recommended readings.[11][12]

Friends of Florida Libraries Honor Roll[]

The Friends of Florida Libraries Honor Roll supports FLA advocacy activities within the state government. Every year, the Friends of Florida Libraries sponsors a Library Day in Tallahassee in order to advocate for funding, library related legislation, and awareness.[13][14]

Archives[]

Bernadette E. Storck- Past President and Archivist for the Florida Library Association.

The Florida Library Association records are available for research at the University of South Florida Libraries Tampa Special Collections. The collection consists of 144 boxes of historical research material and institutional records, ranging from 1905 to 2015. Included in the repository are meeting minutes, treasurer's reports, conference programs, planning material, newspaper clippings, photographs, committee records, and other associated subject files. They were organized by Bernadette E. Storck, 1979-1980 FLA president. The collection is available to affiliated University of South Florida researchers and the general public.[15]

Awards[]

The FLA offers several awards for outstanding librarians, advocates, and leaders every year.[16] The awards include the following:

  • FLA Leader of the Year Award- Recognizes distinguished service.
  • Librarian of the Year Award- Recognizes outstanding contributions to the field.
  • Library of the Year Award- Recognizes outstanding service to the community.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award- Recognizes a long, distinguished record of professional achievements and accomplishments.
  • Outstanding Citizen Library Award- Recognizes a citizen who has advanced the stature of libraries within Florida.
  • Outstanding New Librarian Award - Recognizes a Florida librarian that is new to the profession and has made significant contributions to their library or librarianship.[21]
  • Outstanding Paraprofessional: Recognizes a library professional or support staff member that has made significant contributions to libraries in Florida.[22]
  • Friends, Foundations and Boards Outstanding Member Award- Recognizes a member of a library group for outstanding service.
  • Intellectual Freedom Award- Recognizes an individual or organization who made a contribution to right of access.
  • Web Site Awards: Public Library, Special or Academic Library, or Youth Services- To award "good design and usability in web page development."
  • Maria Chavez-Hernandez "Libraries Change Peoples' Lives" Award- Awards individuals or libraries with outreach programs for immigrant or underserved populations.
  • Exemplary Learning Design Award- Recognizes excellent classes, tutorial programs, or fact-finders in libraries.
  • Library Innovation Award- Awards libraries who use emerging technologies in an innovative manner.
  • Outstanding Business/Media Partner Award- To honor a supporter of Florida libraries.
  • Libraries Mean Business Award- "To recognize a library's contributions to the business community."
  • Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award- Recognizes innovative or outstanding youth programs.

Scholarships[]

The FLA offers multiple scholarships each year. In 2018-2019, there were three scholarships offered.[23] There were 3 FLA MLS Graduate scholarships for $2,000 each. The first one was the Florida State University Scholarship that was for a student attending the Florida State University MSLIS graduate program. The second scholarship was the Bernadette Stork/University of South Florida Scholarship that was for a student who was attending the University of South Florida MLIS graduate program. The third scholarship was the Minority Scholarship, for an MLS graduate student attending either Florida State University or the University of South Florida.

List of presidents[]

Year President
2020 Laura Spears
2019 Eric Head
2018 Sarah J. Hammill
2017 Elana Karshmer
2016 Gene Coppola
2015 Linda McCarthy
2014 Gladys Roberts
2013 Barbara J. Stites
2012 Gloria Colvin
2011 John Callahan
2010 Wendy Breeden
2009 Mercedes Clement
2008 Charlie Parker
2007 Sol Hirsch
2006 Nancy Pike
2005 Derrie Perez
2004 John Szabo
2003 Marta Westall
2002 Betty Johnson
2001 Mary Brown
2000 Madison Mosley
1999 Mary Jane Little
1998 Patricia DeSalvo
1997 Eileen Cobb
1996 Elizabeth Curry
1995 Helen Moeller
1994 Susan Anderson
1993 Ann Williams
1992 Alphonse Trezza
1991 Linda O'Connor-Levy
1990 Thomas Reitz
1989 Althea Jenkins
1988 John D. Hales
1987 Lydia Acosta
1986 James Wheeler
1985 John McCrossan
1984 Jean Rhein
1983 Harold Goldstein
1982 Ada Seltzer
1981 Samuel F. Morrison
1979-1980 Bernadette Storck
1979 John DePew
1978 Glenn Miller
1977 Eloise Harbeson
1976 Ed Sintz
1975 Virginia Grazier
1974 Dennis Robison
1973 David Kantor
1972 Leo Meirose
1971 Lynn Walker
1970 Cecil Beach
1969 DeLyle Runge
1968 Verna Nistendirk
1967 Elizabeth B. Mann
1966 Margaret Chapman
1965 Harry Brinton
1964 Thomas Dreier
1963 Ruth Rockwood
1962 Betty S. Lunnon
1961 Elliott Hardaway
1960 Frank B. Sessa
1959 Archie L. McNeal
1958 Helen L. Keepfe
1957 Dorothy Dodd
1956 Elizabeth Peeler
1955 William Frieze
1954 Dr. Louis Shores
1953 Alice Pearce
1952 Paul A.T. Noon
1951 Clara E. Wendel
1950 Stanley L. West
1949 Sara Malcolm Krentzman
1948 Betty W. Service
1947 Ida Kelley Cresap
1945-1946 Eulah Mae Snider
1943-1944 Wesley Summers
1942 Bertha Aldrich
1941 Olive Brumbaugh
1940 R.W. Severance
1939 Henrie Mae Eddy
1937-1938 Mary Bright
1936 Carl Bohnenberger
1934-1935 William F. Yust
1932-1933 Louise Richardson
1931 Helen V. Stelle
1929-1930 Joseph F. Marron
1928 Olive Brumbaugh
1926-1927 Anne VanNess Brown
1924-1925 Cora Miltimore
1923 Louise Gamsby
1922 Helen V. Stelle
1921 Joseph F. Marron
1920 Helen V. Stelle (Convener)
1907-1910 George Burwell Utley
1905-1906 Carolyn Palmer

[24]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "FLA Mission Statement". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  2. ^ "Florida Libraries". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  3. ^ Urbec, Karen. “The History of the Florida Library Association Is a Story of Service, Devotion, and Hard Work.” Florida Libraries 63, no. 1 (Spring 2020): 20–23.
  4. ^ Storck, Bernadette (2006). "From the FLA Archives: a Collection of Events, Facts and Personages from the Past". Florida Libraries. 49 (2): 23.
  5. ^ Gebhardt, Maria. 2014. “The Florida Library Association: A Century of Leadership, Advocacy, and Communication.” Florida Libraries 57 (2): 5–10.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Urbec, K. (2020). The History of the Florida Library Association is a Story of Service, Devotion, and Hard Work. Florida Libraries, 63(1), 20–23.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "FLA on the Issues". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  8. ^ "FLA Home Page". flalib.org.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2014-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ https://ncac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Florida-Legislation-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  11. ^ "FLorida Public Library ROI - Home". state.fl.us. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  12. ^ "FLA Public Awareness Tools". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  13. ^ "Honor Roll Campaign". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  14. ^ "Library Day at the Legislature". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  15. ^ University of South Florida Libraries - Special Collections (2020). "Guide to the Florida Library Association records, 1905-2015".
  16. ^ "FLA Awards". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03.
  17. ^ "2015 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  18. ^ "2016 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  19. ^ Layton, Karen. "2018 FLA Award Winners". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  20. ^ "Library Broward County Library". www.broward.org. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  21. ^ "Outstanding New Librarian Award" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Outstanding Paraprofessional Award" (PDF).
  23. ^ O'Donnell, Lisa. "2019 Scholarship Information". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  24. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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