Florida Library Association

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]

Florida Library Association
NicknameFLA
Formation1920 (1920)
59-1159907
HeadquartersTallahassee, FL
Parent organization
American Library Association
Websitewww.flalib.org

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] In addition to its publication, Florida Libraries , the FLA provides a forum for issues and advocacy.[1]

Advocacy

The FLA addresses important or impactful issues that affect Florida's libraries or intellectual freedom.[5] 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.[6]

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.[5][7]

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."[8]

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.[9][10]

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.[11][12]

Archives

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. The collection is available to affiliated University of South Florida researchers and the general public.[13]

Awards

The FLA offers several awards for outstanding librarians, advocates, and leaders every year.[14] 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.[19]
  • Outstanding Paraprofessional: Recognizes a library professional or support staff member that has made significant contributions to libraries in Florida.[20]
  • 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.[21] 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
YearPresident
2020 Laura Spears
2019 Eric Head
2018 Sarah J. Hammill
2017Elana Karshmer
2016 Gene Coppola
2015 Linda McCarthy
2014Gladys Roberts
2013Barbara J. Stites
2012Gloria Colvin
2011John Callahan
2010Wendy Breeden
2009Mercedes Clement
2008Charlie Parker
2007Sol Hirsch
2006Nancy Pike
2005Derrie Perez
2004John Szabo
2003Marta Westall
2002Betty Johnson
2001Mary Brown
2000Madison Mosley
1999Mary Jane Little
1998Patricia DeSalvo
1997Eileen Cobb
1996Elizabeth Curry
1995Helen Moeller
1994Susan Anderson
1993Ann Williams
1992Alphonse Trezza
1991Linda O'Connor-Levy
1990Thomas Reitz
1989Althea Jenkins
1988John D. Hales
1987Lydia Acosta
1986James Wheeler
1985John McCrossan
1984Jean Rhein
1983Harold Goldstein
1982Ada Seltzer
1981Samuel F. Morrison
1979-1980Bernadette Storck
1979John DePew
1978Glenn Miller
1977Eloise Harbeson
1976Ed Sintz
1975Virginia Grazier
1974Dennis Robison
1973David Kantor
1972Leo Meirose
1971Lynn Walker
1970Cecil Beach
1969DeLyle Runge
1968Verna Nistendirk
1967Elizabeth B. Mann
1966Margaret Chapman
1965Harry Brinton
1964Thomas Dreier
1963Ruth Rockwood
1962Betty S. Lunnon
1961Elliott Hardaway
1960Frank B. Sessa
1959Archie L. McNeal
1958Helen L. Keepfe
1957Dorothy Dodd
1956Elizabeth Peeler
1955William Frieze
1954Dr. Louis Shores
1953Alice Pearce
1952Paul A.T. Noon
1951Clara E. Wendel
1950Stanley L. West
1949Sara Malcolm Krentzman
1948Betty W. Service
1947Ida Kelley Cresap
1945-1946Eulah Mae Snider
1943-1944Wesley Summers
1942Bertha Aldrich
1941Olive Brumbaugh
1940R.W. Severance
1939Henrie Mae Eddy
1937-1938Mary Bright
1936Carl Bohnenberger
1934-1935William F. Yust
1932-1933Louise Richardson
1931Helen V. Stelle
1929-1930Joseph F. Marron
1928Olive Brumbaugh
1926-1927Anne VanNess Brown
1924-1925Cora Miltimore
1923Louise Gamsby
1922Helen V. Stelle
1921Joseph F. Marron
1920Helen V. Stelle (Convener)
1907-1910George Burwell Utley
1905-1906Carolyn Palmer

[22]

References
  1. "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. "FLA on the Issues". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  6. "FLA Home Page". flalib.org.
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2014-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. https://ncac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Florida-Legislation-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  9. "FLorida Public Library ROI - Home". state.fl.us. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  10. "FLA Public Awareness Tools". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  11. "Honor Roll Campaign". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  12. "Library Day at the Legislature". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  13. University of South Florida Libraries - Special Collections (2020). "Guide to the Florida Library Association records, 1905-2015".
  14. "FLA Awards". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03.
  15. "2015 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  16. "2016 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  17. Layton, Karen. "2018 FLA Award Winners". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  18. "Library Broward County Library". www.broward.org. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  19. "Outstanding New Librarian Award" (PDF).
  20. "Outstanding Paraprofessional Award" (PDF).
  21. O'Donnell, Lisa. "2019 Scholarship Information". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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