Florida Library Association
 | |
| Nickname | FLA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1920 |
| 59-1159907 | |
| Headquarters | Tallahassee, FL |
Parent organization | American Library Association |
| Website | www |
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] 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]
Awards
The FLA offers several awards for outstanding librarians, advocates, and leaders every year.[13] 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.
- 2006. Mary Jane Little, Director – St. Johns County Library
- 2009. Doreen A. Gauthier
- 2010. Linda Allen, Pasco County Library System
- 2011. Paul Clark. The Library Guy.
- 2012. Jim Morris. For strong leadership on the Task Force on the Future of Academic Libraries in Florida
- 2013. Carolynn Volz. Hodges University
- 2014. Susan Dillinger. New Port Richey Public Library.
- 2015. Ellen Schellhause. Director of the Maitland Public Library.[14]
- 2016. David Mather. Gulfport Public Library.[15]
- 2017. Ava Ehde, Manatee County Public Library
- 2018. Tina Neville, University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP)[16]
- 2019. Kelvin Watson- "Innovative and Inclusive"- Broward County Public Library [17]
- 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.[18]
- Outstanding Paraprofessional: Recognizes a library professional or support staff member that has made significant contributions to libraries in Florida.[19]
- 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.[20] 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
References
- ^ a b "FLA Mission Statement". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Florida Libraries". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Storck, Bernadette (2006). "From the FLA Archives: a Collection of Events, Facts and Personages from the Past". Florida Libraries. 49 (2): 23.
- ^ a b "FLA on the Issues". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ^ "FLA Home Page". flalib.org.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ https://ncac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Florida-Legislation-Fact-Sheet.pdf
- ^ "FLorida Public Library ROI - Home". state.fl.us. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ^ "FLA Public Awareness Tools". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ^ "Honor Roll Campaign". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ^ "Library Day at the Legislature". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ^ "FLA Awards". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03.
- ^ "2015 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ "2016 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ Layton, Karen. "2018 FLA Award Winners". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- ^ "Library Broward County Library". www.broward.org. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ "Outstanding New Librarian Award" (PDF).
- ^ "Outstanding Paraprofessional Award" (PDF).
- ^ O'Donnell, Lisa. "2019 Scholarship Information". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)