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

Nickname	FLA
Formation	1920 (1920)
Tax ID no.	59-1159907
Headquarters	Tallahassee, FL
Parent organization	American Library Association
Website	www.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]

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

[21]

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. "FLA Awards". flalib.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03.
14. "2015 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
15. "2016 FLA Annual Awards" (PDF). Florida Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
16. Layton, Karen. "2018 FLA Award Winners". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
17. "Library Broward County Library". www.broward.org. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
18. "Outstanding New Librarian Award" (PDF).
19. "Outstanding Paraprofessional Award" (PDF).
20. O'Donnell, Lisa. "2019 Scholarship Information". fla.memberclicks.net. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External Links

• Florida Library Association website
• Southeastern Library Association website