The Florida Library Association held a press conference this morning as part of their Campaign to Convince Floridians of the Value of Public Libraries. We had good attendance, a number of print and TV press folks, so you may be hearing about it in your area. The press release below is going out today from Herrle Communications, the PR firm that is assisting us with the campaign. If you see anything in your paper or on your TV about this please let Ruth O'Donnell, FLA Executive Director, know by sending an e-mail to flaexecutivedirector@comcast.net.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2007
CONTACT: Jennifer Abdelnour: jennifer@herrle.com
Doing more with less, Florida public libraries continue to provide lifeline to essential services
Libraries are portals to technology, government and literacy
TALLAHASSEE -- Advocates for Florida's public libraries came together today to promote the wide range of essential services they provide to Floridians, as well as call for their continued funding and support. Speaking from the steps of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library, public library experts underscored the high value Floridians place on public libraries and the many unsung resources they offer to millions, including free access to information technology, government services and literacy development.
"Florida's public libraries are not a luxury," said Florida Library Association (FLA) president Charlie Parker. "Floridians of all ages treasure their local libraries as vital community connections and resources for fostering not only the literacy of our children, but our adults, as well," he added.
Some of the most popular public services available at libraries today are free computer usage and access to information technology via high-speed Internet connections.
"For the millions of Floridians without a computer or Internet access at home, public libraries' connectivity is a necessity," said John Carlo Bertot, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Director of the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University.
Bertot added, "Public libraries have also become agents of e-government by providing residents across the state with Internet access to local, state and federal services, some of which are available only online."
For instance, libraries and librarians provide direct assistance to those seeking information about how to apply for public assistance, file income taxes electronically, search for the perfect job, or how to become a U.S. citizen, among many other government services. In fact, both a national study and a survey of Florida's public library directors found that some state agencies routinely direct recipients without computer access to local libraries to obtain assistance in navigating agency Web sites, applying for government benefits and services or just to seek additional information.
"Library users and government agencies expect libraries to provide easy access to government services, despite a lack of additional funding or training," said Bertot.
Free year-round programming for youth is another example of vital public services Florida public libraries offer. This includes such resources as the Born to Read and Summer Library Programs, homework help, and story times and other school readiness and support programs. These services help develop new readers and library users by fostering the love of reading for reading's sake.
"Research has shown the best predictor of children's summer learning loss or gain is whether or not the child reads during the summer," said Carole Fiore, independent Training and Library Consultant. "Studies indicate that children who participate in summer reading programs increase both their vocabulary and reading comprehension scores," Fiore added.
In addition to the lifeline they extend to communities on a day-to-day basis, many libraries have also proven crucial to disaster recovery.
Public libraries have served as temporary shelters for hurricane survivors and emergency personnel, as communication centers and often as the only places with working Internet connections and phone lines. Disaster victims use these services to search for missing family, check weather and neighborhood conditions and to complete Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance claim forms online.
Despite the extensive information and resources Florida public libraries offer, they remain a remarkably efficient government service.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Florida libraries serve the public at an average cost of $26.59 per person annually, which is 16 percent less than the national average for public library service.
Lean fiscal times, however, challenge this efficiency on a daily basis.
Many Florida public libraries are already experiencing shorter hours of operation, staff layoffs, hiring freezes and a reduction of available materials. Additional budget cuts could result in even shorter library hours or branch closings and deeper cuts to personnel, materials and services, such as bookmobiles, outreach to senior centers and services for people with disabilities.
"Clearly, decreased funding for libraries mean cuts to essential services," Parker noted. "Future funding cuts will only further jeopardize the ability of public libraries to serve the needs of all Floridians," he added.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Poster Session Applications Sought for FLA 2008
Applications are being accepted for poster session presentations at the 2008 Florida Library Association Annual Conference (http://www.flalib.org/conference_2008.html).
Application forms and related information are available at the following website:
http://library.ucf.edu/Presentations/FLA2008/PosterSession.htm
Applications also may be e-mailed to Matt Torrence, Chair of the FLA Continuing Education Committee, at torrence@lib.usf.edu. Please be sure to provide the poster title, author's name, institutional address, e- mail address, and a 150 word abstract.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, February 22, 2008. Applicants will be notified by Friday, March 7, 2008 concerning the outcome of the review process. Poster sessions will be presented April 23 - 25, 2008 at the conference, being held at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg.
Questions? Contact Matt Torrence at torrence@lib.usf.edu or by phone at (813) 974-2779.
**Please note that due to space restrictions, roundtable sessions are not being offered at the 2008 FLA Annual Conference.
Application forms and related information are available at the following website:
http://library.ucf.edu/Presentations/FLA2008/PosterSession.htm
Applications also may be e-mailed to Matt Torrence, Chair of the FLA Continuing Education Committee, at torrence@lib.usf.edu. Please be sure to provide the poster title, author's name, institutional address, e- mail address, and a 150 word abstract.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, February 22, 2008. Applicants will be notified by Friday, March 7, 2008 concerning the outcome of the review process. Poster sessions will be presented April 23 - 25, 2008 at the conference, being held at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg.
Questions? Contact Matt Torrence at torrence@lib.usf.edu or by phone at (813) 974-2779.
**Please note that due to space restrictions, roundtable sessions are not being offered at the 2008 FLA Annual Conference.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
FLA Conference Teaser
2008 FLA Annual Conference and Exhibition preconference information is leaking out slowly. Check out this exciting opportunity!
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Think, Lead, & Manage like Today's Top Library Leaders!
The "best of the best" in library leadership share their insights and views on what it takes to be a leader in today's ever-changing social and economic environment. Developed at the Leadership Institute at Syracuse University, this preconference workshop gives participants the building blocks to recognize the traits and styles of leaders, sharpen existing skills, and master new strengths. It emphasizes the principles of superior leadership. Moreover, this workshop offers people the practical tools and techniques to become effective leaders.
What You Can Expect…
- Identify your leadership orientation.
- Learn how leaders master change.
- Increase your capacity to lead and manage.
- Conduct a personal self-assessment in order to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Presenter David Bendekovic has more than 25 years of experience building and growing commercial software, wireless, Internet, and telecommunications companies. David is recognized as a skilled training and development specialist with first-hand knowledge of what it takes to be successful. During the past three years, over 4,000 people representing over 1,500 organizations have attended his leadership, marketing, and customer service workshops. David is vice-president of Polaris Library Systems. He also serves as a program director for the Leadership Institute at Syracuse University, teaches at the University's Whitman School of Management, and serves as an advisor/consultant for student agencies at Cornell University.
Aspiring library leaders, you don't want to miss this FLA preconference!
Tradewinds Beach Resorts and Conference Center, St. Pete Beach, Florida
April 22, 2008
Visit http://www.fiu.edu/~hammills/FLA/leaders.pdf for more information.
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Think, Lead, & Manage like Today's Top Library Leaders!
The "best of the best" in library leadership share their insights and views on what it takes to be a leader in today's ever-changing social and economic environment. Developed at the Leadership Institute at Syracuse University, this preconference workshop gives participants the building blocks to recognize the traits and styles of leaders, sharpen existing skills, and master new strengths. It emphasizes the principles of superior leadership. Moreover, this workshop offers people the practical tools and techniques to become effective leaders.
What You Can Expect…
- Identify your leadership orientation.
- Learn how leaders master change.
- Increase your capacity to lead and manage.
- Conduct a personal self-assessment in order to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Presenter David Bendekovic has more than 25 years of experience building and growing commercial software, wireless, Internet, and telecommunications companies. David is recognized as a skilled training and development specialist with first-hand knowledge of what it takes to be successful. During the past three years, over 4,000 people representing over 1,500 organizations have attended his leadership, marketing, and customer service workshops. David is vice-president of Polaris Library Systems. He also serves as a program director for the Leadership Institute at Syracuse University, teaches at the University's Whitman School of Management, and serves as an advisor/consultant for student agencies at Cornell University.
Aspiring library leaders, you don't want to miss this FLA preconference!
Tradewinds Beach Resorts and Conference Center, St. Pete Beach, Florida
April 22, 2008
Visit http://www.fiu.edu/~hammills/FLA/leaders.pdf for more information.
Friday, November 16, 2007
FLA 2008 Membership Renewal Notice
It's time to renew your FLA membership! And now, it's even easier to do so! Visit http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=114714 to renew your membership online, or go to http://www.flalib.org/PDFdocuments/MEMBERSHIP%20APPLICATION%202008.pdf to print a mail-in renewal form. Regardless of the method you choose, don't forget to select the New Members Roundtable as one of your Member Group affiliations.
One more thing-- don't forget that students can get joint FLA / ALA membership for only $32!! Take advantage of the savings while you still can!
One more thing-- don't forget that students can get joint FLA / ALA membership for only $32!! Take advantage of the savings while you still can!
Florida Libraries: Call for articles
Article proposals are being accepted for the spring 2008 issue of Florida Libraries. The spring issue is not a themed issue, so articles may be on any topic related to Florida libraries or on the theme for the 2008 FLA Annual Conference, "Celebrate the Leader in You."
Proposals for articles should be submitted to Gloria Colvin (gpcolvin@yahoo.com) by December 1 using the proposal form at http://www.flalib.org/forms_pdf/Form_18.pdf. Articles are due by January 7, 2008.
Guidelines for publishing in Florida Libraries are available at http://www.flalib.org/pub_Guidlines.html.
Proposals for articles should be submitted to Gloria Colvin (gpcolvin@yahoo.com) by December 1 using the proposal form at http://www.flalib.org/forms_pdf/Form_18.pdf. Articles are due by January 7, 2008.
Guidelines for publishing in Florida Libraries are available at http://www.flalib.org/pub_Guidlines.html.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Footnotes
The latest issues of Footnotes, the newsletter of the ALA NMRT, is available at http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/footnotes/november2007a/footnotesnov2007.htm.
Highlights include:
Articles: "How Valuable Are You?" and "The Classroom Meets the Real World"
Regular Features: "Job Talk Column: Making the Most of the Resume Review Service"
Scholarship Announcements
Highlights include:
Articles: "How Valuable Are You?" and "The Classroom Meets the Real World"
Regular Features: "Job Talk Column: Making the Most of the Resume Review Service"
Scholarship Announcements
Thursday, November 1, 2007
FLA Legislative Platform Summary Available
The FLA Legislative Platform summary is available at http://www.flalib.org/PDFdocuments/FLA%20Leg%20Platform%202008.pdf. Details on the issues in the platform will be available soon.
Public library folks will want to read the section about State Aid to Libraries - the amount FLA is requesting from the legislature has changed from the $10 M FLA asked for in the last several years. We are hoping this approach of tying increases to a four year goal (Governor's term of office) that relates to increases in the cost of living will be better received than the $10 M request has been.
Public library folks will want to read the section about State Aid to Libraries - the amount FLA is requesting from the legislature has changed from the $10 M FLA asked for in the last several years. We are hoping this approach of tying increases to a four year goal (Governor's term of office) that relates to increases in the cost of living will be better received than the $10 M request has been.
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