Thursday, December 20, 2007

FLA Joins Facebook

The Florida Library Association now has a group page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com. While you're adding FLA to your group of friends, don't forget to join the FLA NMRT's group too!

FLA’s Facebook page will provide association members with a quick and easy way to network and keep up with what's going on in the library world in Florida. Be sure to check out FLA's other communication tools-- FLA Blog and FLA Listservs-- as well

National Library Legislative Day

Registration is open now for National Library Legislative Day 2008! Come to Washington, DC, and join hundreds of library supporters from across the country visiting Members of Congress. Share stories about libraries in your community and tell your Congressmen and women about the needs and accomplishments of those libraries.

For more information on registration and accommodations, please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/nlld2008.cfm.

Please send your registration forms and fees for National Library Legislative Day NLLD) to your state coordinator, who will forward the materials to the ALA Washington Office. The registration form can be printed from the NLLD website.

o State Coordinator information can be found at the NLLD State Coordinators page.
o Remember to include your registration fee in the amount of $20.00 with your registration form. Make checks payable to: National Library Legislative Day.

Monday, December 10, 2007

FLA Executive Director Search

The Florida Library Association seeks an executive director to manage Association activities, membership, and finances and to establish and manage an FLA office. The Association has an annual budget of approximately $300,000 and will have 1.5 FTE when the new office opens after the Executive Director is hired. The current Executive Director contracts to provide services and will be available to assist during the transition from contracted association management to employees working in an FLA leased office. The transition will be complete no later than June 30, 2008.

The Association prefers that the new FLA office be located in Tallahassee, Florida although other locations in the state will be considered depending on the preferences of Executive Director candidates.

Primary responsibilities include Board support; contract management (lobbyist, conference management, Web services, publication editors, and others); conference and other event planning; assuring compliance with federal and state requirements for 501c3 non-profit corporations; collaboration with and assistance to elected officers, committees and member groups; advocacy, including registering as a lobbyist with the Florida executive and legislative branches of state government; public relations; and membership and organization development.

Visit http://www.flalib.org/executive_director_search.html for more information.






Supervision and Reporting

The Florida Library Association Executive Director is an employee of the Association Executive Board. The President is the immediate supervisor of the Executive Director.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Serve as an ex officio, non-voting member on all committees.

2. Advance and support the interests of Association membership through efficient and effective leadership of Association affairs and by enabling members to be effective in their roles within FLA.

3. Form strong partnerships with other library-related organizations in Florida, with the American Library Association, and with organizations interested in libraries, literacy, and freedom of access to information.

4. Serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Association Executive Board, prepare Board meeting materials, assure that meeting logistics are arranged and announced, and assist the President in developing Board meeting agendas.

5. Manage and account for Association income, expenditures, and savings/investment, providing quarterly reports to the Treasurer. Coordinate approval of expenditures with the Treasurer and keep that officer and the President informed of the financial condition of the Association at least monthly. With the Treasurer, prepare an annual financial report for the Annual Business Meeting.

6. Hire, train and supervise Association employees.

7. Assure availability of an Association office location that is readily available to members via telephone and electronic communication.

8. Increase membership through an organized plan of recruitment and retention activities. Assist the Membership Committee in coordinating and implementing an effective program of membership development and services. Manage maintenance of an accurate, up-to-date membership database and provide regular membership reports to the Executive Board.

9. Recruit and educate new Association leaders. Assist the Leadership Development Committee in coordinating and implementing an effective program designed to cultivate new Association leaders. Assist the Vice-President/President Elect in identifying members to serve on committee each year and the Nominating Committee in identifying officer candidates for annual elections. Present formal orientation programs for new Board members, committee chairs, and member group leaders each year.

10. Facilitate recognition of and compliance with leadership responsibilities and deadlines of the Association. Provide one-to-one coaching and serve as a resource to answer questions and provide continuity for Association leadership.

11. Coordinate provision of an annual conference with exhibits by recommending a conference management firm to the Executive Board and working closely with the contracted firm throughout conference planning and the conference itself. Assist the Conference Committee in developing a conference program of events and programs and serve as liaison between the committee and the conference management firm.

12. Initiate and carry out fundraising activities to increase funds available for library advocacy and member services.

13. Represent the interests of Association leadership and members by contributing to long-range planning, both strategic and operational. Provide the Executive Board with a quarterly update of progress towards the goals and objectives of the annual strategic plan.


14. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of Association and FLA office activities, programs, services, and methods. In conjunction with the Planning Committee, recommend the continuance, enhancement, or discontinuance of Association activities.

15. Serve as spokesperson for the association under the direction of the President.

16. Coordinate Association communications. Manage the Web site, electronic email lists, and print and electronic publications and blogs. Assure that all communications are timely and fit within FLA’s mission. Maintain an effective internal and external public relations program to assure an informed membership, inform potential members and the media, Florida legislature, other associations and industry groups about FLA.

17. With the Secretary, assure accuracy of Executive Board minutes and other documents to be maintained in the FLA archive.

18. Develop and make available to membership an annual programmatic report.

19. Provide effective leadership in working with the Executive Board, FLA employees and contracted service providers, FLA units, and membership in the development and implementation of policies furthering the mission, goals, and objectives of FLA as these are specified in the annual FLA Strategic Plan.

20. Maintain the FLA Policy Manual and interpret and administer policies. Work effectively with the Executive Board to develop, implement, revise, and evaluate policy.

21. Maintain regular contact with committee and member group leadership to be aware of their activities and provide information to and from the Executive Board. Encourage Association leaders to communicate regularly with their constituents.

22. Attend ALA Mid-Winter and Annual Conferences as funds allow, participating in the meetings and activities of ICLAE and the ALA Chapter Relations Office.

23. Attend library-related functions across the state as funds allow.

Education and Experience Requirements

1. Education – minimum of an ALA accredited Master’s degree in librarianship/information services or business administration/management or other, related field

2. Experience – minimum of five years experience managing a library or non-profit membership association

Other Requirements
Physical – must be able to: stand and sit for a period of up to two hours; proficiency in spoken and written English; lift objects of up to 20 pounds in weight;

License –: must have a Florida driver’s license within two weeks of employment;

Skills: ability to drive an automobile; ability to effectively use Microsoft Office computer software products, Internet searching methods, email software such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, and Quick Books accounting software

Other –: must own an insured automobile or have access to an insured automobile that can be used for Association-related travel