There's a lot happening with FLA, and I'd like to take the opportunity to update you on a number of FLA activities and plans.
Tomorrow (Oct. 25) the Continuing Education Committee is co-sponsoring a virtual and in-person program on "The Changing Library: Keeping up with public needs and technology with less budget and staff" along with SEFLIN and the Broward County Library Association. (Information available at http://www.flalib.org/bulletin_board_documents/doing_more_with_less.pdf)
I hope that your library will be participating in Florida Library Snapshot Day on Nov. 2. Snapshot Day is part of a national effort sponsored by the American Library Association, and it's a great way to showcase the many things happening in our libraries. If you haven't already registered, the FLA Public Relations Committee has put all of the information that you need at http://www.flalib.org/snapshot_day_nov_2011.php.
The election of officers and Board members for the coming year is currently underway. You should have received an e-mail from FLA Executive Director Faye Roberts last week with instructions for voting. Be sure to cast your vote for Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, and 3 Directors before November 16.
The fall 2011 issue of Florida Libraries is on the website now. Our editor, Maria Gebhardt, has done a beautiful job with the editing and design. Earlier this year, the FLA Board voted to make the journal open access after a 2-month period in which only members could view the content. This issue has articles on some innovative activities and services offered by Florida libraries; a day in the life of libraries documented through Twitter; creating screencasting video tutorials; and a partnership between the Panama Canal Museum and the University of Florida. Be sure to take time to look at it!
Plans are well underway for the 2012 FLA Conference to be held April 18-20 at the Wyndham Resort in Orlando. The Conference Committee has reviewed program proposals and come up with a recommendation of programs that should appeal to a wide range of interests. If you didn't submit a program proposal, there will soon be an opportunity to submit a proposal for a poster session.
Library advocacy efforts are ongoing throughout the year, but they intensify during the Legislative session. This year, the Legislature convenes in January rather than its usual opening in March due to reapportionment. Library Day will take place on Feb. 1 in Tallahassee, and we hope that a lot of library supporters will come to meet with their legislators on that day.
Workshops for Friends, Foundations and Boards on tax and legal issues for nonprofits have been held in 7 locations around the state in past weeks. Dr. Rebecca Trammell, Director of the Stetson Law School Library has done a tremendous job in creating and presenting videos on these issues for the workshop series. The videos are now available on the FLA web site at http://www.flalib.org/friends_found_boards.php
FACRL, the Academic Member Group of FLA, held a very successful fall workshop in Daytona on October 21. The Leadership Development Committee sponsored a program on October 1 at the Clearwater Public Library featuring Ian Woodall speaking on "The Tao of Everest: The Gentle Art of Personal Inspiration and Practical Leadership." Earlier in the year, FLA and the Panhandle Library Access Network (PLAN) held a Mini-Conference in the Panhandle.
FLA is pleased to offer 3 scholarships to students in the graduate library degree program at FSU or USF and a scholarship to students enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or associates program in the state. Information about the scholarship and applications are available at http://www.flalib.org/scholarships.php . The deadline for applications is Feb. 1, 2012.
Be thinking about people, libraries, and programs that you'd like to nominate for one of this year's FLA awards. A list of the awards is on the FLA website at http://www.flalib.org/awards.php and more information about award nominations will be forthcoming.
This is also the time to renew your membership for the coming year. You can renew online at http://www.flalib.org/membership.php or print out a membership form and mail it in.
Thank you for being part of this vibrant and vital organization!
Gloria Colvin
President, Florida Library Association
Research Librarian
Strozier Library
Florida State University
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(850) 645-1680
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