FLA adds meaning: members tell their stories |
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What does FLA mean to you? The following stories highlight some of the responses we've received from our members. We urge you to add your own story to the FLA member page, and help attract more colleagues to the association. Please contribute your story by sending an email to flacommcoord@comcast.net. |
What FLA Has Meant to Me…
Four years ago, as a USF SLIS student, I joined FLA. Encouraged by Dr. Kathleen McCook, I was one of a group that petitioned for the creation of a Museums & Cultural Heritage Special Interest Group (SIG). More recently, I joined other FLA members to petition for creation of a GLBT Discussion Group. In both instances, FLA responded swiftly and graciously in approving the petitions. The FLA response was exhilarating: it communicated a sincere willingness to listen to members and a respect for their interests and priorities.
It is no exaggeration to say that FLA's approval and support of the Museums & Cultural Heritage SIG was a turning point in my professional and personal life. In retrospect, I did not fully realize four years ago the growth opportunities that would flow from FLA membership, participation in annual conferences, and contributions to FLA publications. FLA gave me an immediate and enduring sense of purpose and “belonging” to a community of people exemplary of my most cherished values: lifelong learning, intellectual freedom, commitment to ethical principles, and devotion to democratic ideals and institutions. FLA’s leadership in preserving the State Library and actively supporting equal access to information and library services for all people in our pluralistic society has been inspiring. This kind of principled leadership strengthens my desire to remain a member and deepens my pride in the title “librarian.”
On a more personal level, what I have found in FLA is close, comforting connections with a delightful group of locally-based colleagues, on one hand, and a window on the broad, diverse, international, and even futuristic world of libraries and librarians, on the other. I am in transition from nearly twenty years of teaching community college English and humanities to a new identity as a librarian. FLA has helped me to make that transition by applying knowledge and experience gained in the past to envisioning the future.
----Carmine Bell, Professor of English, Pasco Hernando Community College
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When I first arrived in Florida on my sailboat back in 1984, one of the first
things I did was to check out the statewide library association in order to get
a picture of the overall look of libraries in Florida. I even attended a
conference session (although finding a skirt was an issue on the boat!) I was
impressed with the fine people I met in FLA, many of whom I have contacted
numerous times since with library questions. As a library director, I still call
around to FLA colleagues to find out how they do it when we are considering a
new or changed process or service in Sarasota County. The annual conference has
always been a highlight of the year for me, both to meet folks and to learn. I
appreciate the devotion of the FLA members who volunteer countless hours to plan
the conference and serve on boards, committees, interest and discussion groups
and special projects.
Florida Libraries is a fine journal and, along
with the News Digest, provides information I can't find elsewhere. I look
to FLA for leadership when talking to our legislators about library issues. I
count on our Legislative Committee and lobbyist to stay on top of action at the
State level and to fill me in as issues develop, and they always come through.
For these and other reasons I consider FLA worth every penny and I hope you do,
too.--Nancy
Pike, FLA President, 2005-2006, Director, Sarasota County Libraries |
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What Florida Library Association means to me!!!!
As soon as I became a librarian I was involved in FLA
because I believed then and now in their mission “To promote the library
interests of the State of Florida and cooperate and coordinate its activities
with regional and national library association”. I am very fortunate that my
library supports my involvement with FLA either as a member and/or as a chair of
a committee.
I learned all my leadership skills from my immediate
supervisors and from FLA leaders. I will always be grateful to FLA leaders for
mentoring me.--Mercedes Clement,
Head Technical Services, Senior Professor/Librarian, Daytona Beach Community
College |
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I’ve been a member of FLA for many years—since the early 90’s—and FLA has helped
me to make friends, especially of other directors. We help each other out and
get feedback from professional colleagues. Keeping abreast of current issues,
legislation, and new trends has been key to my development in the library field.
FLA provides an arena for staff to join and speak, do workshops, and learn from
others. It also helps our Governing Board members to understand what libraries
are all about, and be effective proponents. It’s great to visit other towns and
other libraries to see how they function. It has been invaluable to me.
--Cheryl Turner, Director, Wilderness Coast
Public Libraries |
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The Florida Library Association
served as my inspiration and support in the past 20 years. I attended my first
FLA conference before I even came to Florida from Georgia to start my new job
with the State Library (I was visiting my parents in Tampa). Participating in
FLA helped me to develop a network of colleagues who shared their expertise and
friendship. Working with others reminded me of the greater purpose and mission
of libraries. Collaborative professional involvement refreshes me and stimulates
my creativity and passion. FLA helps you see beyond the daily grind and details
to the critical importance of providing access to information.--Elizabeth
Curry, Library Consultant
From my
early career as a librarian, FLA has provided me the opportunity to get involved
statewide. FLA has had a history of being open and available to all. As a
"young" librarian, it was especially exciting for me to take on leadership roles
and to facilitate programs at the conference and in my part of the state on
outreach and literacy services. FLA has always been the most accessible,
consistent place I could go for training and trends in Florida's libraries. It
has been especially important to me because the ALA conferences have been held
in the state so seldom over the last 30 years!--Sandy
Newell, Library Program Specialist, Florida State Library and Archives
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I still remember attending my first FLA
conference. Since that time, I think of FLA as a place that is both welcoming
and businesslike. The warm environment continues to balance the necessary
mission to support libraries and librarians. Membership has afforded me several,
opportunities (that I would not trade) to work with colleagues in a mutual
exchange of professional knowledge and experience. I think especially of my
FACRL colleagues. On another level, I value the role of the association as a
gateway to different types of libraries - regional, national and international.
My first impression of FLA remains unchanged. --Mervyn
Solomon, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Miami Dade College Homestead Branch
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I first joined
FLA in 1964 when I came to Tampa as Director which was 41 years ago. In 1970 I
was President and hired the first FLA legislative advocate, (Eugenie Suter). We
took as our project to secure a new State Library building. The State Library
had been in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building "temporarily" for 25
years. That summer Eugenie and I visited every member of the Appropriations
Committee in their own district, either at home or at their office. Without
fail, they all promised to appropriate money for a new State Library building in
the next session. And they did! That's how we got the R A Gray Building. Talking
to legislators at home in the off season and not during the session is much more
effective. --Cecil Beach, Library
Consultant, Founding Director, Broward County Library System, Former President,
FLA
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About 18 years ago I enrolled in a
Doctoral program at Nova. Since then they have changed the name of the program, the course work and the teaching staff,
but I have kept the friend I sat near in the very first class. And the habit to
;which she introduced me. Karlinne Wulf-Lamphear worked for Miami-Dade. Together
we were the only public librarians in this group so we tended to talk before and after the few get-togethers. She informed me she was going off to this really great conference, a chance to improve job skills, network, see the new techniques and
books via friendly vendors, and she invited me to be her roommate. She didn't
mention she was planning for me to take over running her caucus. In the 17 years since, I
have missed but 3, or was it 4, conferences. FLA was everything she indicated. I have chaired Caucuses (helped bury two when we couldn't get people to revive them, but help two others get off the ground) and
one Committee, worked for local arrangements, blown up balloons for Danny
Hales, andenjoyed every conference. FLA reconfirms my dedication to my field, which I believe is made up of caring individuals who do more with a little less than
most people would believe possible. Somewhere in the fine print it must state
that library staff are also made of India rubber because we keep stretching to
include new responsibilities without dropping any of the old - and getting a
handle on the new trends is often addressed at our conferences. I have met fantastic people who had so much to share, show and teach. Each time I come
back invigorated and excited and recommitted. Believe me, that is not always easy
after 34 years as a professional. --Becky D. Peters,
Manager, Imperial Point Branch Library, Broward County Libraries |
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Join FLA now! |
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