Hurricane Relief for Libraries

The Florida Library Association joins our members in distress over the tragedy of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our thoughts are with all members and Floridians who are impacted by the hurricanes.

FLA has developed a Hurricane Fund to help Florida libraries and library employees recover from damages due to the hurricane. FLA is a strong community, and together we can make a difference.

Thank you in advance for your support this GIVINGTUESDAY, December 3, 2024.

 


 

 

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor.  Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

Back in the day, the morning PBS line-up was Sesame Street and then Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It felt like Fred Roger was speaking directly to me every day. I felt his kind words deeply and still do. “Try your best to make goodness attractive. That’s one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given,” he once said. This quote resonates profoundly within the world of librarianship, where the values of kindness, inclusion, and accessibility are at the heart of our profession. Making goodness attractive as library professionals requires dedication, especially when the value of our work is at times questioned or misunderstood. We show this dedication every time we offer a welcoming space, support diverse perspectives, and promote access to information for all. Practicing goodness means standing firm in our values even when these ideals are challenged. FLA will continue to keep what is most important at the forefront.

 Read the full November 2024 President's Message here. 


2024-2025 President's Message

At the end of our annual conference this year, I had the joy of revealing our incoming annual theme: Overdue for Fun: Celebrating Libraries and Ourselves. I want this year to mark a moment when we focus on celebrating ourselves and our profession; something we often forget to practice.

You might be wondering, “Fun”? How can we find enjoyment during chaos within our profession and beyond? What I expressed in my speech is that one lesson I have learned in recent years is that despite the substantial amount of work ahead, we can also find connection and joy in our collective efforts. We can have fun while doing the good work we are doing. They can co-exist. What keeps me positive is reflecting on the emotions we feel when we get together at our conferences. There, we reconnect, laugh, and unite in our shared passion for our profession. What a wonderful gift it is to extend this all year long. We realize that we have a wonderful association and a powerful history.

READ MORE