Florida Library Association


The Florida Library Association is a regional, non-profit organization that promotes professional discourse and opportunities for the library community in Florida. The FLA publishes the Florida Libraries Journal.

History

The Florida Library Association began meeting in 1906, but it was officially formed in 1920 by Helen Virginia Stelle, director of the Tampa Public Library. In addition to its publication, Florida Libraries, the FLA provides a forum for issues and advocacy.
Prior to any formal organization, the first state-wide assembly of Florida librarians took place in December 1906 in St. Augustine. On April 26 and 27, 1920, the Florida Library Association was officially established.
The institution started out with 23 charter members whose primary goal was to embolden the state government, to establish a state library agency, and to endorse legislation that allowed for counties to establish their own libraries within their own communities. They were successful in their efforts, and in 1925 the state library was established. In 1931 a county library law was sanctioned. The first chairman and then-president of the Florida Library Association was Helen Virginia Stelle.
Each year since 1920, with the exception of 1943-1945, the conference has taken place in various libraries throughout the state. This federation and assembly of Florida librarians have brought about progress in discourse, activism, and forward-thinking adaptations to the way libraries function throughout the state. Themes which over its history have informed the FLA assembly, its mission, and its activism include “The Enlightened South” in 1966, “Threshold of a New Decade” in 1969, libraries as a “Renewable Resource” in 1986, and “Diverse Libraries to Serve Floridians” in 2000.
The 1935 Florida Library Survey statement demonstrates the FLA’s commitment to its mission by indicating that the organization “must take the lead to inform citizens of the desirability of library service to meet their practical and cultural needs.”

List of presidents

YearPresident--
2025Allison Grubbs--
2024Jorge Perez--
2023Douglas Crane--
2022Shane Roopnarine2021Phyllis Gorshe
2020Laura Spears--
2019Eric Head--
2018Sarah J. Hammill--
2017Elana Karshmer--
2016Gene Coppola--
2015Linda McCarthy--
2014Gladys Roberts--
2013Barbara J. Stites--
2012Gloria Colvin--
2011John Callahan--
2010Wendy Breeden--
2009Mercedes Clement--
2008Charlie Parker--
2007Sol Hirsch--
2006Nancy Pike--
2005Derrie Perez--
2004John Szabo--
2003Marta Westall--
2002Betty Johnson--
2001Mary Brown--
2000Madison Mosley--
1999Mary Jane Little--
1998Patricia DeSalvo--
1997Eileen Cobb--
1996Elizabeth Curry--
1995Helen Moeller--
1994Susan Anderson--
1993Ann Williams--
1992Alphonse Trezza--
1991Linda O'Connor-Levy--
1990Thomas Reitz--
1989Althea Jenkins--
1988John D. Hales--
1987Lydia Acosta--
1986James Wheeler--
1985John McCrossan--
1984Jean Rhein--
1983Harold Goldstein--
1982Ada Seltzer--
1981Samuel F. Morrison--
1979-1980Bernadette Storck--
1979John DePew--
1978Glenn Miller--
1977Eloise Harbeson--
1976Ed Sintz--
1975Virginia Grazier--
1974Dennis Robison--
1973David Kantor--
1972Leo Meirose--
1971Lynn Walker--
1970Cecil Beach--
1969DeLyle Runge--
1968Verna Nistendirk--
1967Elizabeth B. Mann--
1966Margaret Chapman--
1965Harry Brinton--
1964Thomas Dreier--
1963Ruth Rockwood--
1962Betty S. Lunnon--
1961Elliott Hardaway--
1960Frank B. Sessa--
1959Archie L. McNeal--
1958Helen L. Keepfe--
1957Dorothy Dodd--
1956Elizabeth Peeler--
1955William Frieze--
1954Dr. Louis Shores--
1953Alice Pearce--
1952Paul A.T. Noon--
1951Clara E. Wendel--
1950Stanley L. West--
1949Sara Malcolm Krentzman--
1948Betty W. Service--
1947Ida Kelley Cresap--
1945-1946Eulah Mae Snider--
1943-1944Wesley Summers--
1942Bertha Aldrich--
1941Olive Brumbaugh--
1940R.W. Severance--
1939Henrie Mae Eddy--
1937-1938Mary Bright--
1936Carl Bohnenberger--
1934-1935William F. Yust--
1932-1933Louise Richardson--
1931Helen V. Stelle--
1929-1930Joseph F. Marron--
1928Olive Brumbaugh--
1926-1927Anne VanNess Brown--
1924-1925Cora Miltimore--
1923Louise Gamsby--
1922Helen V. Stelle--
1921Joseph F. Marron--
1920Helen V. Stelle --
1907-1910George Burwell Utley--
1905-1906Carolyn Palmer--

Advocacy

The FLA addresses important and impactful issues that affect Florida's libraries and intellectual freedom. Its Statement on Professional Education states that Librarians and Library Directors must have a master's degree in Library and Information Sciences or Studies to uphold professional standards. The Statement on Privatization of Publicly-Supported Libraries advocates that efforts to privatize libraries by for-profit organizations should be opposed.
The FLA organizes an annual Library Legislative Day during which librarians, library advocates, and other supporters meet both virtually and in person at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee to speak with legislators in order to raise awareness of library issues.
In 2024 Vice President/President-Elect Jorge Perez flew to Washington, DC to participate in the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies "Voices for Libraries event."

Friends of Florida Libraries Honor Roll

The Friends of Florida Libraries Honor Roll supports FLA advocacy activities within the state government. Every year, the Friends of Florida Libraries sponsors a Library Day in Tallahassee in order to advocate for funding, library related legislation, and awareness.

Scholarships

The FLA provides multiple scholarships annually for students to enroll in programs of library and information science.