National Library Week - April 14-20, 2013

National Library Week Honorary Chair: Caroline Kennedy

Thanks to the staff at the Middleburg Public Library for such kind words

Jacksonville city officials release job cuts, layoff list

The library took the biggest hit with layoffs and demotions. 75 people will be bumped down a position in the library system, and 33 positions have been eliminated. Source

They’ve Got to See it to Believe It: Getting Decision Makers Into Your Library [webinar video]

In-person visits are critical for effective influence on politicians, particularly in an election year. With the last three months of the election season (phew!) around the corner, now is the time to press council members, legislators, administrators, school board members — in fact, anyone you can think of — to visit.
Video can be found at http://www.districtdispatch.org/2012/07/see-to-believe/

Jacksonville Public Library planning to slash hours, jobs

Published 7/9/2012
Faced with a requirement to cut $4.66 million from its budget, the Jacksonville Public Library board has proposed cutting jobs, closing all library branches on Sundays and most at least one other day a week.

This reduction of 264 service hours, or about 24 percent, will come along with the elimination of 71 full-time positions. That includes 41 vacancies and 30 filled jobs, including librarians and library technicians, from a total staff of 352, a 20 percent cut.
Source

Library budget solution delayed (FL)

Published Apr. 12, 2012 Pensacola News Journal
The more than 200 library supporters who turned out to the Escambia County Commission meeting Thursday scored a partial victory.

A definite decision on how the county will handle the bulk of its $9.5 million deficit this year has been delayed until June. But the County Commission said it would not agree to take away 72 percent of the West Florida Public Library System's budget as had been proposed by County Administrator Randy Oliver.
Source

Governor Scott veto's MLC funding (FL)

Governor Scott vetoed MLC funding and the Okaloosa County Public Library funding. The legislature had appropriated $1.5 million for Library Cooperatives and now that amount is "0." The legislature had appropriated $85,000 for Okaloosa County to replace state aid that they did not receive this year due to an application error and the Governor also vetoed it.
Source: Charlie Park via Email

National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) 2012

The 2012 National Library Legislative Day will be held on April 23 & 24 at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, D.C More Info

Library budget solution delayed (FL)

Published 4/12/2012
The more than 200 library supporters who turned out to the Escambia County Commission meeting Thursday scored a partial victory.

A definite decision on how the county will handle the bulk of its $9.5 million deficit this year has been delayed until June. But the County Commission said it would not agree to take away 72 percent of the West Florida Public Library System's budget as had been proposed by County Administrator Randy Oliver.
Source

100 Rally In Support Of Century Library (FL)

Published 4/11/2012 About 100 people from across the North Escambia area gathered Tuesday afternoon to show their support for the Century Branch Library. “Save Our Library”, “Don’t Close Our Library” — were a few of the signs held by people of all ages and backgrounds as they stood outside the library that could be closed by the start of the next fiscal year. The county may pull its contribution to the library system under a plan proposed by County Administrator Randy Oliver, closing the Century Branch Library and never opening the currently under-construction Molino Library. Source