Florida Libraries

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE FLORIDA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Volume 46, No.1 Spring 2003

Annual Conference & Tradeshow April 22-25, 2003 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista TABLE OF CONTENTS

President’s Column: The 10 Things I’ve Learned As FLA President ...... 3 By Marta Westall Florida Libraries Two New Libraries Established in Broward County: JOURNAL OF FLORIDA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Nova Southeastern University and Volume 46, Number 1 Florida Libraries is published twice a year for Broward County Collaborate on Joint-Use Library.. 4 the members of the Florida Library By Harriett McDougall Association. It is indexed in Library Literature, and articles in the Fall issue of each year are Broward County African-American Research juried. Library and Cultural Center Opens For Service ...... 5 By Julie Hunter Editor Gloria Colvin, [email protected] Floridiana With A Twist: Florida Flicks...... 6 Florida State University Libraries By Nancy Pike Designer Barratt Wilkins Leaves Sturdy Foundation and Faye Howell, Meacham Howell Design Visionary Blueprint...... 7 FLA Executive Board, 02-03 President, Marta Westall Library Education At A Distance ...... 8 Central Florida Library Cooperative By William Modrow Vice President/President-elect, John Szabo Earning an M.L.S. From 2,300 Miles Away...... 9 Clearwater Public Library System Secretary, Rob Lenholt By Bob Bertoldi Stetson University Treasurer, Charlie Parker Digitizing Our Cultural Heritage: State Library of Florida Past President, Betty Johnson The Broward County Library WPA/MEP Stetson University Digitization Project...... 12 Directors By Guy Slack Susan Dillinger New Port Richey Public Library Digitizing Southwest Florida’s Heritage...... 13 Vicki Gregory University of South Florida By Vince Mariner, Barbara Stites, and Stephan Schonberg Vincent Mariner Southwest Florida Library Network Providing Access for All: Wendy Breeden Florida’s Electronic Library ...... 14 Lake County Library System ALA Councilor By Mark Flynn Althea Jenkins Florida State University Libraries Florida Reads: Florida African American SELA Representative Authors ...... 17 Kathleen Imhoff Broward County Library By Joyce Sparrow State Librarian Barratt Wilkins Taking Our Pulse: Using Electronic Communications Coordinator Polling to Gauge Customer Opinion ...... 18 Gloria Colvin By Ruth Maddox Swan FLA FLA Annual Conference Preview ...... 20 Executive Secretary Marjorie Stealey, [email protected] FLA and You ...... 23 Advertising: Kim O’Dell http://www.flalib.org Member, Florida Magazine Association Send articles for Florida Libraries to Editor Gloria Colvin, Strozier Library, Florida State University, 105 Dogwood Way, TM Tallahassee, FL 32306; Discover treasure @ your library [email protected] by January 7 for Spring issue; July 15 for Fall issue.

2 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries PRESIDENT’S COLUMN The 10 Things I’ve Learned as FLA President

By Marta Westall 8. The Retirement of State Librarian Barratt Wilkins Friends After twenty-six years as State Librarian Mr. Wilkins has decided to lay down the 1. I have made an effort to visit with mantle and enjoy retirement. His years as Friends of Libraries groups whenever State Librarian have resulted in significant possible to thank them for their support of accomplishments, including creating one of libraries and encourage their advocacy efforts. this country’s premier State Library Agencies. We have an incredible resource in our Friends The State Library is structurally within the groups; they cannot be thanked often enough. Department of State, reporting to the 2. Term of Office Secretary of State. Mr. Wilkins retirement at While it is undeniably a thrill to be elected a time when the Secretary of State is changing to the Presidency, there is very little that can from an elected to an appointed office means be done in a one-year term of office. Most that this event is and will continue to be a seismic event for Florida’s library community. Presidents select one or two things to Marta Westall accomplish; I would encourage future leaders The Florida Library Association takes this to follow that example. opportunity to thank Barratt Wilkins, State important to libraries and librarians, it seems Librarian of Florida, for his service to the 3. Click and Brick to me that what we do is a public good, libraries and the people of Florida. Or, is the Internet killing off the need for valuable beyond measure. libraries and intermediaries who can sift 9. The Wonderful Variety 6. Advocacy through mountains of information to find of Libraries Now more than ever with the restructuring what is needed? I think the following quote We are rich in the variety of libraries serving sums it up well: in state government, it is important that we Florida’s citizens – directly through public tell the library story to any who will listen “With all due respect to the Web...the more institutions, indirectly through institutes, and push for adequate funding to meet the information that’s available online, the more private companies, and many others such as valuable competent advisers and middlemen needs of citizens of Florida. newspaper and hospital libraries. All flourish become... I’m saying [this] because there’s a 7. Membership and Involvement because of the high commitment of the big difference between information and In the past two years, the Membership librarians, cooperating with colleagues in other knowledge. Someone has to filter the Committee has conducted focus groups libraries regardless of type. information—much of which may not be around the state to determine membership 10. Need for Development and true—and do something useful with it. The desires and needs. Consensus seems to be that Recruitment more information there is, the more choices FLA offers an excellent annual conference The looming shortage of librarians has spurred there are, and the harder it is to make a and journal, but needs to offer more con- librarian and First Lady Laura Bush to decision.” tinuing education, increased communication spearhead a $10 million initiative to educate Source: Sloan, Allan. “Long Live the Middleman.” amongst the membership, and more incentives Newsweek, June 14 1999, v.133, 24, 46. and train librarians. Anticipating the loss of for taking part in leadership activities. While as many as 68 percent of current professional 4. Pizza Delivery Model there is still much work to be done, several librarians by 2019, the initiative is designed I would like to see libraries adopt a model of steps have been taken, such as offering several to help recruit a new generation of librarians. pizza delivery or remote banking - as long as continuing education opportunities outside The President’s initiative recognizes the key the service is delivered it doesn’t matter where of the annual conference; instituting one role of libraries and librarians in maintaining it comes from. Some good examples of this general membership and several special the flow of information that is critical to model are Books By Mail programs and 24/7 interest listservs; changing the term of office support formal education; to guide Reference service on the Internet. to reflect the conference year; and planning intellectual, scientific, and commercial recognition activities for leaders and tools to enterprise; to strengthen individual decisions; 5. Libraries ... Priceless make the job easier. It seems obvious to me that you can’t put a and to create the informed populace that lies The continuation of the progress initiated at the core of democracy. price on an educated population. Nor is there this year is entirely dependent upon the a price tag attached to opening a child’s mind participation of FLA members, and it is Now that I’ve learned 10 things and have to the knowledge of the world or providing incumbent on us all to get and stay involved some free time.... I’m going to Disney World! the setting for the development of a new idea. in Association activities! Come and join me at the Annual Conference While I of course know that money is very in Orlando April 23-25 and you can, too!

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 3 PERSPECTIVE Two New Libraries Established in Broward County

Nova Southeastern University and Broward County Collaborate on Joint-Use Library

By Harriett MacDougall open to Broward County residents and NSU a portion of the operating expenses. The students, faculty, and staff alike. county also provides a portion of the n December 8, 2002, the staff at acquisitions budget for the purchase of library O the Library, Research, and Cooperative Venture materials. Information Technology Center at The unique agreement between a private Nova Southeastern University university and county government is not the Benefits to Users (NSU) celebrated the one-year anniversary first partnership for Broward County. Broward Each partner has gained from the alliance. of the grand opening of the joint-use library. County Library has shown a strong Broward County residents have gained a high- The new library is a joint-use facility between commitment to outreach in the community, tech research library with a well-trained staff. NSU and the Broward County Board of partnering with Broward Community College, The new library is open one hundred hours County Commissioners. Conceived by Don Broward School Board and Florida Atlantic a week, adding over twenty-five hours per Riggs, Vice President for Information Services University to name a few. Nova Southeastern week of library use by county residents. and University Librarian at NSU and Sam University also has a history of community County residents who have registered for Morrison, Director of the Broward County outreach. The fifty-four-page agreement library cards have access to over one hundred Library, the 325,000 square foot building took between Nova Southeastern University and premier research databases within the library sixteen months and $44,000,000 to complete. the Broward County Board of County and from remote locations. The new joint- With electronic compact shelving, it will house Commissioners took six months to craft, and use library provides residents with library up to 1.4 million volumes at capacity. At five it provided the details for the design, services in a central location in Broward stories, the library features twenty electronic construction and operation of the joint-use County, accessible from major highways and classrooms (with one designed specifically for library. NSU hired the architect (Smallwood, bus routes. Nova Southeastern University has children); twenty-two study and meeting Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart of Atlanta) and gained a much larger library than originally rooms; a 500-seat performing arts center; an the contractor (Miller and Solomon of Fort planned. It has been able to expand services eighty-seat café serving coffee and light meals; Lauderdale), and oversaw the planning and dramatically by adding: over forty new a wireless network throughout the building; construction of the building. NSU administers positions; public library services; extensive 1,000 users’ seats with Internet access; a the use of the building and all of the employees library materials; study and conference rooms; children’s reading area and popular reading are NSU employees. Broward County funded and a premier library providing opportunities materials. The building and the services are one-half of the construction costs and funds and benefits to the citizens of Broward County and the students, faculty, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. During the “first birthday” more than 170 library cards were issued, bringing the total number of library cards issued to Broward County residents in one year to over 12,500. Statistics show that public users check out over 54 percent of materials circulated, while academic users are checking out over three times what they checked out during the previous year. The library is receiving on average 2,700 visitors a day. It is gratifying to see the users, both academic and public, supporting their new library.

Harriett MacDougall is Director, Library, Research, and Information Technology Center 1at Nova Southeastern University. 4 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries PERSPECTIVE Lobby of African-American Research Library. Photo courtesy of Broward County Library.

Broward County African-American Research Library and Cultural Center Opens for Service

By Julie V. Hunter and Cultural Center (AARLCC) provides three avenues to learning and understanding n Saturday, October 26, 2002, the the cultural heritage of the African Diaspora. O Broward County Commission held It provides information in a traditional library. an impressive grand opening It provides resources for research. It provides celebration to introduce its new for programming and exhibits. These three African-American Research Library and services are interrelated and must work in Cultural Center. It was the culmination of concert to successfully fulfill the mission of artist who was commissioned to do the many years of dreaming, campaigning, and the new library. project. A Conference Room, Coffee Shop fundraising on the part of Samuel F. Morrison, and Gift Store (to be opened in 2003) are Director of the Broward County Libraries The Facility also located on this first level. Division and the beginning of a new era for The first level of the new facility includes a One is immediately engulfed in the African the citizens of Broward County, the 5,000 square-foot exhibition hall for library- tradition with the use of the Adinkra Symbol southeastern United States and the mounted exhibits, traveling exhibits and adorning a beautiful circular information desk Caribbean. independent displays relating to the themes made of teak wood and dressed with a marble This $14 million, 60,000 square-foot, two- of Africans, African-Americans and the surface. This desk is enhanced by two story facility, steeped in its African symbolism, African Diaspora and a 300-seat auditorium matching, beautifully designed columns with is the manifestation of Samuel Morrison’s with a state-of-the-art sound system for all the symbols of the Asante People of West dream “to build a library which serves as a programs, lectures, theatrical productions and Africa. In addition, the reception area bridge to connect users to information musical concerts. The auditorium is supported provides an artistically designed stairwell to technologically, geographically, historically, by a cast dressing room to accommodate the second level. culturally, artistically, and educationally.” He actors/actresses and two star dressing rooms, views the mission of the new library as a bridge all equipped with the technology to provide The Library as a General connecting the past to the present and constant projection of events in the Information Service providing a ground swell of hope for a bright auditorium. In addition, there are two seminar A 75,000-volume, community-sized library is future; a bridge which provides information rooms designed for dance training and to serve located on the second level of this facility, in a “world where knowledge is the true as multiple-purpose rooms for use by the public offering traditional reference, youth and power.” for meetings, programs, receptions, workshops, circulation services. The collection of books, The African-American Research Library lectures and conferences. periodicals, videos, CDs, DVDs and other The first level also non-book materials is further enhanced by includes a special the availability of fifty-five computers for room for meditation, public access. Included in the total are ten called the Harrambe computers in the Computer Technology Room, the walls of Center where basic classes in computer skills which are adorned and Internet access are offered. Children and with visions of early youth also have access to ten computers for events in the racial basic information, homework assistance and struggle of Broward other electronic programs. Other youth and Fort Lauderdale services include access to children and teen black communities. resources, story time, special programs and The Harrambe outreach activities. Room’s artistic presentation is the The Library as a Research Center work of Gary Moore, Exterior of African-American Research a celebrated local Library.Photo courtesy of Broward County Library. 2 Florida Libraries Spring 2003 5 FLORIDIANA WITH A TWIST The foundation of this library is its Special Collections of primary-source materials, including artifacts, photographs, plaques, Florida Flicks art works, rare books and ephemera. There are fifteen archival collections that provide the backbone for the AARLCC research component. These comprise the special papers and personal items of individuals and groups that have contributed to Broward County’s history By Nancy M. Pike Ameche, and Jack Haley. It is still fun to see and of individuals and groups that have glimpses of old Miami, where some of the served as leaders to those of the African he movie industry has a history in filming was done, along with location shots Diaspora. T Florida. Even before World War I, in Cypress Gardens and Silver Springs. In Jacksonville was right up there 1932, “Prestige,” set in French Indo-China, The Library as a Cultural Center with Hollywood as a destination was filmed on the Myakka River in the Tampa/ Special Collections are further enhanced for film producers until unfavorable state and Sarasota region. It stars Ann Harding and by the large growing collection of African local policies sent the companies scattering Adolphe Menjou. artifacts that will serve as the foundation to California. Look at the Museum of Florida One of the best-known Florida movies is for continuing displays of items from the History’s collection of memorabilia related to “The Yearling” (1947) from the book by cradle of civilization - the continent of movies filmed in Florida and read more Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Clarence Brown Africa. These items serve to undergird information at the Web site listed below. directed stars Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman, and the library’s programming and exhibits. There is something fascinating about seeing Claude Jarman Jr. Jarman won a special Oscar The Broward County African- a movie made in our own home state. Just for his role as Jody. The movie was actually American Research Library and Cultural for fun, take a look at “Bouncing Baby,” a filmed in Marion County, where the book is Center is now a reality, and while it is a silent movie short filmed in Jacksonville in set. The perfect follow-ups are “Gal Young mere three-month- 1916, with Oliver Hardy as the baby. ‘Un” (1979) and “Cross Creek” (1983) where old facility, it has You can view a clip from the film at you can see more of the stunning beauty of already provided a the Bureau of Archives and Record the area that provided inspiration for the multitude of Management’s website listed below. books. In “Cross Creek” Mary Steenburgen services to many Films listed there were produced by gives an exceptional performance as Rawlings individuals and a variety of organizations, mostly for on her quest to be a published writer in that groups, has promotional purposes. Some are even rural Florida community. sponsored and co- home movies. According to the site, Florida has been the location for many sponsored many the earliest news film done in Florida other Hollywood films over the years, programs for the was 1898 footage of troops in Tampa including several Tarzan movies, some Esther community and has during the Spanish-American War. Williams films, and, of course, “Creature From met the The earliest movie listed on Jane the Black Lagoon” (1954). The latter science- expectations of its Anderson Jones’ Web site, “Florida fiction classic was set in the Amazon but users. The goal is to On Film,” is Sidney Olcott’s “Florida filmed on location at Wakulla Springs and continue to provide Crackers” from 1908. According to Tarpon Springs. More recently, “Just Cause” the information the Orlando Sentinel, the first feature (1995) with Sean Connery, “Great needs of the public, film made in the state was called “A Expectations” (1998) featuring Gwinneth serving as a bridge Florida Feud: Or Love in the Paltrow and Ethan Hawke, “The Truman to connect people to Everglades” by George Klein. “The Show” (1998) with Jim Carrey, and “Out of issues that foster a Cocoanuts” (1929) was based on a Time” (2002) starring Denzel Washington Actress in 1916 greater George S. Kaufman play and starred have all been shot in Florida. Last year’s understanding of movie made in the Marx Brothers running a hotel “Sunshine State” starring Edie Falco, Jane Florida. Courtesy the cultural during the Florida land boom. Alexander, Angela Bassett, and Timothy of the Museum of experiences of all Although it is set in Florida, this Hutton was filmed entirely on Amelia Island. peoples of the Florida History. movie was filmed in Long Island! Although the above-mentioned Florida- African Diaspora. On the other hand, the 1941 film-related Web sites are in place, the movie “Moon Over Miami” is a musical comprehensive online index of Florida films Julie V. Hunter is Executive Director, starring Betty Grable, Carole Landis, Don is apparently yet to come. The ideal index Broward County Libraries African would include separate listings for movies that American Research Library and Cultural Internet Sites are set in or are about Florida, movies filmed in Florida, and films based on books by Florida Center. Museum of Florida History http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/museum/movie-posters/. authors. And for good measure, it should Bureau of Archives and Record Management http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/barm/filmguide/filmguide.htm. include a few movies about librarians in Jane Anderson Jones, “Florida On Film” http://www.mccfl.edu/Faculty/Jonesj/Hum2230/ FLORIDAMOVIES.htmlFlorida flicks, if there are any! Listing of twenty-three movies made in the Tampa/Sarasota region, http://www.simplysiestakey.com/Movielocations.html. Nancy Pike is Director of the Sarasota County Public Libraries. 6 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries SPOTLIGHT Barratt Wilkins Leaves Sturdy Foundation and Visionary Blueprint

lorida’s longest-serving State strength and breadth of library services. F Librarian, Barratt Wilkins, retired Today’s embryonic Florida Electronic on January 6, after serving the Library is the natural outgrowth of this State Library for thirty years. cooperation, which began in the 70s with the Wilkins came to Florida in 1973 as Assistant participation of larger public and academic State Librarian and took the helm four years libraries in OCLC, the implementation of later. In 1977, the agency’s budget was $2.7 COMCAT, and the growth of a statewide million; this past year it was $55.5 million; interlibrary loan network. The first regional in 1977, just forty-four of Florida’s sixty-seven multi-type library cooperative developed in counties offered the early 1980s; there are now six that serve free library service the state’s hundreds of libraries, facilitating to all; today they resource sharing, staff training, and all do. technological innovation. But these The State Library (technically the Florida public library data. He has participated in simple numbers, Division of Library and Information Services, FLA’s activities as an ex-officio board member while eloquent, under the Department of State) has been at and source of ready advice and counsel. His tell just a part of the table from the beginning as state thirty years at the State Library include a stint the story of the government instituted new information as Acting Assistant Secretary of State and growth of library technologies. Staff works closely with the saw the incorporation of archives and records services in Florida State Technology Office on the citizens’ Web management functions into the Division. during Wilkins’ site, “MyFlorida.com,” and Wilkins says its Before coming to Florida he served as tenure. Today, public documents program is “probably the Institutional Consultant at the Missouri State families best in the world,” incorporating electronic Library and Reference librarian at the South everywhere in publications seamlessly into its collections. On Carolina State Library. He holds an M.A. in Florida can go to a public library and take the paper side, the Dorothy Dodd collection history from Georgia State University and a advantage of a full array of services – checking of Floridiana, contains thousands of B.A. in History from Emory, as well as the out books and videos, story times, lecture unduplicated items of priceless research value. M.A. in Library Science from the University series, Internet access, and interlibrary loan Wilkins minced no words when he of Wisconsin-Madison. – all at no per-service cost. Students in explained that governance changes will Wilkins’ future plans are many, with a focus Florida’s community colleges and public challenge libraries in new ways over the next on his roots. “My family went everywhere the universities have access to the holdings of all years. As of January 6, 2003, the Florida British Empire did,” he remarked, and he the libraries in the public higher education Department of State is no longer under the expects to be a frequent patron of the system as well as electronic resources that direction of an independently elected genealogical resources of the Florida archives. bring a full research library to their desktops. Secretary of State. Instead, the Governor He plans to write a biography of his Government staff at every level has quick appoints the Secretary. This gubernatorial grandfather, George Wilkins (1860-1919), [an desktop access to information they need to aegis will change drastically the visibility of Englishman who traveled the length and make sound decisions. All Florida’s learners state library programs and the Division’s breadth of America before marrying and – from the adult just learning to read to the relationship to the legislature. Political settling in Atlanta, where he was a successful post-doctoral physicist – have information involvement, knowledge, and activism at the businessman and leader in the cultural life resources and trained professionals to support local library level will have to grow of Georgia’s capital city.] them. And the Florida Electronic Library is significantly, warns Wilkins, if Florida’s When asked what he’d tell a new librarian poised for implementation. libraries are to continue to thrive. today, Wilkins said, “You’ve made a great The State Library’s stamp is on all these It is easier to get Barratt Wilkins to talk career choice. Keep looking for effectiveness programs – it has provided guidance, advice about libraries than to talk about himself, but and how best to serve the public. Get involved and counsel, prescient administration of in addition to his leadership in Florida, he with professional associations. Meet the federal and state grant programs, and state- has provided national leadership through ALA challenges and tests with imagination. And level coordination of planning and evaluation. and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies remember, anyone who stops learning, dies.” Wilkins, however, in a recent interview, was (COSLA). He was instrumental in the design very quick to point to the vigorous spirit of and passage of the Library Services and Note: This article was written after an cooperation among Florida’s librarians and Technology Act (LSTA) and helped formulate interview with Barratt Wilkins in December decision-makers as the key reason for the the FSCS program that collects and reports 2002, during his last weeks as State Librarian.

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 7 PERSPECTIVE Distance Education and Library Education

By William M. Modrow million learners taking a course online, with ”As distance or over one hundred years, nearly one-third of these students working 1 education grows education courses have been toward some form of accredited degree. In F offered to distance learners in one Florida’s public universities during the 2000- and as more is form or another. Distance 2001 academic year there were 56,198 understood education has progressed from the early mail- students who were enrolled in courses in which order classes to television broadcasts to the technology was the primary method of about the nature of 2 online course with streaming video. instructional delivery. online learning, it is Technological advancements have made it possible to reach remote locations and provide Who Are the Distance Learners? having an the closest thing to a face-to-face classroom The opportunity to obtain an accredited impact on face-to- setting and quality education with high graduate degree from one’s own computer has face instruction.” academic standards and guidelines. Computers attracted a variety of remote learners. It not are replacing television and provide a means only enables many individuals to attend to interact with instructors and classmates and college — some many years after acquiring to access materials without having to leave an undergraduate degree — but also makes one’s chair. it more convenient to get a degree without Universities, colleges, and other undergoing major lifestyles adjustments. knowledge who live a distance from an instructional programs recruit distance- Distance-education students come from all institution that offers programs in their fields education students, and the distance- sectors of society and include those who are of interest participate in online courses with education field has greatly increased. Over physically unable to attend classes in person hopes of improving their circumstances. 75 percent of American universities now offer and individuals living far from any type of Included are many non-traditional students, some type of distance-learning courses. school or university for whom commuting is such as stay-at-home moms or dads. Acceptance of distance learning by colleges not an option. Some are working professionals, and universities has increased the demand for while others are beginning students. Library Schools Pioneer Online accredited programs. There are more than 5.5 Employees wanting to update or advance their Education Information Studies and Library Science programs have played an active role in distance-education programs, from offering recognized graduate degrees online to supporting online courses through technology instruction and access to resources. Many library schools opened the doors and pioneered the path for distance education, some as early as the 1940s. According to Dr. Jane Robbins, Dean of the School of Information Studies at Florida State University, library schools have been in the forefront of distance education because education in that field has been poorly distributed nationally, with many schools in some places and none in others. The primary group of interested participants is what Robbins calls “place-bound women” Library and information who are limited by mobility, yet willing to studies programs have been tackle the challenges of distance learning. in the forefront of distance Robbins admits, “I am innovation oriented, education. Photo courtesy yet when it all started, I was not sure it was of University of South going to be successful. There were rocky times, Florida School of Library but now I am a true convert.” 3 and Information Science. Distance education programs can reach

8 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries PERSPECTIVE Earning an M.L.S. From 2,300 Miles Away FSU Program Makes Attending Library School a Virtual Reality those interested in attending library school By Bob Bertoldi from just about any location in the world. Of the sixty ALA-accredited schools in the United States and Canada, thirty-eight have When I first decided to go to library school “All of this was a some type of distance-education program. in early 2000, there seemed to be no little daunting for There are programs in the Northeast (11), question of where I would go. After all, Midwest (13), South (10), and Pacific Coast the highly acclaimed University of someone who was (4). Canada has none.4 As library school Washington (UW)-which offers a Master’s relatively new to programs improve and adapt to the changes in Library and Information Studies-is in their structure to provide more located in educational opportunities, they are paving the way for Seattle, less courseware and e- other disciplines to offer courses online. than thirty miles from mail and who had Florida Programs where I live. never experienced However, it Two of the largest distance education programs soon became a chat session in library and information studies are located clear that before.” at state universities in Florida. The University online courses of South Florida (USF) School of Library and would provide Information Science (http://www.cas.usf.edu/ the greatest lis) and the Florida State University (FSU) Caption: Bob Bertoldi flexibility and School of Information Studies (http:// convenience program in August 2000 and graduated www.lis.fsu.edu) offer accredited graduate with respect to my family and work in December 2001. degrees through the Internet. The two commitments. At the time I was working Although I was unable to attend the programs have grown significantly in distance nearly full-time at an academic library and then-required on-campus two-day education enrollment in the past six years. my wife had given birth to our first child orientation for new students in USF reported a total of 41.7 FTE students a few months earlier. In addition, Tallahassee, I did attend virtually a off campus in Fall 1997 and a total of 199 population growth in the Seattle area had weeklong series of online workshops for FTE in Fall 2001, an increase of almost 500%. resulted in very heavy traffic and rush-hour students new to the program. Prior to the FSU’s figures for the same semesters increased gridlock. online sessions, the school had sent from 53.6 in 1997 to 322.9 in 2001, an increase Therefore, despite its close proximity, instructions on how to download the I- 5 of about 600%. These figures represent the UW was not my best option. At the time, chat client needed for participating in the number of full-time equivalents, so the actual the school did not offer an M.L.S. to weekly I-chat sessions. The school created numbers of students enrolled as distance distant students. After some initial simulated course Web sites for the online learners, both part-time and full-time, are even research, I found only one school, Florida orientation, allowing students the chance larger. The recent focus has been to expand State University’s (FSU) School of Library to learn about and practice using I-chat. at the undergraduate level, and both schools and Information Studies, that allowed Essentially, these sessions were designed have recently begun offering undergraduate students to complete their master’s degree to help students to get a feel for attending courses online. entirely at a distance and almost synchronous classes via the Web. During exclusively via the Web. Further research the orientation, we were directed to the Why Distance Courses? showed that FSU’s Library and Information appropriate external Web sites to There are a number of reasons why these Studies (LIS) program was strong and had download software and applications that programs offer distance-learning courses. been fully accredited by the American we would later use for our coursework, Obviously, economics is a strong factor. A Library Association for many years. including RealPlayer, Acrobat(r), FTP, and program can increase its enrollment with The prospect of having to invest WinZip(r). We also learned how to submit higher tuition rates for distance education significant travel time on Interstate-5 to assignments via the course Web sites and courses. A student enrolled in a distance- attend on-campus courses at UW made to communicate effectively via e-mail with education course pays a higher tuition than my decision a no-brainer-commuting 2,300 our instructors and fellow classmates. All one attending a face-to-face course. Residency miles electronically would be much less of this was a little daunting for someone status can also affect one’s tuition. Distance- stressful than making the sixty-mile who was relatively new to educational education students may have in-state or out- roundtrip to Seattle by car. I entered FSU’s Continues on page 11

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 9 Beyond Paper, continued from page 13 ”To accommodate remote learners, library and information studies programs have had to of-state status, with those out-of-state paying undergo changes face-to-face contact with instructors and a higher tuition. Programs can increase their to their with putting faces to names. For those living enrollments and use the extra tuition to cover in the different time zones, online deadlines additional instructors and technology, while curriculum require careful planning. Some students felt not having overcrowded classrooms. unparalleled in there were not enough comments from Another reason for offering online courses instructors regarding assignments or grades is to provide people who otherwise might any academic and believe it was a disadvantage face-to- never have the chance with an opportunity discipline” face students do not incur. In addition, to attend classes. Dr. Vicki Gregory, Professor having only one telephone line did pose some and Director of the USF School of Library problems when the line was being used for and Information Science, explains that with accessing the course Web site. the ever-increasing shortage of librarians to Support for distance learning goes beyond fill current and anticipated openings and the the actions of the departments offering relatively small number of ALA-accredited distance courses. Libraries must make their programs, distance courses in library science collections accessible to distance users. remain extremely important.6 Dean Robbins Distance learners need access to the points out that the enrollment of minorities materials in the libraries and to the many in FSU’s graduate program has steadily databases available for research, course increased over the past five years from 11 requirements, and academic enrichment. percent to over 17 percent (from 50 to 88 FSU Libraries provide special online forms graduate students). This not only increases for distance learners to receive library diversity in librarianship, but also increases materials that are not available online. the availability of ethnically diverse librarians Library support should include technical for libraries in predominantly minority areas. support for continual access to the resources. Librarians who take distance learning Many university libraries now offer remote courses are also well positioned to help provide learners assistance with services such as: e- services to distance learners. Their experience mail reference, virtual reference, and toll- in obtaining a degree via a distance-education free telephone numbers. program enables them to better understand the needs of distance learners and the Changes to the Curriculum complexities of online education and to become active partners in distance education. To adapt to accommodate remote learners, library and information studies programs Online courses have greatly impacted library With Web-based instruction, students can usage and led to new forms of technology with have had to continue to undergo changes “attend” library and information studies to their curriculum unparalleled in any which to communicate with distance users. classes from a distance. Photo courtesy of The librarian’s role has become immeasurably academic discipline. Before making a course University of South Florida School of Library available online, says Dean Robbins, schools important. Through training from library and Information Science. education courses, librarians can meet many have to “study student outcomes and ask of the challenges of the growing distance lots of questions,” in order to make the education programs. embarrassed standing in front of a classroom “online courses more student centered versus of their peers. For these students, being instructor centered.” Changing the curriculum, points out USF professor Dr. Tom Advantages and Challenges “faceless” provides more of an opportunity to express themselves. Terrell, has allowed faculty to have much One of the primary advantages of distance Discussions with current and former more interaction with students than they education is its flexibility. It allows students distance-learning students elicited comments would have if they taught only face-to-face to continue working or living at a distance 7 on some of the challenges of distance learning. sessions. with little interruption to their current style Many of these challenges facing online Included in the traditional library science of life. Individuals can set their own schedules learners have remained constant. They must program are courses that include several since the work is available online at any hour. become familiar with using all types of new levels of Web design, development, and Some feel more “extroverted,” being able to technology, submitting assignments over the administration; network development; communicate their thoughts and ideas Internet, participating in online chat, and database design and management; electronic through a computer, rather than feeling sending e-mail. They must adjust to lack of media production; electronic retrieval and usability. Offering courses such as these 10 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries Earning an M.L.S. From 2,300 Miles Away , continues from p.9

courseware and e-mail and who had never up having some technical problems with the experienced a chat session before. I-chat server. Each time someone posted a As simulated in the online orientation message, the entire window would go blank, requires careful planning, and now all are sessions, each course in the Master’s in LIS leaving literally nothing visible except the available online. program has its own password-protected scroll bar to the right. This seemingly minor Web site. Students log in to the site to find glitch became a major problem. Virtually every Evaluations of Distance Education the course syllabus, description, objectives, time I went to the keyboard to try and respond As distance education grows and as more is calendar, and assignments and to enter the to a previous posting, or to simply ask a I-chat-based synchronous discussions. understood about the nature of online question, the next posted message would white Although most courses require students to learning, it is having an impact on face-to- out the entire window. The problem resulted face instruction. Many instructors in face-to- purchase some print materials, such as a from some incompatibility between the Mac course packet or textbook, the majority of face courses are making some aspect of their I was using and the FSU server. Thanks to course readings are distributed via the Web course materials available online. The some useful tips from some fellow Mac users importance of interaction is getting increased through links on the calendar page of each in Tallahassee and the Information School’s course. Students have the emphasis. One study reported that distance Web Development Team, I option of downloading education students did better and had higher was able to begin using I- comprehensive skills than face-to-face the readings to their chat as it was intended computer, reading the students attending a similar course. They “Commuting within a few weeks. documents on screen, or attributed this to the need for logging on daily, 2,300 miles Notwithstanding this recurring deadlines for submission of printing the document. I initial technical hurdle as a preferred the latter option assignments, chat sessions and, responses to electronically Mac user, the Web-based over looking at a CRT e-mail, whereas a face-to-face course would be program proved to be an measured students participation by requiring screen for hours at a extremely efficient and stretch. Weekly lectures the typical three exams during the semester.8 much less effective method of study. I are also made available on What this indicates is that distance students stressful believe that if I had opted have to go online to access course information the calendar of each for an on-campus program, course Web site. Lectures and hence will tend to stay in more contact than making I would still be taking classes consist of audio files using the course elements. As distance the sixty- toward my degree. Who education continues to expand, more research played back via knows, given the RealPlayer, and often mile is needed to measure outcomes and circumstances, I might have include PowerPoint® slides performance, while taking into account the roundtrip to given up the idea of library availability of new technology and assessing and/or other graphics, school all together. As it is, such as topic outlines, Seattle by the ability of students to use this technology. since completing my degree photos, graphs, or William M. Modrow is a Reference Librarian car.” a year ago, I have been at Florida State University. illustrations. working for FSU’s School of The interface of the Information Studies (at a course Web sites is very Notes distance) as a Regional user friendly, providing a Coordinator for Distance 1 Goodson clean layout with clearly marked, color- Students. Also, I recently landed my first 2 Florida Board of Education, Division of Colleges coded buttons for various features. I found librarian job as a part-time Faculty Reference and Universities, Office of Academic and Student Affairs. April 2002 . “An Overview of Distance and I was able to navigate the sites fairly easily and Instruction Librarian at the local Technology Mediated Instruction in the State within a short time. Printing the readings community college. Universities of Florida.” Duplicated. and listening to the audio lectures did not Whenever folks ask me about distance 3 Telephone Interview 2/3/03. present any real problems either. The use learning-especially those who are skeptical- of I-chat proved to be the most challenging 4 http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oa/lisdir.html#us I am glad to share my own experience with aspect of Web-based study for me. For those them. It is a pleasure to tell them that top- 5 Association for Library and Information Science Education, Library and Information Science of us who had never seen a chat session notch distance programs, such as FSU’s, truly of any kind, let alone participated in one, can deliver on their promise of high-quality Education Statistical Report 1998, Student Off- Campus, Table II-1-e, p. 108. the process definitely required a bit of learning experiences, “anytime, anywhere.” practice before it began to feel manageable. http://ils.unc.edu/ALISE/1998/Students/II-2- Aside from the initial, general 1e.html Bob Bertoldi is Reference and Instruction awkwardness of communicating in real- Librarian and Library Acquisitions Technician Association for Library and Information Science Education, Library and Information Science time with people I had never met, I ended at Everett Community College in Everett, Education Statistical Report 2002, Student Off- Washington. Campus, Fall 2001, Table II-1-e.

The Broward County Library WPA/MEP Digitization Project

By Guy G. Slack the Federal experiment failed miserably. To Ever since modern technology others, such as my maternal grandfather living E began altering forever the physical just a few miles away, a proud rancher and digital landscape around us, struggling to survive the Dirty Thirties, the librarians across the country have Project provided them with not only a taken the lead in preserving not only local paycheck, but with a sense of self-worth. This history, but in many cases records of national was a priceless gift to those who had lost significance. Librarians at Broward County everything to the choking dust storms that Main Library in Fort Lauderdale, FL are came sweeping across the Great Plains. quietly working on one such significant project Like it or not, for better or for worse, the Caption: Print shows fashions whose gifts shall soon be bequeathed to the WPA put the unemployed to work. Its of the 1890s. Image courtesy world. unskilled workers cleared roads, constructed of Broward County Library. In 2001 the Institute of Museum and bridges, built schools, and leveled ground for Library Services awarded Broward County airfields. Under the various artistic projects Library one of its prestigious National comprising the WPA’s Federal One, jobless Leadership Grants to digitize a striking set actors, writers, musicians, dancers, and of artifacts and objects known as the WPA/ craftsmen practiced their professional skills Museum Extension Project Collection. The and plied their vigorous talents all across items in this beautiful assortment of hand- America. And falling within the purview of colored costume plates and handcrafted the Women’s and Professional Division, a few architectural models, dioramas, and puppets special programs known as the Museum were the labors of artists, craftsmen, and Extension Projects (MEP) took shape, most scholars employed by the Works Progress notably in Pennsylvania. Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1943. Museum Extension Project A Legacy of the WPA The Museum Extension Project was created The WPA kicked off a remarkable social to satisfy a demand for educational products mission during one of our country’s bleakest and visual aids in public schools and museums. times, an attempt by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Artifacts from the most prolific of these Caption: Image of an ancient administration during the Great Depression Projects, the Pennsylvania Museum Extension Greek couple. Courtesy of to shift those on the public dole to relief work. Project, are part of the Broward County Broward County Library To some, such as my paternal grandfather who Library collection. Housed in the Main owned a bank in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Library’s Bienes Special Collections and Rare Book Library, the Collection is extensive and contains hundreds of important pieces, including three-dimensional architectural models, puppets, marionettes, and costume “The WPA/MEP Collection was chosen as a plates. Each handcrafted piece is irreplaceable, and each is a unique creation. Together, their digitization project because of its beauty and existence testifies to a critical trial our country its sociological import and, importantly, faced and eventually surmounted, a national ordeal met in part by our citizens’ sheer artistic because ‘much of the work created during expression and creation. the WPA pioneered the study of cultural One cannot understate how important the events that led to the birth of the WPA were diversity.’” to the Americans who encountered them. Continues on page 22

12 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries PERSPECTIVE

Digitizing Southwest Florida’s Heritage

By Vince Mariner, Barbara Stites, damaged, or forgotten. Moreover, the and Stephan Schonberg inaccessible, un-indexed nature of these materials curtails their use in education and he goal of the “Digitizing research fields. T Southwest Florida’s Heritage” Improved preservation and protection of project is to provide public, online these unique original documents and access to local historical photographs is critical. A majority of the items photographs and documents which were in these collections show signs of age and previously unavailable or inaccessible. The deterioration and should no longer be handled Southwest Florida Library Network (SWFLN) by the public. While digitized materials are Caption: Cyrus Teed, leader of the has partnered with local libraries, museums, not a complete substitute for the original Koreshans. Koreshans believed that the and historical societies to identify, aggregate, documents, this project will allow the public earth was a hollow sphere and that and digitize a collection of documents related to view digitized versions of the historical humans lived on the inside of the earth. to Southwest Florida. materials without further damaging the SWFLN received a Library Services and originals. Not only will digitization help Technology Act (LSTA) grant to undertake preserve these fragile collections for future the project. The digitized collections will be generations, but also, it will provide access made available to the public as part of the to documents, slides, and photographs which Florida Heritage Collection, through grant have rarely, or never been publicly available partner, Florida Gulf Coast University and the before. State University System’s (SUS) cooperative digital library initiative “Publication of Technical Aspects Archival, Library and Museum Material” While the cost of high-end digitization (PALMM). The PALMM collections are equipment continues to decrease, the expense, available online at http://palmm.fcla.edu/. knowledge, and time requirements for archival These collections are important, high-quality digital preservation of these materials remains virtual archives of historical documents and beyond the scope of practicality for many photos, available to the students, research organizations. Through grant funding, community, and general citizenry of Florida. SWFLN is able to leverage the combination Caption: The “Brother’s Log House,” now The expected project results are twofold: of technology experience and library science demolished. Dennis J. Richards is seated in first, documents detailing the history and knowledge of its staff and members to make front. heritage of Southwest Florida will become such digitization and cataloging feasible for more readily available to the public and participating organizations. second, a solid foundation will be provided SWFLN has acquired several high- for further digitization projects as additional resolution scanning devices, including a collections are identified. Providing duplexing document scanner, a 35mm slide documents online will increase their potential Continues on page 16 use. Furthermore, these additions to PALMM’s collection will be searchable by Sunshine State Codes, enhancing the access and use of the materials in the K-12 environment. “Not only will digitization help preserve these fragile collections for future Limited Access to generations, but also, it will provide access Original Materials Currently, there is limited or no access to to documents, slides, and photographs which primary, Southwest Florida historical have rarely, or never been publicly available materials. Such materials are often housed in separate collections, poorly indexed, and before.” non-digital - and thus are at risk of being lost,

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 13 PERSPECTIVE Providing Access for All: Florida’s Electronic Library

By Mark Flynn the Florida Library Network Council (FLNC). • Linked access to all of Florida’s Online The Council’s fourteen members represent Public Access Catalogs he time is ripe to build on the pivotal agencies in Florida’s library networking • The ability to host and link to all of investment made in library community. The State Librarian chairs the Florida’s growing array of digital library T networking in Florida to create a Council. collections dramatic statewide shift toward • Coordination of electronic library and Web-based library services. Since 1996, The Planning the Florida Electronic Library resource-sharing efforts by all types of Florida Division of Library and Information libraries Services (the State Library) has contributed This development of a robust library network over $60 million in federal, state, and infrastructure now makes possible the • Development of the Florida Library foundation funding toward the development connection of Florida libraries into a dynamic Information Network (Florida’s statewide of Internet access, library automation, and “virtual library” providing access to a broader network for interlibrary loan) into a peer- the creation of digital collections. Today, the range of Web-based information resources to-peer networking topology that can also State Library is seeking to leverage this than what is available to any single locality. support the management of online patron investment and reinvent the state’s library Librarians and their patrons in Florida have requests and extended circulation features resource-sharing programs. embraced this concept. The State Library • Development of a statewide library card contracted with the Information Use The State Library has taken a phased and • Incorporation of the existing statewide incremental approach to library network Management and Policy Institute to conduct interlibrary loan courier program planning and resource-sharing since 1984, a needs assessment for library development working in the context of a recurring cycle in early 2002. The research found widespread • Statewide multi-type online interactive of long-range strategic planning. The new support and anticipation for a plan that would reference services long-range plan for library development, fuse Florida’s network development over the Also, in the spring of 2002 the State Library “Gateway to Information through Florida next five years into an array of coordinated contracted with RMG Consultants, Inc. of Libraries,” will seek to put in place a Florida Web-based electronic information services and Chicago, to facilitate planning for a strategic Electronic Library that will be a unifying point content. To meet the expectations of the plan for a Florida virtual library. The planning of access for direct Web-based library services Florida library community, this new plan, if process included conducting an environmental for all Floridians. successful, would integrate all of the following assessment, a review of existing programs, services into a Florida Electronic Library: services, regulations, resources and A Tradition of Resource Sharing • Access to online full-text databases infrastructure, a review of best practice in The development of statewide library resource-sharing programs in Florida has been a grassroots effort involving all types of libraries with coordination provided at the state level. The State Library of Florida has “The Florida assumed a leadership and coordinating role for many years, facilitating the growth of Electronic Library library networks, interlibrary loan, a statewide will offer an courier service, the development of multi-type library cooperatives, and Web-based library array of direct services. The State Library’s contribution has services to been the facilitation of consensus-based planning for resource sharing, counsel, and Florida residents funding. However, a challenge to sound library that is almost cooperative planning is to assure that the various libraries and stakeholder groups have unmatched by an opportunities to participate in the design, comparable development, deployment, and governance of the planning process. program Planning for library resource-sharing nationwide.” programs in Florida is the responsibility of the State Library and an advisory council called

14 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries PERSPECTIVE “Through the use of Florida’s library cooperative network, all Florida residents can have access to an array of other similar state programs, the development In the process, procurement procedures, library services that of a core-issues list on the basis of data licensing terms and copyright have all become collected through statewide focus groups, and very complex issues. State-based collaborative no single community development of a final strategic plan. After purchasing of electronic information products in Florida could seven months of work, the Florida Library is one way of addressing the complexity of Network Council met on July 24, 2002 and the information marketplace. Not only does afford to implement voted to adopt the Florida Virtual Library plan collaborative purchasing allow libraries to offer working alone.” and begin implementation. a standard and common array of resources The following is a summary of the vision across the state, it also allows beneficial cost and service components from the plan. savings to libraries and provides the opportunity to expand the number of resources The Vision available. Florida is one of two states that is currently The Florida Electronic Library is a wide range At the request of the Florida library partnering with OCLC in the deployment and of electronic information resources, digital community, the State Library of Florida has testing of new database technology that will content and online information services undertaken a facilitative role to assist libraries allow a Florida group view of WorldCat. This organized in a coherent and cohesive manner in building an alliance for establishing Group View will allow OCLC to host a that can be searched by Florida residents statewide access to electronic information statewide union catalog representing the through the World Wide Web. Users will be resources. In October 2002, based on holdings of all four hundred Florida libraries able to retrieve information from all libraries recommendations of representatives of Florida as set in OCLC WorldCat. Approximately statewide through a single search. The Florida academic and public libraries, the State twenty libraries throughout Florida will test Electronic Library complements the print Library selected the Gale Group, a research a prototype of this state union catalog and resources in Florida library collections and will and reference publisher, to give Florida provide input to OCLC and the Florida serve as a gateway to all of Florida’s print residents access to fourteen databases through Library Network Council in developing this resources. the Florida Electronic Library. These databases service.. will provide a core collection of electronic Components of the Florida Virtual Library resources for general periodical access, health, Virtual Library Card business, homework help, and reader’s The Florida Virtual Library Card would ensure Library Portal advisory services. Access will be provided that all residents have borrowing privileges The Florida Library Portal will serve as a through Florida’s public libraries and will at any Florida library. gateway to information services offered by all include remote access for users. Live, Online, Realtime, Help of Florida’s libraries. A portal is a Web site A Virtual Online Catalog The Florida Electronic Library will be the only that provides a “doorway” to Web-accessible One of the primary requirements for the online service in Florida where a resident can information. It is a way of organizing Web- Florida Electronic Library is the linking of all get help in finding information from anywhere based information into a coherent information Florida libraries into a Library network that and anytime. Virtual Reference is a service service. The Florida Library Portal will offer can be used to identify library materials and employing “real-time” interaction with an access to a search engine allowing a user to indicates their location and availability. The information specialist and a computer user search keywords and retrieve relevant Florida Electronic Library proposes the live via the Web. Using virtual reference, a information held by Florida libraries that implementation of “library linking technology” librarian can help library patrons navigate cannot be searched through commercial to build a Florida Library network. Currently, through an array of Web-based research source search engines like Google. The Florida there are 24 million location listings in the material available to them via the Internet. Library Portal will support direct services to collected holdings of 298 Florida libraries. In A reference librarian can show a patron how all Florida residents including the ability to addition, the Florida Electronic Library will to use a particular database, how to judge the identify pertinent information (electronic and also make accessible the database of the relevance of information available on the Web, print) and have it delivered (electronically Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) and how to evaluate information provided by or physically) to the user in a timely manner. system. OCLC is a nonprofit membership a Web site. Librarians can co-browse the Web Commercial Databases organization serving 41,000 libraries in eighty- with users, showing them where to click, what The Florida Electronic Library will offer access two countries and territories around the world. to type and how to evaluate the resources once to a core collection of electronic databases The OCLC database includes 839,185,592 they are found. Once the user has found the for all Florida residents. The publishing world location listings worldwide. Florida residents information needed, the librarian can send and information aggregators are delving into will be able to request materials from any a transcript of the live virtual-reference session the world of electronic content delivery with location and have it delivered to them in a to his or her e-mail address so that the user an array of options and services for libraries. fast, efficient, economical manner.

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 15 has a copy of the relevant points that were sound library resource-sharing programs. The discussed. At its meeting on November 1, 2002, FLNC initial-year success of the Florida Electronic FLNC also voted to endorse a grant took the following actions. Library effort is indicative of the strong submitted by the Tampa Bay Library collaboration resulting from cooperative • Established a Digital Collections Working partnerships among all types of libraries Consortium (TBLC) and the College Center Group for Library Automation (CCLA) in throughout Florida. It is hoped that partnership to implement a pilot program to • Established a Library Portal Issues Working throughout implementation of the plan test the viability of a statewide virtual Group additional opportunities for cooperation and better service to Floridians will emerge as the reference cooperative. As a result of this • Established an implementation timeline endorsement CCLA has been awarded a reach of librarians and users extends to a • Provided authority to the Division Director Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) broader and more comprehensive range of grant to fund the development and delivery to contract with a fiscal agent for linked library services. developing an administrative infrastructure of live virtual online reference services for The promise of Florida’s Electronic Library to support implementation including the nearly three million library patrons throughout is an innovative service that also brings Florida. The goal of this new service is to hiring of a project director. economies of scale to Florida library services. ensure that library users have access to quality, The Council also adopted a strategic The Florida Electronic Library will, for the live-help services in real time, regardless of marketing plan for the Florida Electronic first time, offer an array of direct services to the library they use. The project will provide Library. This plan calls for the implementation Florida residents that is almost unmatched online users with an all-important human of a phased approach as each element of the by any comparable program nationwide. element when trying to locate and use online Florida Virtual Library is made available to Through the use of Florida’s library databases and other electronic resources, and the public using a common logo, tag line, and cooperative network, all Florida residents can to offer that same high quality service theme. The marketing plan also calls for the have access to an array of library services that regardless of whether the user comes from the development of collateral marketing materials no single community in Florida could afford academic or public library sector. that can be used by all libraries statewide to to implement working alone. It assures equity Implementation of the live virtual reference inform Florida residents of the availability of of information services for all Florida’s service is anticipated for spring 2003. this new information resource. residents, regardless of where they live.

Building the Electronic Library Benefits to Floridians Mark Flynn is Project Coordinator for the Florida Electronic Library. Implementation efforts are currently underway Willing and reciprocal collaboration among for other aspects of Florida’s Electronic Library. libraries has always been the cornerstone of

Digitizing Southwest Florida’s Heritage, from page 13

scanner, and an oversize flatbed scanner regarding the history of DeSoto County. The agencies, but museum hours are generally capable of digitizing documents up to 12 Sanibel Historical Village and Museum has limited, and it is not unusual for the by 17 inches. These purchases mean that photographs, historical documents, and oral collections to be totally unavailable to the SWFLN now can digitize photos, slides, histories related to the history and life on public. Few historical museums and libraries film negatives, handwritten documents, Sanibel Island. The National Park Service’s are located conveniently and most require and even oversize maps or newsletters up Big Cypress National Preserve has a unique private transportation, which may be to A3 sheet size (16 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches). slide collection of the interior of the preserve. impractical or impossible for potential users. These slides include images of natural history, Contributing Institutions human history, and general scenic views of Future Projects The original materials to be digitized for the Big Cypress National Preserve. SWFLN hopes to continue to digitize this project will come from four local materials pertinent to the history and agencies: Koreshan State Historical Site, Limited Materials Currently culture of Southwest Florida in future years. Estero, FL; DeSoto County Library, Available Online With the digitization expertise acquired Arcadia, FL; Sanibel Historical Village and Out of the 951 items currently in the Florida and hardware and software now in place, Museum, Sanibel, FL; and the National Heritage collection (http://palmm.fcla.edu/fh/ SWFLN will continue to seek to Park Service - Big Cypress National ), only nine relate to Southwest Florida. Most collaborate with local institutions to make Preserve, Ochopee, FL. Southwest Florida libraries do not have available these rare, important original The Koreshan State Historical Site has collections of photographs, documents, and materials from Southwest Florida’s history. photographs and historical documents artifacts related to Southwest Florida. Of the Vince Mariner is Assistant Director, about the Koreshan way of life. Located libraries that do, the collections are usually Southwest Florida Library Network, on the banks of the Estero River, is the not made accessible to the public for fear of Barbara Stites is Director, Southwest site of the religious community established loss, damage, and destruction. Historical Florida Library Network, and Stephan in 1894 when Cyrus Reed Teed and his museums, societies, and other area agencies Schonberg, is Technology Specialist, followers, members of the Koreshan Unity, normally house these documents, however College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Gulf arrived from Chicago. The DeSoto County they, too, have problems providing access to Coast University. Library has photographs and documents the public. Library staff refers patrons to these

16 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries FLORIDA READS Florida African-American Authors

By Joyce Sparrow Closer Than Before (ISBN: 1583142762; 260 “Florida Reads” is compiled by Joyce Sparrow, pgs.; Kensington Publishing, 2003) due in librarian at the Juvenile Welfare Board Tackling the task of finding recently published bookstores early this year. Library in Pinellas Park, FL. She can be Florida novels by African-American authors Darryl Wimberly’s Strawman’s Hammock contacted at [email protected]. was a surprising challenge. When asked to (ISBN: 0312271875; 228 pgs.; St. Martin’s research new novels by Florida African- Press, 2001) is a solid, well written, police American authors, I did not expect too much procedural novel that features Barrett Raines, difficulty. I began by searching library a special agent for the Florida Department databases, bookstores and Web sites. Not of Law Enforcement, and his wife, Laura happy with the results, I contacted reviewers, Anne. Barrett is asked to run for a county collection development librarians, African- sheriff’s job and spends much of the novel American bookstore owners, and literary deciding if he has a chance to win the election agents. Asking these people to name a few since he would be the first African American contemporary Florida African-American to seek this political office. Laura Anne is a novelists resulted in a more than a few dedicated mother, restaurant owner and moments of hesitation. Additional substitute music teacher. When Agent Raines’ conversations with this collection of interested investigation of a brutal murder reveals that parties revealed that many African-American his supporters are also his suspects, his wife authors are self-published, which limits their patiently assists him in uncovering the crime exposure through mainstream literary and seeking justice. Wimberly’s crisp writing marketplaces and book review sources. I was takes readers into the woods of illegal led to a few writing groups for aspiring immigrant worker camps to solve the atrocious African-American authors, and finally, I was crime. able to find a few relatively new romances While all the plots of these novels are and mysteries by Florida African-American different, each features African-American authors. characters with strong family ties. In various Florida resident Timothy B. McCann’s settings, each main character relies on family most recently published novel is Emotions for guidance when making life-changing (ISBN: 1575667851; 227 pgs.; Kensington decisions that are central to each plot. The Publishing Corporation, 2002) This spicy advice of brothers, grandmothers and spouses romance features Joi, a sitcom actress, her all figures prominently in storylines. The politically involved husband, Philip, and a novels I read had universal, human characters. young writer, Michael, whose lives cross in That makes them just plain good reading. St. Petersburg, FL. Relationships develop and marriage vows are tested and the novel ends happily. Juicy escape reading! In From This Day Forward (ISBN: NOTE: Please put the following in a text box at the end of the article. 1583142754; 228 pgs.; BET Books, 2002) Bettye Griffin, a Jacksonville author, presents For nonfiction readers, former Miami feature writer and novelist, Tananarive a family tale of a young woman named Hatch Due and her mother, Patricia Stephens Due, who has received the prestigious who becomes caregiver for a woman in her Ghandi Award, have published a memoir Freedom in the Family A Mother- eighties and finds romance with the woman’s Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights (ISBN: 0345447336; 389 pgs.; grandson. This is just a good tale that readers One World/Ballantine Books, 2003). This descriptive book tells of the younger can lose themselves in along with a few cups Due’s early family lessons that enabled her to realize her role in life was not of flavored coffee on a chilly, rainy, Florida as a trailblazer, but as a writer who could escape and teach through her works. day. The plot offers no surprises, just comfort This book embraces the concept of sharing the emotional struggles of the and optimism, if that is what suits the reader’s African American in Florida through the notes and memories of the mother mood. All readers can appreciate the universal and daughter. The family’s story is presented in alternating chapters where theme of family support and personal triumph mother and daughter tell of the disparities and triumphs in Florida’s Civil in this novel. Ms. Griffin has a new novel, Rights history. This book, which can read like a Florida’s who’s who, is essential for library collections.

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 17 PERSPECTIVE Taking Our Pulse: Using Electronic Polling to Gauge Customer Opinion

By Ruth Maddox Swan Caption: FAMU Library staffer Carissa Johnson invites student priceless adj. to take a poll at Coleman 1. Of inestimable worth; beyond valuation; Library. Photo by Roland invaluable. Pompey. 2. Highly amusing, absurd, or odd.1

ibrarians, library managers and library boards would delight to L have customers describe their libraries as “priceless,” using the term according to the first Webster definition, of course, rather than the second! We think of our rare collections, perhaps, as priceless, but are pleased, as well, when our assessments suggest that customers are satisfied with library service quality and that we are meeting our stated missions. Conducting Marketing Research Marketing research is defined by Kotler as “the Caption: Portable touchscreen device Gauging Customer Satisfaction planned acquisition and analysis of data facilitates polling. Photo courtesy of Like its peers, Florida A&M University measuring some aspect or aspects of the Florida A&M University Libraries. Libraries (http://www.famu.edu/library) staff marketing systems for the purpose of keeps prescribed statistics and conducts improving an organization’s marketing actual computer monitor, or key them in using various assessments of library services during decisions.”6 Library and information agencies a regular keyboard. Data can be viewed the year. They are designed to guide planning, are now becoming more comfortable with the immediately after conducting the poll or gauge organizational performance, and concept of engaging in marketing activities. portions of the poll. A few keystrokes yield measure performance outcomes. Along with Our users are customers who have other descriptive statistics including cross these formal and informal assessments, options for information service delivery. Kotler tabulations. libraries should have efficient tools for gaining debunks “myths” that marketing should be One of the simplest polls illustrates how a realistic picture of how well customers are reserved for major decision making, that only Florida A&M Library staff primarily expects being served, focusing, of course, on elaborate and costly surveys are useful, that to use polling software. The poll consisted of satisfaction factors important to the customer.2 marketers must have a high level of research only three questions and focused on customer Swan’s research modified the SERVQUAL3 sophistication, and that marketing research access to information. A student worker asked instrument for use in libraries and reports some sometimes ends up unread or not utilized.7 persons (mainly students) leaving the main of the factors customers rate critical to One survey approach is opinion polling library to please participate in an exit survey satisfaction with library services.4 Customers which is often used in commercial and of their library experience for that day. The basically want reliable access to adequate political organizations. Polling can reveal three questions were as follows: materials collections. In addition, customers customer perceptions regarding current Q1: Did you find what you came for today? want assistance with accessing information operations, and, along with other assessment resources, quality collections, comfortable and tools, can guide decision-making. Q2. What library resource did you need? convenient study environments, friendly Q3. Are you satisfied with the service you courteous staff, and empowered front-line Using Electronic Polling received today? staff. Customer priorities change, however, as Florida A&M University Libraries invested 5 Of those surveyed, 94.92% (59) reported their academic classifications change, 8 in electronic polling software and a that they found what they came for that day. indicating the need for continuous and diverse touchscreen portfolio computer to conduct Over half of the respondents came to the assessment. The results of the assessments are electronic opinion polling as part of its most valuable when used to make decisions library that day to use a computer. Reference assessment program. Surveys are constructed assistance and use of books tied for second about serving the customers. In the marketing and written with logic, based on identified place; journals and newspapers followed in world, this might describe the goals of information needs. Using electronic polling marketing research. that order. A very large percentage of software (electronic comment cards) respondents (89.83%) were satisfied with participants “touch” their answer onto the library services on the day they were polled.

18 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries “Polling is very easy to conduct, customers are more apt to participate in an electronic poll over a print survey, and the results are easily Polling Faculty Resources should be used to promote those The Faculty Planning Conference poll was services rated adequate. Generous resources and immediately conducted August 14-16, 2002 and was much must be allocated to improve and publicize accessible.” lengthier. The 32-question survey was adapted those services rated inadequate to poor. from a print survey created earlier. Questions Special promotions can be made to faculty were constructed to learn faculty perceptions groups in Schools and Colleges that report of the adequacy of specific library services. not using certain collections. Underutilized The electronic survey took respondents library collections were microforms, special poll over a print survey, and the results are approximately four minutes to complete, less collections, and government documents. easily and immediately accessible. Though the data is immediately available, sufficient time than the completion time for the original print Q.5. Are faculty generally satisfied with must still be devoted to making proper analysis survey. Unlike the print version, each page FAMU Library services? presented only one question, which simplified One indicator of satisfaction is willingness to of the data, distributing results, and making decisions. We are presently using results to reading. Surveys were administered in two recommend a service to others. Out of sixty- guide some decisions such as where to allocate ways: Printed surveys were included in four respondents, fifty-one reported information folders distributed from the library encouraging students to make use of Coleman marketing dollars. conference exhibit table, while staff manned Library. This one indicator alone cannot Ruth Swan is Assistant Director, Florida the electronic polling station inviting passersby determine levels of satisfaction, but it does to participate. Out of sixty-four usable surveys, suggest general satisfaction. A&M University Libraries. only three were print surveys. Notes A copy of the survey can be obtained from Uses of Polling the library. 1 “priceless”, Webster’s New College Dictionary, 1999 Software constraints limited responses to ten ed. Poll Results categories. This was restrictive for some 2 P. Hernon, Service Quality in Academic Libraries, questions in the demographic section of the Ablex (Norwood, N. J.:1996) 92. Broad questions that were asked are listed survey. Also, this version of the TouchPoll along with some of the more frequent answers: 3 A. Parasuraman, L. Berry & V. Zeithaml. software does not have the capability to SERVQUAL: A Multiple-Item scale for measuring Q.1 How do faculty rate the services of receive comments.10 An upcoming version will consumer perceptions of service quality. Journal the Florida A&M University Libraries? remedy this shortcoming. of Retailing, 64 (Spring 1988) 12-37. Survey results indicate that faculty generally The libraries will continue to conduct 4 Swan, Ruth M. Perceived Performance and perceives Florida A&M University Library electronic polling and see it as an efficient Disconfirmation of Expectations as Measures of method for gathering opinion data about Customer Satisfaction with Information Services services to be adequate, especially the online in the Academic Library. Dissertation. Florida State catalog (WebLuis), library hours, and specific services or specific customers. University. Tallahassee, FL, 1998. Experience has shown that each poll raises circulation services. Library services to be least 5 Ibid, 133. adequate to poor were copy services, printing new questions and drives the content of the 6 P. Kotler, Strategic Marketing for NonProfit 9 next poll. For instance, all customer groups and facilities. Organizations, 5th ed, Prentice Hall (Upper Saddle report high use of library computers and the River, N. J. :1996) 212. Q.2. What library services do faculty use Internet, seemingly over other library most frequently? resources. In light of that finding, do faculty 7 Ibid. 215. Faculty most frequently use library computers, draw distinctions between the Internet and 8 The libraries purchased two licenses of TouchPoll the book collection, electronic databases, and software version 3.12.0000, (http:// library-provided electronic collections and www.touchpoll.com/), and a PaceBook PaceBlade the online library catalog, in that order. databases? What uses do students make of PB56 computer. One license is used on a laptop Q.3. Along with resources at FAMU library computers and what use do faculty and provides similar portability to the PaceBlade. make of the Internet? What does the word Other systems to consider might be the Survey Libraries, what other collections do faculty System (http://www.surveyssystem.com/bro.htm) primarily use? “library” mean in this electronic environment? and Infopoll (http://www.infopoll.com/company/ ). Faculty report making wide primary use of Constructing new polls and reconstructing others should not be intimidating. Flexibility 9 As is common with academic libraries, the library Internet resources, followed in equal numbers does not control these services. is a benefit of electronic polling. Though it by primary use of personal collections and 10We were aware of this at the point of purchase, collections in the libraries of Florida State could be moderately difficult to program the but concluded that the value in using the existing University, the nearest research library. first poll, successive polls should be fairly easy polls outweighed the benefit of waiting for a new to construct or revise. software release. Q 4. How might promotional resources be Polling is very easy to conduct, customers targeted? are more apt to participate in an electronic

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 19 CONFERENCE PREVIEW FLA 2003 Annual Conference Preview

T he 2003 Florida Library Association presentations from speakers representing a Annual Conference will be held variety of perspectives and backgrounds. April 22-25 at the Wyndham Palace Resort Featured speakers include: Kathleen McCook & Spa in the Walt Disney World® Resort at (USF Library and Information Studies Lake Buena Vista, Orlando. In addition to faculty), Sara Van Arsdel (Executive Director/ many outstanding programs, there will be Manager of the Orange County Historical opportunities to take advantage of the many Society and the Orange County Regional entertainment options the Disney area affords. History Center), Carmine Bell, (Pasco FLA will offer three pre-conferences free Hernando Community College faculty), and to attendees (two funded by LSTA grants and P. Russell Nyberg (USF Library & Information one by the Florida Center for the Book). On Science graduate student). Friday, in addition to a full day of programming, extra exhibit hours have been Roundtable Discussions added, plus a President’s Luncheon. For the Wednesday, April 23, 2:00 - 3:30 PM first time, all FLA leaders will begin their Thursday, April 24, 8:30 - 10:00 AM leadership year at the close of the conference, and there will be an installation ceremony Sponsored by Continuing Education for the Executive Board at the business Committee meeting on Friday morning. Back by popular demand! Topics for the Schlossburg Descriptions of selected programs are roundtable discussion groups will be based on included here. Check out the entire program member suggestions. on the FLA Web site (http://www.flalib.org/ Recruitment! Retention! Mentoring! conf/2003) to see what this Conference has Thursday, April 24, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Reference in store for you. All programs, forms, Sponsored by the Minority Librarian Live Chat Reference Services in Florida reservation and conference information are Libraries found on the site. Make plans now to attend! Recruitment Committee RECRUITMENT! RETENTION! Thursday, April 24, 10:30AM - 12:00PM General Interest MENTORING! Sounds familiar? Librarians Sponsored by the Telephone and E-mail General Session as role models today, should cater to each of Reference Interest Group these important arenas, while continuing to A cross-section of librarians will discuss the Wednesday, April 23, 9:45 - 11:30 am stay motivated as professionals during the “live” chat reference services implemented or Jacksonville Mayor John A. Delaney will be process. Delatorro McNeal, motivational planned for their respective libraries. Panelists the keynote speaker. speaker, author, consultant and success coach, include: Andrew Breidenbaugh (Tampa- will be the featured speaker. Join us to find Hillsborough County Public Libraries), Matt Librarians? Priceless! “Campaign for out how to cater to these important arenas Loving (Winter Park Public Library), Lisa America’s Librarians: Educating Others and be greatly motivated personally in the Manners (Broward County Public Libraries) and Working the System” process. Meredith Semones (University of Central Friday, April 25, 1:30 - 3:00 PM Florida Libraries), and Beth Watson (Tampa Cultural Heritage Education & Bay Library Consortium). Sponsored by the Membership and Continuing Preservation: Strengthening Communities Education Committees and all Sections through Library-Museum Connections What’s Up? DOCS! Documents Reference “We must overcome the stereotype of the Wednesday, April 23, 8:00 - 9:30 AM for Non-Documents Librarians librarian as the selfless, devoted and dedicated worker who is in the profession to do good Sponsored by Museums & Cultural Heritage Thursday, April 24, 8:30 - 10:00 AM and who will accept any pittance of pay,” Interest Group Sponsored by Government Documents Interest (Maurice Freedman, ALA President). The new Museums & Cultural Heritage Group Presenters Susan Dillinger (Director, New Port Interest Group will present a program Uncomfortable with answering government Richey Public Library), Kathleen Imhoff exploring the historical, philosophical, and documents questions? Don’t have an idea (Broward County Libraries) and Derrie Perrez practical benefit aspects of library-museum where to start? Can you find government (Dean, University of South Florida Libraries) connections with concrete examples from the documents online? Join the Government will help us explore the issue of how we can field. The program is designed to encourage Documents Interest Group for “What’s Up? advocate for ourselves as librarians. audience participation, stimulated by DOCS! Documents Reference for Non-

20 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries CONFERENCE PREVIEW Check out the entire program on the FLA Web site: www.flalib.org/conf/ 2003

Documents Librarians.” Documents Librarians speaking about deciding which electronic Now What? A Lifelong Question Barbara Costello (Stetson University) and resources to catalog when you have limited Thursday, April 24, 12:00 - 1:45PM Richard Gause (UCF) will be demonstrating cataloging staff and about where to look for federal and state government WWW sites. cataloging records for them. The program is Friends & Trustees Section Annual Awards Learn to locate a wide variety of government planned with tech services staff in public Luncheon documents including Presidential papers, libraries in mind, as well as those in other Keynote speaker Nancy K. Schlossberg is an Census materials and current Legislative libraries. expert in the areas of adult transitions, career information. development, and intergenerational Children & Youth relationships. She is the author of seven books including “Going to Plan B: How You Can Readers’ Advisory 101: Fiction Readers Meet Young Adult Author Alex Flinn are People Too! Cope, Regroup, and Start Your Life on a New Thursday, April 24, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Path.” Dr. Schlossberg’s 2003 publication by Wednesday, April 23, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Sponsored by Library Services to Youth the American Psychological Association is Sponsored by the Reference Interest Group Interest Group “What’s Next? Making Retirement the Time Duncan Smith, creator and product manager Florida is a state rich in culture, nature and of Your Life.” of NoveListTM, provides easy to use strategies sunshine. When Alex Flinn put pen to paper for taking the fear out of the dreaded to write her first young adult novel, Breathing Why Have a Retreat? How Does it Work? question... “What’s a good book to read?” Underwater, she joined the growing ranks of What Can it Accomplish? Using videotapes of readers talking about outstanding YA authors living in Florida, Thursday, April 24, 2:00 - 3:00 PM books they have read and enjoyed and taped further enriching our state. Alex tackles real Sponsored by the Friends & Trustees Section simulations of readers’ advisory transactions, problems facing teens, including violence, Ruth O’Donnell and Lawrence Webster, two Smith shows how to adapt basic reference abuse, and peer pressure, in a realistic and experienced library consultants specializing skills to guide and support readers in their moving manner. in planning and facilitating retreats for Friends discovery of new authors and titles. Breathing Underwater is a powerful novel groups, will introduce the concept of a retreat, dealing with violence and abuse, both received its purposes and benefits, how to define A Novel Approach to Readers’ Advisory: and delivered by teen protagonist, Nick. It TM objectives, and how to organize a retreat. Demo of NoveList was received with critical acclaim, becoming Pointe Vedra Beach Friends President, Carolee a Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults and a Wednesday, April 23, 4:00 - 5:30 PM Bertisch, will describe that group’s experiences Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Sponsored by the Reference Interest Group and success. Practice session in small groups Readers. Alex’s second novel, Breaking Point, will focus on how to develop objectives and Library Journal called NoveList “ a reader’s published in Spring, 2002, deals with school an agenda. This is a fine opportunity to learn paradise and a reference librarian’s dream.” violence and peer pressure. Her third book, what a retreat can accomplish for your Duncan Smith, creator and product manager Nothing to Lose will be published in Spring organization. of NoveList, will guide participants through 2004, and she is currently working on a fourth a demonstration of this product and discuss book. how electronic resources like this can be Administration mainstreamed into work with readers. Smith Friends and Trustees Insight and Inspiration for Leadership in will also discuss its evolution from a database Librarianship to a service supporting library services to Two Counties Approach to Advocacy Wednesday, April 23, 2:00 - 4:00 fiction readers. Thursday, April 24, 10:15 - 11:45AM Sponsored by the Leadership Development Sponsored by the Friends & Trustees Section Technical Services Committee Patricia Dunford, President of The Broward Dr. Joan V. Gallos, Professor, former Dean, Electronic Resources Overload? County Libraries and Jennifer Blevins, and current Director of The Truman Center Cataloging What Your Users Need President of Friends of the Columbia County for the Healing Arts at the School of Libraries, will present their current activities Friday, April 25th 1:30-3:0 PM Education at the University of Missouri- and plans to develop strong advocacy Sponsored by Technical Services Kansas City, is a regular presenter at the programs for different types of Friends and Interest Group Harvard Leadership Institute on Librarianship. Trustee organizations – large to small, big city Her presentation for FLA will explore the Want to catalog Web sites, reference databases to rural. Don’t miss this important complex nature of leadership, and assist staff or other electronic resources to help your users presentation and discussion. get to them? Marlee Dorn, Training and in all Library types to enhance their own skills Support Librarian at SOLINET, will be and strengths. The sessions will be interactive

Florida Libraries Spring 2003 21 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

and multi-media. Attendees wishing to get practical value “How to Talk to Your City/ Special Events the most from this session will want to read County Project Manager and Architect President’s Reception L. Bolman and T. Deal. “Reframing Selection Team.” Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Thursday, April 24, 6:00 - 7:30 PM Leadership.” San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1997 State Universities Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in advance of the conference. The Leadership SUS Overview: Update & Discussion Scholarship Fundraiser and Silent Auction Development Committee will present Wednesday, April 23 6:00 - 9:00 PM information on the FLA Mentor Program and Wednesday, April 23, 4:00 - 5:30 PM new website at the business meeting during Sponsored by the State University System “Glitter and Glamour” is the theme for this the last 20 minutes of the program time. Interest Group year’s Scholarship dinner. Following the dinner a band will play big band/swing music. A silent The State University System Interest Group How to Talk to Your City/County Project will have speakers from the Florida Center auction will be held, with winners announced at 8:00. Manager and Architect Selection Team for Library Automation and reports from Thursday, April 24, 1:30 - 3:00 PM members of committees representing the state university libraries. A change in the Interest Sponsored by Public Libraries Interest Group Group’s name will also be discussed, as the Ward Friszolowskski and Jonathan R Toppe State University System no longer exists as of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe Architects, PA, a body after the restructuring of higher AIA, will be presenting another program of education in Florida.

The Broward County Library WPA/MEP Digitization Project continues from p12

They defined those who endured them Classical Period, the striking outfits of women of all the digital file formats that one initially and to this day they still play a central swept up in the excitement of the Gay scans). When ready, the collection of TIFFs and vital role in much of our national Nineties, the frightening ceremonial dress of will then be converted to a selection of policy and dialogue. For that reason the Lama-King of Muli. Many plates bear the viewable JPEG images (.jpg) that will be Broward County Library chose to give the tiniest of scars-pinholes-suggesting that a uploaded to Broward County Library’s Web nameless professionals behind the WPA/ teacher had tacked them to a wall to provoke site for public viewing. When the project is MEP voice once again, and that voice shall a discussion among his or her young students. complete, over twelve hundred images will once again bear witness to those who Others pieces are remarkable for their be contained in a searchable image database, endured and those who created. three-dimensional nature, their scale and complete with scholarly notes and cataloging authentic costumes, such as the Christopher information, all available to patrons and A Diverse Collection Columbus doll dressed in historically accurate researchers via the Internet. Under the According to James Findlay, Bienes Center 15th Century tunic and robes or a scaled, guidance of curator James Findlay and the Librarian, the WPA/MEP Collection was plaster reproduction of Little Wenham Hall, sure administrative hand of Digital Librarian chosen as a digitization project because cited by historians as the earliest example of Paul Lefrak, the principal librarian in charge of its beauty and its sociological import a brick structure in England. of the digitization, the WPA/MEP Digitization and, importantly, because “much of the Project unfolds on schedule, with an expected work created during the WPA pioneered The Digitization Process completion date of July 2003. the study of cultural diversity.” Of its Already many of the Collection’s objects, as By virtue of its charm and historical import diversity there can be little doubt. Hand- well as the informed and scholarly descriptions and through the efforts of Broward County colored costume plates abound, detailing that accompany them, have undergone librarians, the nearly forgotten efforts of those beautifully executed scenes from wildly digitization. Once a piece is selected, the in the past will have been resurrected. At that divergent cultures: the somber, flowing process begins by scanning the object into a time, patrons, students, and scholars from all robes of Buddhist priests in China, the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format, the largest casual attire of a young couple in Greece’s

22 Spring 2003 Florida Libraries FLA & YOU FLA Responds to Bush Proposal to Dismantle State Library

The Board of Directors of the Florida Library to the Department of Management • Dismantling the State Library of Florida Association have launched a campaign to Services. with the actions described above sends the Save Your State Library. Your participation • The functions of the Bureau of Library scary message that...libraries, archives and and assistance in this effort is critical. Letters, Development will be reorganized and be historical records have no value. emails, phone calls and visits to legislators part of an entity within the newly created • Suggesting that no services or collections are needed now. Letters to the editor of your Department of State and Community are being eliminated, just sent to places local newspaper are also important now. Partnerships. where they can be more efficient just isn’t true. Librarians, genealogists, historians, THE FACTS under the current plan for • 55 full-time positions will be eliminated, yet the Administration suggests that all archivists, and the citizens of Florida dismantling of the State Library of Florida: understand this! • The collections of the State Library of “salient functions” will continue. Florida, currently under the Bureau of • The State Library of Florida has been Library and Network Services, will THE MESSAGE for supporters of the State awarded for its efficiencies and is known go...somewhere...somewhere other than the Library of Florida: for being an outstanding steward of R.A. Gray Building where they are • There is value in keeping these functions taxpayers’ dollars. currently housed. The Administration is within the same administrative unit. The Please act today! The response to this issue currently searching for a home(s). analogy to the Library of Congress made has been strong already—please put pen to • The State Archives, currently under the by many on the listserv is an excellent one paper, type an email, make a call. Let your Bureau of Archives and Records — would the Library of Congress operate voice be heard! Save Your State Library! Management, will be transferred to the more efficiently by scattering its services More information can be found on this Department of Environmental Protection. across federal agencies and sending its issue at http://www.flalib.org/state_library/ collections to other libraries? No. state_library.html • The Records Management function, currently under the Bureau of Archives and • Keeping the State Archives with other Records Management, will be transferred library functions of the State has value.

To contribute to the Campaign to Save Your State Library, send a check made out to the Florida Library Association and marked State Library campaign to Florida Library Association 1133 W. Morse Blvd., Suite 201 Winter Park, FL 32789 For updated information on the Save Your State Library campaign, check the FLA Web site. http://www.flalib.org/ state_library/state_library.html

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