Dear Brad,

We can hardly believe that the 2025 Technology Conference is almost here! We look forward to seeing many of you next Friday, April 25th, at Jacksonville's Schultz Center. The day will start with a keynote session from Lee Rainie, Director of Elon University's Imagining the Digital Future Center. Rainie's timely topic is "Another Darn Crossroads: How Libraries Can Function in the Emerging World of Generative Artificial Intelligence."

To explore the full list of sessions with descriptions, go to

https://neflin.org/2025-technology-conference/.

Jenny Eason

jenny@neflin.org

Member Services Coordinator

UF Smathers Libraries staff highlight the University's unique collections at NEFLIN's first Special Collections

Interest Group Meeting.

Time is running out! Nominations for the 2025 NEFLIN Awards are closing soon. This is your opportunity to honor a deserving colleague or community member for their hard work and dedication

Nominations are due Friday, April 30th! Awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting on September 19th.

Member of the Year

The NEFLIN Member of the Year Award recognizes a current employee of a NEFLIN library who has made a significant positive impact on his/her library and the community it serves. 

Download Nomination Form

Distinguished Career Award

The Distinguished Career Award is for an individual who has displayed exemplary achievement and leadership throughout his/her career in the library.

Download Nomination Form

Library Innovation Award

The NEFLIN Innovation Award recognizes an innovative program or service that has demonstrated impact on the community a NEFLIN library.

Download Nomination Form

Library Champion Award

This award is for any individual who has demonstrated exceptional support for a NEFLIN library. (Current employees of NEFLIN libraries are not eligible).

Download Nomination Form

Each year, NEFLIN hosts a raffle to raise money for the Jim Morris Continuing Education Fund. All funds raised through this raffle go back into the JMCEF to support professional development scholarships for our members.

This year, we're raffling off TWO prizes:

• a set of two Ember Temperature Control Smart Mugs (valued at $260) - AND -
• an HP Sprocket 2x3" Instant Smartphone Photo Printer with Photo Paper (valued at $100).

Raffle tickets are $10.00 for 10 tickets. Tickets must be purchased in $10.00 increments.

The drawing will take place at the 2025 Technology Conference, but you do not need to be present to win.

You may purchase raffle tickets online until April 24th or at the event.

Please note:

Issue One of Library Insights is currently in the editing phase and is expected to be published in April 2025.

This Call for Articles is for Issue Two, which we expect to publish in August 2025.

Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge and insights with the library community?

We invite you to contribute to Issue Two of the NEFLIN Publication Library Insights, a platform for library professionals from all types of libraries to share their scholarly and practitioner-based work.

Articles may be submitted here: Library Insights: Call for Articles

Important Dates:

• Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET
• Notification of Acceptance: July 1, 2025
• Anticipated Publication Date: August 2025

Questions? Email LibraryInsights@neflin.org.

For our libraries struggling to keep their print collections in good condition, the CoverOne #520 Machine might help!

The CoverOne Machine will create durable and perfectly-bound books in the convenience of your school or library. It repairs paperback and hardback books, as well. The machine easily binds or repairs books up to 2” in width and 19.5″ in length with a sliding wall to hold smaller books in place and will work with up to legal-size books and covers. This machine includes a non-detachable stand/cooling rack. This product features solid-state electronics, automatic binding cycle timer, one-button operation and no warm-up required.

To reserve the CoverOne machine or any of our Equipment Loan items, email training@neflin.org.

As a trainer, coach, and keynote speaker, Maurice helps organizations improve their human processes and use of technology, expand their internal/external communications, and broaden their focus and implementation of EDI activities.

Maurice is also the host and producer of the long-running (and oldest) training/education and empowerment podcast T is for Training and the Technical Trainer at a county library system located in the North-Eastern corner of Maryland.

He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2010 and was a member of the first class of WebJunction’s National Library CE Training Institute in 2014.

For the next few months, we'll be highlighting the ten NEFLIN member libraries who are recipients of a 2025 Innovation Project Award. These libraries submitted their innovative ideas to the NEFLIN Board, who then awarded up to $7,500 for each winning idea. All of the libraries are now at work putting their projects into action, and at the NEFLIN Annual Meeting on September 19th, they will share their progress and results. The project descriptions below were submitted as part of each member's Innovation Project application.

"In 1989 when Brevard County purchased the Cocoa Library it came with a house built in 1924. The house served various capacities, but was never used for the public. In 2022 as the housing market soared, we were faced with the challenge to sell it or use it. Our creative team realized there was a need it could fill, and so began our journey to make this house a home. We are creating an inclusive, high-touch, low-tech space where seniors can connect with the community and learn new skills. A space where exceptional students can feel safe and learn."

"A dedicated cozy space outside of our main library will provide our County with something none of our libraries offer, innovative community activities in a charming vintage building, rather than a meeting room. We also intend for many of the activities there to do “double duty” by not only benefiting the attendees, but by producing things that will benefit others in the community. For instance, the creation of a seed library will provide an avenue for people to take and share packets of seeds. Our indoor hydroponics and outdoor gardens will not only teach people about the outdoors and the therapeutic joy of growing plants but will produce healthy foods that could be enjoyed and shared. Partnering with Space Coast Therapy Dogs during a silent reading time helps them with their training and brings the unconditional love of pets to those who may not be able to have them. Even our planned fiber arts programs will focus on skills such as knitting and creating items that might be used or worn by individuals in need. What we offer with the River House is a “Human Touch,” where the community can go to feel at home, and be excited to learn new things."

You can find out more about Brevard County's project at https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2025/02/23/cocoa-library-riverhouse-socializing-community-brevard-reading-books-sensory-help/78389240007/.

"The Daytona State College Library aims to better serve our community by introducing Rolling Reads – an interactive outreach initiative featuring a customized Book Bike!

Rolling Reads will enable Library staff to engage directly with more DSC students and staff by bringing the library to them. Through a fun and functional mobile library design (and the magic of wifi), Rolling Reads will help patrons get to know the library by featuring library services at a wide range of College events, from Welcome Days to Homecoming to campus celebrations such as Hispanic Awareness Month, Women’s History Month, and Veterans’ Day. "

NEFLIN Staff enjoyed a recent trip to one of our most "far-flung" members, North Florida College's Hamilton Library! NFC is located in the beautiful and historic town of Madison and offers a valuable educational experience in this region's rural counties.

To better meet student needs, several library spaces have been reconfigured to house individualized study rooms equipped with white board walls. The library is also filled with thoughtful touches that make students feel welcomed and supported, including information about a free Career Clothing Closet, a fun "Hide and Seek" game to encourage library exploration, and a table full of free snacks to keep students from feeling those hunger pangs.

The library building also houses the active Academic Success Center, and ASC staff work hand-in-hand with library staff to support each student's unique needs. In 2024, NFC was awarded a NEFLIN Innovation Project award, which enabled them to create a series of Niche Academy tutorials that further support academic success.

Check out NEFLIN's Social Media

for more photos from our visit!.

For FY2024-25, the total state and federal budgets for NEFLIN's programs are $703,693. 43% of the total costs ($303,693) are supported by federal funds, and 57% of this program ($400,000) is supported by state funds.