Greetings!

The leaves are falling, the air is a little crisper, and our minds are turning to time with family and friends in the days ahead. As always, we are ending this year with gratitude for our members who make our jobs so rewarding and enjoyable. We are thankful to be part of the important work you are doing.

Before you know it, 2026 will be here, and with it, a year of celebration for America's 250th.

Has your library begun preparing for this milestone? We are interested in hearing more about your plans for programs, events, and displays, even if they are in the early stages. Please complete this short survey if you have ideas to share. The information you provide will help us know how we can support our members in the year ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving, NEFLIN!

Jenny Eason

jenny@neflin.org

Member Services Coordinator

Last month, we introduced a new service for NEFLIN members:

Microlearning for Libraries.

You should now be receiving these interactive, self-paced tutorials in your inbox every Tuesday. Each tutorial ends with an opportunity for you to provide feedback, and we would love to hear from you!

If you aren't receiving these Microlearning emails, please reach out to us at training@neflin.org.

As a reminder, these tutorials are accessible through NEFLIN's Niche Academy platform. If you don't already have an account, you can quickly set one up here: https://my.nicheacademy.com/neflin-staff

Through the Jim Morris Scholarship Fund, NEFLIN members are eligible to apply for financial support for conferences, training, and other professional development opportunities, whether in-person or virtual.

We are now accepting applications for opportunities happening anytime in 2026! The deadline to apply is December 31, 2025.

A highlight of the past year here at NEFLIN has been the launch of a peer-reviewed journal that is written, edited, designed, and published entirely by NEFLIN members. By the time we reach the end of 2025, we will have published three issues of Library Insights!

2026 is the perfect time for YOU to get involved with this exciting project.

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

Find out more at https://neflin.org/library-insights/.

Articles must be submitted by Monday, January 26th.

Questions? Contact the Editorial Board at LibraryInsights@neflin.org.

Essentials of Library Science:

A Crash Course for Library Staff

Dive into the world of libraries with our self-paced course, “Essentials of Library Science.” This program is designed for any library staff who want a broad overview of librarianship.

Whether you’re new to the field or looking to refresh your knowledge, this course offers valuable insights into:

• The Interdisciplinary Nature of Librarianship
• Core Principles and Values
• Types and Functions of Libraries
• Cataloging and Classification
• Impact of Technology on Libraries
• Collection Management
• Programming and Outreach Services
• Libraries in the Digital Age

Whether you’re aiming to enhance your professional skills or gain a deeper appreciation of library services, “Essentials of Library Science” is your gateway to becoming a more effective, knowledgeable library professional.

Nick Tanzi is an internationally recognized library technology consultant, and author of the books Making the Most of Digital Collections Through Training and Outreach (2016) and Best Technologies for Public Libraries: Policies, Programs, and Services (2020). Tanzi is a past column editor for Public Library Magazine’s “The Wired Library,” and was named a 2025 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. 

All of us here at NEFLIN would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Jenny Ransone and to all the staff at Marion County Public Library who knew and loved her. Jenny passed away after a long battle with cancer on Tuesday, November 4th.

Several years ago, Jenny approached NEFLIN with a problem - and a solution to that problem! As head of Youth Services in Marion County, she saw a statewide gap in professional development opportunities for Children's Services staff. She proposed a one-day conference, and just like that, KidsLib MiniCon was born.

In 2020, NEFLIN and Marion County Public Library partnered with our sister organization, TBLC, to host the first KidsLib, and 100 participants from across the State attended. Marion County Public Library has since hosted two more successful conferences, in 2023 and 2025. KidsLib has now become an established event that has impacted library systems across Florida, and it wouldn't have happened without Jenny's innovation and leadership.

In 2023, Jenny was awarded NEFLIN's Member of the Year award, due in part to her contributions to library services across the region through KidsLib MiniCon. But everyone who knew and worked with Jenny knows her impact went far beyond KidsLib. She will be greatly missed, both as a colleague and, more importantly, as a friend.

For FY2025-26, the state budget for NEFLIN's programs is $500,000. 100% of this program is supported by state funds.