Dear Brad,

Happy New Year, NEFLIN members!

2025 is sure to be filled with new challenges and unexpected twists and turns...and we're here for it!

To start the year off right, why not register for a few upcoming NEFLIN opportunities? There are many ways to get involved, including our upcoming workshops and webinars, Focus Groups, Interest Groups, and April's Technology Conference.

Find out more in this newsletter and in upcoming NEFLIN emails!

Jenny Eason

jenny@neflin.org

Member Services Coordinator

We are pleased to introduce you to our new Continuing Education Coordinator, Greg Peele!

Originally from Florida, Greg has spent most of his life in Washington State. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Columbia College of Missouri and went on to earn his M.L.I.S. from Florida State University. With over 30 years of experience in Naval Aviation, Greg served in various roles, starting as enlisted personnel and eventually retiring as an officer after being part of numerous squadrons and training commands. In recent years, he has worked as a librarian at the Jacksonville Public Library.

In his free time, Greg enjoys reading, watching sports, playing the guitar, running, and spending quality time with his family.

Reach out to Greg with your Continuing Education questions (and your warm welcomes!) at Greg@NEFLIN.org.

NEFLIN members, you are invited to attend a Focus Group in your area to help us build our new Strategic Plan.

NEFLIN supports you so that you can give great service to your community. Your needs, ideas, observations, dreams, visions, and success stories help shape NEFLIN's services.

Your input is valued!

Register below to attend a 2025 Focus Group.

• January 29 @NEFLIN HQ (Orange Park) - Register
• February 11 @Suwannee River Regional Libraries (Live Oak) - Register
• February 12 @Alachua County Library District - Tower Road Branch (Gainesville) - Register
• February 18 @Volusia County Public Library (Port Orange) - Register
• February 20 @FSCJ Deerwood Campus (Jacksonville) - Register

All session times are 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.



A free lunch will be provided for those attending one of these sessions,

along with a good amount of fun and learning.

When: Friday, April 25, 2025

Where: Schultz Center (Jacksonville)

Cost: $45.00 (includes lunch)

**Registration will open

in February.

Keynote Speaker: Lee Rainie

Lee Rainie is the Director of Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, a research initiative focused on the potential future impact of the digital revolution and what may lie ahead. The Center was established in 2000 and renamed with an expanded research agenda in 2024. Its mission is to discover and broadly share a diverse range of opinions, ideas and original research about the likely evolution of digital change, informing important conversations and policy formation.

Before that, he was founding Director of Internet and Technology research at the Pew Research Center, a non-profit, non–partisan “fact tank” that studies the social impact of the internet. He founded the Project in 2000. It was described by the American Sociological Association as the “most authoritative source of reliable data on the use and impact of the internet and mobile connectivity” and the ASA awarded him and the Internet Project its award for “excellence in the reporting on social issues award.”

NEFLIN's Management Training Institute provides the skills and tools librarians need to successfully step into management roles at their institutions, and it has proven to be one of our most popular and effective programs.

Congratulations to these 18 NEFLIN members who will be participating in the 2025 Institute. We hope you all enjoy this journey!

• Greg Allen, University of Florida
• Bianca Battiata, Volusia County Public Library
• Lori Brosseau, Suwannee River Regional Library
• Mikaeli Coleman, Clay County Public Library
• Minnie Cribbs, St. Johns County Public Library System
• Brittnee Fisher, St. Johns River State College
• Penny Gerlach, Flagler County Public Library
• Sarah Grainger, Alachua County Library District
• Christina Guertin, Clay County Public Library
• Rhonda Hall, Suwannee River Regional Library
• Barbara Hughey Reardon, Alachua County Library District
• Scarlett Koon, Suwannee River Regional Library
• Susan Mankowski, Jacksonville Public Library
• Mandie Marron, St. Johns County Public Library System
• Marcella Marsh, Columbia County Public Library
• Beth Ortiz, Columbia County Public Library
• Dylan Ragsdale, Jacksonville Public Library
• Colleen Skinner, Jacksonville University

Handling New and Awkward Customer Behaviors

Thursday, March 6th

9:30 am - 4:30 pm

NEFLIN HQ (Orange Park)

This in-person workshop addresses the actions employees can take when they encounter new and awkward customer behaviors. Attendees will learn immediately applicable words, phrases and techniques to effectively respond to anxious, irrational, flirtatious and unprofessional customers.

The Handling New and Awkward Patron Behaviors program promises to be interactive, thought-provoking and engaging.

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.