Dear Brad,

Here at NEFLIN HQ, we're feeling pretty lucky!!

The first quarter of 2025 has been busy, but it's been a pleasure seeing so many of you at our in-person workshops and events. A highlight was hearing your feedback through our Strategic Planning Focus Groups and the Annual Survey. To everyone who took part in one of these activities, THANK YOU! The information you provided is now being compiled and analyzed to create our new Strategic Plan.

We look forward to sharing the results with you soon!

Book Repair Fundamentals

at NEFLIN HQ led by UNF's Tracey Britton

Jenny Eason

jenny@neflin.org

Member Services Coordinator

It's time! Nominations for the 2025 NEFLIN Awards are now open. This is your opportunity to honor a deserving colleague or community member for the hard work they are doing.

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.

NEFLIN's 2025 Technology Conference is now open for Registration!

When: Friday, April 25th

Where: Schultz Center (Jacksonville)

Cost: $45.00 (includes lunch)

Keynote Speaker: Lee Rainie, Director of Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center



Topic: "Another Darn Crossroads: How Libraries Can Function in the Emerging World of Generative Artificial Intelligence"

Rainie will discuss how the lessons learned by libraries by prior digital disruptions caused by broadband connections, mobile connectivity, and social media can be applied by librarians to the challenges posed by GenAI. Rainie, a longtime library analyst at the Pew Research Center, will cover the latest research trends and invite librarians to ponder how they can help patrons navigate this new world.

In addition, the agenda will include a wide selection of breakout sessions. To see session descriptions, go to https://neflin.org/2025-technology-conference/.

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.

Is your library planning a building project or a remodel of your current space? Consider attending Library Journal's Design Institute, which will be held on Thursday, May 8th, at the Winter Park Library.

The cost to attend this one-day event is $40.

Find out more and register at https://www.libraryjournal.com/event/design-institute-winter-park.

After graduating with an MLS from St. John's University in NY, Gene began his library career with the Brooklyn Public Library. Over a six year period he worked at nine different branches, exposing him to a multitude of cultures throughout the borough. In 1990, Gene and his family moved to Florida where he started a 10 year stint with the Pasco County Library System. He began as the Branch Manager for the new Regency Park Branch Library and ended as the division manager for all east-side Pasco libraries. Gene was then hired as Director of Palm Harbor Library in June 2000.

In 23 years at Palm Harbor, Gene led the library through eras of technological changes, budget restrictions, staff turnovers, the Covid outbreak, and political challenges. The library emerged as a cultural destination, an innovative hub, a staff-centered workplace and a mecca for volunteerism while establishing itself as a player at the community table. Gene was recognized for his efforts by the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce, receiving awards for Citizen of the Year as well as Lifetime Achievement. Gene was also involved in state-wide librarianship through his Presidency of the Florida Library Association, the Tampa Bay Library Consortium and Friends of the State Library and Archives. He recently received FLA’s “Lifetime Achievement” award. After nearly 40 years of public service, Gene is very proud to call himself…a librarian.

Thank you to Branch Manager Kim Odom and Youth Services Programming Coordinator Joan Meyers for a wonderful recent visit to the St. Johns County Public Library's beautiful (and busy!) Ponte Vedra Beach Branch!

A collection of Memory Masters kits was funded through a 2024 NEFLIN Innovation Project award. These kits are designed to "enhance cognitive health and well-being" for the elderly/aging. Find out more about services for this group in our upcoming Adult Services Interest Group meeting on April 2nd.

The library has recently reconfigured an underutilized space into a quiet reading area that features resources for aspiring writers and small business owners.

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.