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37-646: The Florida Library Association began meeting in 1906, but it was officially formed in 1920 by Helen Virginia Stelle , director of the Tampa Public Library. In addition to its publication, Florida Libraries , the FLA provides a forum for issues and advocacy. Prior to any formal organization, the first state-wide assembly of Florida librarians took place in December 1906 in St. Augustine. On April 26 and 27, 1920,

74-749: A city of like population". Under her direction, library service in the Tampa area expanded to included eight new branches and the addition of bookmobile service. In 1932, Stelle took a leave of absence from the Tampa Free Library and traveled to Charleston, South Carolina , to oversee and organize the opening of a new library. Stelle was recommended for the task by the American Library Association due to her successful record in Tampa. While in Charleston, Stelle evaluated

111-456: A community of 274,407 people. A former worker of the library who'd been involved in cataloging and processing also recalled insufficient shelving space, stating that the huge collection of books, newspapers, and magazines was "falling off the shelves." Patrons also had to travel quite far to reach the library, as it was being used by patrons who lived in Hyde Park and Palma Ceia. Eventually

148-501: A county library law was sanctioned. The first chairman and then-president of the Florida Library Association was Helen Virginia Stelle. Each year since 1920, with the exception of 1943-1945 (due to WWII), the conference has taken place in various libraries throughout the state. This federation and assembly of Florida librarians have brought about progress in discourse, activism, and forward-thinking adaptations to

185-561: A particular school or library) to sue for injunctions to remove material they deem controversial and burden school districts with legal fees and court action." The FLA works to show the benefits of Florida's libraries. On their website, the Association promotes several tools and information sources, including Return on Investment information, data to support advocacy messages, Access Studies, and recommended readings. The Florida Library Association records are available for research at

222-503: A population of 274,407 people. In addition, other old, historical libraries in Tampa were also unable to meet the needs of the public due to poor parking, small size, and cramped collections. This led to questions of whether newer, larger libraries should begin replacing the older, historical models. The Tampa Free library endeavored to cater to the population by expanding hours. In April 1960 the Tampa Public Library's expanded its hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, increasing

259-778: Is available to affiliated University of South Florida researchers and the general public. Helen Virginia Stelle Helen Virginia Stelle (1884-September 21, 1947) was the first director of the Tampa Free Library (now the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System ) and one of the founders of the Florida Library Association . Stelle was born in 1884 in Alton, Illinois , to Oliver Stelle and Clara Cotter Stelle. She attended school and

296-832: Is low, and resources for adult education. In addition to her membership with the Florida Library Association, Stelle was also a member of the Florida State Library Board, the American Library Association , the Tampa Art Institute, and the Women's Club of Tampa. In 1930 she served as vice president of the Southeastern Library Association and in 1934, president of the Southwestern Library Association. Stelle died on September 21, 1947, and

333-603: The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee to speak with legislators in order to raise awareness of library issues. In 2024 Vice President/President-Elect Jorge Perez flew to Washington, DC to participate in the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies "Voices for Libraries event." The Friends of Florida Libraries Honor Roll supports FLA advocacy activities within the state government. Every year,

370-564: The Tampa Free Library to serve as its first director. The brand new Tampa Free Library was funded by well known industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie , who donated $ 50,000 for the library to be built, along with funds supplemented by the city. Although the library had been built by 1915, it officially opened in April 1917 and Stelle was in the receiving line, along with the Library Board, to greet its first visitors. In opening

407-592: The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System since November 2016 and also houses the Hillsborough Literacy Council , which is affiliated with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system. The library was widely used by patrons across Tampa who had fewer branches to choose from at the time of its use as an active branch. University students would enjoy the ample collection in order to do

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444-535: The University of South Florida Libraries Tampa Special Collections. The collection consists of 144 boxes of historical research material and institutional records, ranging from 1905 to 2015. Included in the repository are meeting minutes, treasurer's reports, conference programs, planning material, newspaper clippings, photographs, committee records, and other associated subject files. They were organized by Bernadette E. Storck, 1979-1980 FLA president. The collection

481-413: The "Exceptional Children Education Center". This program ended in 1986 when the city stopped busing gifted students out of their local schools. In 1987, the city of Tampa sold the building to the nonprofit Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation for $ 1. The corporation would do the necessary renovations and improvements after finding someone to lease the building and repay those costs over time. In 1995,

518-586: The African American branch, attend Hampton Institute , Hampton , Virginia , with pay for training in library science. Stelle was also one of the founding members of the Florida Library Association , which traces its earliest beginnings to 1906 with meetings of the Teachers or Education Association. In 1920, she gathered library colleagues together for a meeting in Orlando to formally re-establish

555-495: The Association and served as Chairman in 1920 and then President in 1922 and 1931. As part of her membership in the Florida Library Association, Stelle authored the 1935 "Florida Library Survey" which gave an account on the state of library service in Florida at the time. In it, Stelle sets several goals that Florida libraries should strive to meet including, better library service for elementary students, those whose reading ability

592-418: The Florida Library Association was officially established. The institution started out with 23 charter members whose primary goal was to embolden the state government, to establish a state library agency, and to endorse legislation that allowed for counties to establish their own libraries within their own communities. They were successful in their efforts, and in 1925 the state library was established. In 1931

629-684: The Friends of Florida Libraries sponsors a Library Day in Tallahassee in order to advocate for funding, library related legislation, and awareness. The FLA provides multiple scholarships annually for students to enroll in programs of library and information science. In 2006, the FLA filed an amicus curiae memorandum in the United States District Court in support of an ACLU and Miami-Dade Student Government Association lawsuit. The Miami-Dade County School Board removed

666-483: The Tampa Free Library once again garnered notice after the roof had to be patched to stop an influx of water from destroying the interior. It was at this time that Tampa's Architectural Review Commission unanimously voted to recommend the building for local landmark designation. In 1998, the United Way of Hillsborough County considered making the Tampa Free Library building its new headquarters, but reconsidered due to

703-871: The book Vamos a Cuba and "A Visit to..." book series from the Miami-Dade School Board libraries and classrooms. In early 2009, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision to return the book to the school libraries. The FLA supports the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) in their opposition to filed Florida legislation HB855 and SB1454, which has been criticized by the National Coalition Against Censorship for weakening First Amendment rights to freedom of speech by "authorizing any Florida resident (even if they have no connection to

740-495: The current library staff and conditions of the facility. She noted that many of the staff, particularly those working at the African American branch, needed proper library training and that many files and records in the library were inaccurate or out of order. She recommended enlarging the library's collection and emphasized obtaining more children's books for their simplicity, perceiving county elementary students to process limited reading skills; and that Susan Dart Butler , founder of

777-447: The first floor, with reference on one side and popular materials on the other. In the downstairs area, the west side housed the children's department, where story time took place and children's material was kept. On the east side of that floor, cataloging and processing took place. This involved hand lettering along spines in order to determine branches and subjects. The bookmobile collection was also housed there, as Tampa's first bookmobile

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814-532: The library collection and worked with Mayor Curtis Hixon to bring bus routes near the library to increase accessibility. Stelle oversaw the daily operations of the library which included organizing staff and selecting new materials. She also reported regularly to the Carnegie Corporation about the finances and state of the Carnegie libraries in Tampa. After seven years as director, Stelle

851-494: The library's open hours from 66 to 72 hours per week. This was done with the hope that it would be more convenient for people working downtown to visit the library. In 1961, the library was no longer seen as an adequate facility for the growing city of Tampa. As evidenced in an article by the Tampa Tribune in 1961, the library designed to serve a community of 52,000 people was rightfully determined to be insufficient for

888-495: The need for space and change led to the creation of a new main library, and on April 21, 1968, The Tampa Public Library (renamed John F. Germany Public Library in 1999) opened on 900 N Ashley Drive. The John F. Germany Public Library still serves as the main library in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library system. In 1968, the building was converted into a center for academically advanced students,

925-407: The new library, Stelle had the difficult task of not only buying the materials to stock the shelves but also in "selling" the idea of a library to the community. The location of the library was inconvenient for people to access and the residents of Tampa were at first, uninterested in any library services. Stelle was able to secure a donation of 4000 volumes from Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Lothridge to start

962-813: The organization “must take the lead to inform citizens of the desirability of library service to meet their practical and cultural needs.” The FLA addresses important and impactful issues that affect Florida's libraries and intellectual freedom. Its Statement on Professional Education states that Librarians and Library Directors must have a master's degree in Library and Information Sciences or Studies to uphold professional standards. The Statement on Privatization of Publicly-Supported Libraries advocates that efforts to privatize libraries by for-profit organizations should be opposed. The FLA organizes an annual Library Legislative Day during which librarians, library advocates, and other supporters meet both virtually and in person at

999-435: The price tag of renovating the then 83-year-old-building. In 1999 the city agreed to foot the 2.2 million dollar renovation costs by entering a 25-year lease agreement with Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation, at the end of which, the city would purchase the building back for the $ 1 they sold it for in 1987. Beginning in 1999, three agencies would share the newly renovated space: The Division of Neighborhood Improvement,

1036-417: The research and study required of them. High school students would also research at the branch, and some would enjoy going to the pool hall across the street from the library, which was notorious among patrons as well as librarians for having a diverse and interesting clientele that was not always a welcome presence at the library and would sometimes be a source of mischief. At the "7th Avenue Library," as it

1073-476: The way libraries function throughout the state. Themes which over its history have informed the FLA assembly, its mission, and its activism include “The Enlightened South” in 1966, “Threshold of a New Decade” in 1969, libraries as a “Renewable Resource” in 1986, and “Diverse Libraries to Serve Floridians” in 2000. The 1935 Florida Library Survey statement demonstrates the FLA’s commitment to its mission by indicating that

1110-657: Was a librarian at Shurtleff College in Illinois from 1903 to 1906. Stelle moved to Brooklyn, New York where she received her degree in librarianship in 1913 from the Pratt Institute School of Library Science . Afterwards, she went to Wisconsin where she worked as a reference librarian for the Superior Public Library from 1914 to 1916. In 1917, Stelle was hired by the Board of Trustees of

1147-469: Was able to add 25,621 books to the collection, as well as 141 periodical subscriptions. Her and her staff also conducted "story hours" for children at some of the local branches with a monthly attendance of over 1,000. More proof of her success was given in 1927, when Stelle presented to the Rotary Club in Tampa and showed how the library "operated at a lower cost per book and patron than any library in

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1184-451: Was built using a $ 50,000 grant from Carnegie. The library's first director was Helen V. Stelle . It was Tampa's main library until 1968. It includes a T-plan, masonry, brown and yellow brick atop a rusticated granite basement, and is topped by a barrel tile roof. The building was rehabilitated in 1999 by the City of Tampa for public offices. It has been occupied by the administrative staff of

1221-688: Was buried in her hometown of Alton, Illinois. A Tampa Tribune obituary stated she “devoted her life to the development of the public library system in Tampa”. Tampa Free Library For other Carnegie Libraries , see Carnegie library (disambiguation) The Old Tampa Free Public Library (also known as the Exceptional Children Education Center ) is a historic building in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Florida . Located at 102 E. 7th Avenue, it

1258-417: Was called by some patrons, children would enjoy storytelling, which would happen once or twice in the afternoon according to patron memories, and book selection in the children's library on west side of the basement level. Bernadette Storck, a worker of the library with the cataloging and processing department, details her memories of the library's floorplan and processes: The library had a circulation desk on

1295-401: Was kept at the Tampa Free Library. Upon patron request, back issues of newspapers and magazines, kept behind smoked glass, would be sent upstairs. A dumbwaiter was used to put materials in and take them upstairs, as the building's current elevator had not been added yet. Built in 1915, the Tampa Free Library originally stood as Tampa's main public library. However, over the decades, the library

1332-427: Was no longer able to adequately meet the needs of the growing population. Concerns over the small size of the library, lack of expansion, and inability to assist the growing population eventually led to a new building being constructed in downtown Tampa. The original building was constructed and designed to serve 50,000 people which was adequate at the time of its construction. However, by the early 1960s, Tampa maintained

1369-581: Was one of 10 Florida Carnegie libraries to receive grants awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1917. It was designed by Tampa architect Fred J. James and constructed from 1915 to 1917. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funding for more than 3,000 Carnegie libraries in the United States , Canada, and Europe. The library

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