Report: “Florida Joins Conservative States Severing Ties with National Library Group”

From a Politico Article:

Florida is among the latest conservative-leaning states to sever connections with the nation’s oldest library organization after the nonprofit became embroiled in the ongoing culture war over what books should be available to students.

The agency in charge of Florida’s public libraries issued a new rule in October forbidding any grant activities tied to the American Library Association, a 150-year-old organization that aids thousands of libraries across the country with training and funding.

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How the rule will affect local libraries is currently unclear. Libraries pay for ALA memberships that grant access to benefits such as discounts on professional development and education products.

“FLA believes that this limitation will hurt Florida libraries’ ability to serve our residents,” Jenny Abdelnour, executive director of the Florida Library Association, wrote in an email sent to members surrounding the rule. Abdelnour declined to comment further on the policy change.

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Most recently, commissioners in Collier County unanimously voted to immediately leave the association, joining Citrus and Hernando counties in making the move.

Learn More, Read the Complete Article (about 860 words)

See Also: Alabama: “State Library Director Nancy Pack Concedes to [Governor Kay] Ivey, Dissolves State Board Membership with American Library Association

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Funding, Libraries, National Libraries, News, Public Libraries