Innovation Projects
Hot Topics Conferences
Full-day event focusing on an emerging trend in libraries.
2026: Engaging Spaces, Strategic Design
2024: Other Duties as Required
2022: Fun & Games
2020: @ Your Service
2018: Libraries Unplugged
2016: The User Experience
Technology Conferences
Management Training Institutes
A year-long Institute that provides new tools that address gaps in the preparation of librarians for management roles.
Held in 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
School Library Mini-Institute
2021-22 School Library Mini-Institute led by Chris Harris.
Cataloging and Technical Services Certification
Friends of the Library
A project designed to help academic and public libraries with establishing or supporting a Friends of the Library group.
Library MakerFests
2019 Library MakerFest @ Daytona Beach Regional Library
2018 Library MakerFest @ Clay County Fairgrounds
Virtual Reality (VR) Project
Five sets of VR laptops and Oculus Rift goggles were purchased, along with a 10-user Google Expeditions kit. Workshops were held for library staff to interact with the VR technologies. After the project’s conclusion in 2019, the items purchased were placed in NEFLIN’s Equipment Loan Program for member libraries to borrow and hold their own programming.
Academic Assessment Project
Marketing Project
The Library Marketing Project assisted ten member libraries in creating and deploying a Marketing Plan tailored to their community.
Librarian Olympics
Something fun to go along with the Olympic Games in Rio. It culminated in a wild and crazy series of Olympic styled events at the 2016 Annual Meeting.
User Experience (UX) Project
User Experience is every decision you make that affects how people experience your library. It ensures that your library is a welcoming space for everyone. NEFLIN’s UX Project, with consultant and nationally recognized expert Aaron Schmidt, had ten member libraries working to improve library services.
NEFLIN’s UX Project with Aaron Schmidt kicked off on February 8, 2016. Ten libraries were chosen to participate in the UX Project by NEFLIN’s Board of Directors .
23 Mobile Things @ NEFLIN
The 23 Mobile Things prepared staff to help patrons using mobile devices.
2004-2012 Special Projects
eBooks for Small Public Libraries
2011-2012
NEFLIN partnered with four public library systems (covering 11 counties) that could not afford on their own to purchase eBooks. NEFLIN wrote an LSTA grant to provide a share of the funding, the partner libraries put up a share, and the vendor (Overdrive) provided a significantly discounted price for the group.
23 Things @ NEFLIN
2009
The 23 Things encouraged all of us to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are changing how information is used and created on the Internet today.
Florida Library Association
2006-2008
The Florida Library Association (FLA) contracted with NEFLIN to provide administrative support for the organization.
Mini-Grant Program
2006-2007
NEFLIN established the Mini-Grant Program to allow NEFLIN member libraries to apply for funds that can be used for any project at their library. NEFLIN Full and Enhanced members were eligible to apply for up to two grants. Each grant application could be funded up to a maximum of $10,000.
Middle Manager Leadership Symposiums
2007
The Middle Manager Symposiums are designed for library branch managers and library department heads from libraries and library systems throughout Florida. Four sessions entitled “How Can I Help Them To Get Along? Conflict Resolution Skills and Strategies for Library Middle Managers” were facilitated by Pat Wagner in Ft. Myers, Ft. Lauderdale, Ocala, and Orange Park for 140 participants. Fifty-three NEFLIN members attended the sessions in our region.
Spanish Language Outreach Program
2006-2007
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Spanish Language Outreach Program was designed to train public library staff to better serve their Spanish-speaking customers. This was achieved through regional workshops and a preconference at the 2006 FLA Conference in Orlando which was attended by 80 library staff from around the state. Selecting Spanish Language Materials for Adults, an introductory, Web-based course to help public library staff learn the basics of developing a Spanish-language collection was also offered from March-April 2007. Registration was made available in December and the course filled up within two days. 27 library staff from all over the state participated in the live chat sessions, which included ten NEFLIN members.
Rural Library Sustainability Program
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant
2006-2007
The Rural Library Sustainability Program was designed to provide approximately 80 staff at rural public libraries with an opportunity to create action plans that will help them sustain their public access computing programs. The program provides a train-the-trainer program at the Gates Foundation office in Seattle for the project coordinator, two workshops for rural librarians from around the state, and funding to send three workshop participants to ALA 2007 in Washington, DC.
Workshops were held on February 23 in Tallahassee and on March 9 in Ocala. Communication continues with participants on the WebJunction discussion boards and through Cvent. An open follow-up session was held on April 12 at FLA in Orlando. Four workshop participants attended the WebJunction Rural Forum Preconference and ALA 2007 in Washington, DC.
Additional funds were used to purchase a one-year subscription to Live Meeting, online meeting software made available by WebJunction. Access will be provided to libraries for training, meetings, and other appropriate uses.
Technology Assessments and Training
2006-2007
Through a one-time LSTA grant, NEFLIN conducted a project to provide an assessment of the library’s technology-related services and to train library staff to help customers use technology. Assessments and training were provided by Mickey Boyd.
Assessments provided a thorough evaluation of eight libraries’ networks, library management systems, e-mail and web services, bandwidth, security, and advice on purchasing hardware and software.
The ten on-site workshops were designed to support a wide variety of needs. They enabled library staff to become more proficient and comfortable with using many of the new technologies now present in their library. Staff began to understand issues such as purchasing decisions, implementation, bandwidth, library management systems, and security.
Library Directors’ Meeting
October 2006
The 2006 Library Directors’ Meeting was held from the afternoon of October 11 through October 13, 2006, in Jacksonville at the Embassy Suites – Baymeadows. 125 individuals attended this meeting which included a keynote by Christopher Holley and Diantha Schull as well as sessions by Mary Minow, Richard Madaus, Vincent T. Edwards, and Thomas Wilkes. This meeting also included a tour and reception at the new Jacksonville Public Library and a tour of Clay County Public Library Headquarters in Fleming Island.
Technology Training To Go
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant
2004 & 2005
The Technology Training to Go conferences brought together IT and technology training staff from libraries throughout Florida to discover applications for new technologies and strategies, skills, and practices that will allow them to manage computers and provided technology training in a productive way. A keynote by Stephen Abram (Sirsi Dynix Vice President of Innovation) at the 2004 conference was followed by a variety of interactive sessions on technology issues for 119 attendees.