Current Projects & Events

The Comprehensive Cataloging Boot Camp is an opportunity for a limited number of participants to earn a Certificate of Cataloging from Library Juice Academy. This asynchronous program allows participants flexibility in time, content, and format to build a program tailored to organizational and personal-professional needs.

Registration Fee: FREE

Participants will select and complete eight (8) courses from the Library Juice Catalog:

https://libraryjuiceacademy.com/certificate/cataloging/

**NOTE: classes that are listed but not currently scheduled will be scheduled later in the year.**

Applications open August 24 and close October 30. Participants will be notified by November 20, 2026.

Apply for the Comprehensive Cataloging Boot Camp here:
https://www.zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?suid=94929&key=5DA59405

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.

NEFLIN’s Community Engagement Project helps libraries gather wisdom and insight from community leaders and analyze their findings to create an actionable community engagement plan.  The process is based on the premise that community leaders from multiple sectors already have a good idea of the current and emerging issues in their community.

Following a February 19th training led by consultant Jamie LaRue, participating libraries will send staff out two-by-two to interview local leaders in their own places of business.  Staff will then analyze the findings to reveal converging themes and present those findings back to the community leaders in a group debrief, usually held at the library.  This often identifies for the first time a clear community agenda, moving librarians from gatherers of information to agents of change.

In addition to the initial training held in February, library teams will be supported throughout the process through monthly meetings with Jamie LaRue and his associate, Sharon Morris (see bio information below).

Apply for the Community Engagement Project here:
https://zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?suid=94934&key=419D4301

Applications should be submitted by October 30th.  Participants will be notified by November 20th.

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.

Consultant Information

Consultant Jamie LaRue (MLIS) has been a library administrator and consultant for over 40 years. Key
positions include a 24 year tenure as director of the Douglas County (Colorado) Public Library District,
almost 3 years as the director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom), 4 years as director of the Garfield
County (Colorado) Public Library District, and many years experience as a consultant, trainer, speaker,
and author.

Sharon Morris (MLIS, PH.D) is a lead instructor for the Research Institute for Public LIbraries (RIPL),
facilitates state, regional, and national leadership institutes, and teaches online courses for InfoPeople.
She has decades of experience with the Colorado State Library as Director of Library Development and as
a library leadership development consultant.

NEFLIN is launching its inaugural Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA), a cohort-based program for library staff who are ready to grow into their next professional chapter. If you are interested in developing your leadership potential, this program could be for you.

Running from January through September 2027, ELA is built around the following five domains:

• Leadership Identity and Self-Awareness
• Influence, Trust, and Leading without Formal Authority
• Adaptive Leadership in Complex Environments
• Communication and Organizational Savvy
• Sustainable Leadership

ELA takes a broad approach to developing leadership capacity, emphasizing self-awareness, influence, adaptive thinking, communication, and sustainable professional practices. Participants will learn through four in-person sessions, four virtual peer coaching sessions, an ongoing online community, and a real-world challenge drawn from their own library.  This program will be facilitated by Jay Turner, founder of Edujay.com (bio information below).

Dates:  
Session 1:  Thursday, January 21st (in-person)
Session 2:  Monday, February 22nd (virtual)
Session 3:  Monday, March 22nd (in-person)
Session 4:  Monday, April 26th (virtual)
Session 5:  Monday, May 24th (in-person)
Session 6:  Monday, June 28th (virtual)
Session 7:  Monday, July 26th (in-person)
Session 8:  Monday, August 30th (virtual)
Session 9:  Friday, September 24th (NEFLIN Annual Meeting)

Registration Fee:  $350

Applications open August 24th and are due by October 30th, with the inaugural cohort announced by November 20, 2026.

Apply for the Emerging Leaders Academy here:
https://zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?s=yde4Eyst8j4e2V9P%2fXI28g%3d%3d

Are you wondering whether the MTI or the ELA is the best fit for you? 
This side-by-side comparison will help you decide:
https://files.constantcontact.com/b9e67558001/7847d892-49c1-4f6b-a15c-09fce1ba7162.pdf

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.

Facilitator Information

Jay Turner is the founder of LibraryHR, an enterprise service of EduJay LLC, focused on workforce,
leadership, and organizational development. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in public libraries
across frontline and administrative roles, combined with almost a decade consulting with library systems,
consortia, and governing boards across the United States.

Jay has built or owned the day-to-day operations of emerging leader and executive development programs
in multiple industries. As director of continuing education for Georgia Public Library Service, he led statewide professional development and leadership programming for the state’s public libraries. Upon continuing his career journey, he spent over seven years at one of the nation’s largest nonprofits, a $7 billion organization, supporting highly-competitve leadership programs for top talent while navigating crisis response, organizational change, and cross-functional coordination. He has also held corporate roles that inform his perspective on how different sectors approach decision-making, accountability, and shaping culture

The Management Training Institute (MTI) returns in 2027! This program aims to provide new skills and tools to address gaps in librarians’ preparation for management roles, including but not limited to managing performance and conflict, effectively delegating, and supervising organizational projects.

Ideal candidates will have less than 5 years of supervisory or management experience. Participants will meet monthly in person at the NEFLIN office in Orange Park.

• January 14
• February 11
• March 11
• April 8
• May 6
• June 10
• July 8
• August 12

Registration Fee:  $275

Applications open August 24 and close October 30. Participants will be notified by November 20th.

https://www.zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?suid=94920&key=77177D79

Are you wondering whether the MTI or the ELA is the best fit for you?  This side-by-side comparison will help you decide:
https://files.constantcontact.com/b9e67558001/7847d892-49c1-4f6b-a15c-09fce1ba7162.pdf

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.

Facilitator Information:

Michael Clark has an extensive background in management and supervisory development, quality improvement efforts, facilitation of strategic planning sessions and executive retreats, and one-on-one executive coaching. He worked as a Training and Performance Improvement Director for various State of Florida agencies for many years and has been the Owner/President of MRC Consulting for fifteen years. He has designed numerous training programs using the Instructional Systems Design Methodology, and has delivered over 2000 seminars, workshops, and presentations covering a diverse set of topics, with a focus towards developing leadership skills for managers and supervisors. Michael has also led the NEFLIN Management Training Institute for several years.

Mr. Clark has earned a BS in Experimental Psychology, a M.Ed., and has completed the course work for a Ph.D. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Instructional Systems Design Methodology at Florida State University.

We are now accepting applications for 2027 Innovation Projects.

The maximum amount that can be requested is $5,000.

The deadline for applications is October 30, 2026.

Innovation Projects – Guidelines (FAQ) and Application

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.

The following libraries are also eligible to apply:  Altamonte Springs Library, Reformation Bible College, Seminole State College, and Sumter County Public Library.

This conference is for anyone working in Children’s Services and will include engaging keynote sessions and a wide variety of breakout sessions on programming, resources, and services.  It will be held on Friday, February 26, 2027, at the Marion County Public Library – Headquarters (Ocala).  Registration will open later this Fall.

Call for Proposals

We are now accepting proposals to present a breakout session at the 2027 KidsLib MiniCon.

We are looking for a balance of sessions that explore Children’s Services programming, resources, and services.   Presenters are encouraged to include hands-on activities in their presentations when appropriate.

You may submit multiple session proposals.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is October 30, 2026.

To begin your submission, go to:
https://zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?s=NPTM5gQU%2fNbQ2ydvVYhJjA%3d%3d

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.

We are now accepting proposals to present concurrent sessions at the 2027 NEFLIN Technology Conference.

The conference will be held on Friday, April 23, 2027, at the Schultz Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

You may submit multiple session proposals.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is October 30, 2026.

To begin your submission, go to: https://zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurvey.aspx?suid=94894&key=19A25CA5

Questions?  Email office@neflin.org or call 904-278-5620.