Category: Libraries

On the Town in the Palm Beaches

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Media Alert!

In the most recent episode of On the Town in the Palm Beaches with Frank Licari, I was interviewed while showing off the new Canyon Branch library. In case you are not familiar with the series, On the Town takes viewers through a series of unique local points of interest in Palm Beach County. The host, Frank Licari, is a pleasant and engaging guide who takes the viewer on a whirlwind tour of fascinating places, events, and people in the Palm Beaches.

The library hosted Frank and the South Florida PBS team at Canyon Branch earlier this year. During the visit, I highlighted how libraries have become important community hubs and undergo constant change to match the needs of our residents. We toured the new library branch, with stops in our Children’s area, front reading room, and creation/maker spaces. A highlight for Frank was using our sorting machines for library item returns.

The segment is second on the episode after a tour of the new Canyon District Park. If you live in Palm Beach County or close by, I invite you to visit the Canyon Town Center to experience both the library and the park. It is well worth the visit.

Thank you to our friends at South Florida PBS and Frank Licari for being wonderful community partners by highlighting the library in their latest episode.

How Libraries Make Life More Affordable and Why It Matters More Than Ever

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Are you worried about affordability? Nowadays many people are concerned about inflated costs for life’s necessities as pay checks fail to grow. What can be done to help those caught in this financial crunch?

I recently posted a new article to highlight the important role that libraries have in the affordability crisis. Based on a Medium post authored by a group called Reimagining the Civic Commons, I highlight five distinct ways that libraries help make life more affordable for communities. Here’s the opening of the article.

With gas, housing, and food costs rising, affordability is on everyone’s mind. Yet, in the quest to save money, is the solution to invest in our social infrastructure? In the April 2026 article 5 Ways Public Spaces Make Everyday Life More Affordable, the writers at Reimagining the Civic Commons reframe that conversation by highlighting how shared spaces like parks, community centers, and libraries reduce household costs in meaningful and often overlooked ways.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

If you’re a lifelong library lover, this won’t come as a surprise. The article explicitly positions public spaces as shared infrastructure that helps families navigate financial pressure and improve quality of life at limited expense. Let’s break down what that really means.

1) Libraries Are Cost-Avoidance Engines

When Reimagining the Civic Commons notes that public spaces can “meaningfully lower the cost of living,” it’s recognizing how much households save when they don’t have to buy what can instead be borrowed. Think about the resources available with a library card: books, movies, digital subscriptions, databases, and even streaming. These are items most families would otherwise purchase, subscribe, or have to go without if libraries did not exist. This is affordability in action by avoiding expenses before they ever occur.

2) Libraries Expand the Idea of “Access”

One of the article’s strongest insights is around shared assets. These are things households don’t need to own because they’re available in the public realm. Many libraries operate a “libraries of things” where residents can check out tools, equipment, and technology. This saves a household from buying and storing items used only occasionally. Another example are the Birding Backpacks at the Palm Beach County Library System. Accessibility is an essential element of affordability.

Discover the other three ways that libraries help with affordability, along with the name of a great book that explains the concept in further detail, by reading the rest of the article.

Support Florida Libraries! Support the Florida Library Association!

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In 2026, Florida’s libraries are facing new challenges and unprecedented opportunities. From protecting intellectual freedom to expanding digital access and workforce development, library professionals across the state are stepping up in powerful ways.

Now is the time to stand together and tell your story about why libraries matter.

The Florida Library Association (FLA) has a bold goal: building a stronger, more connected community of library workers and advocates. As a Past President of FLA, I personally invite you to join Florida’s premier professional association for library employees, supporters, and champions. This year, FLA President Allision Grubbs is inspiring us to tell our story about how libraries change lives. The best way to share your story is to join with colleagues across the state to build a better future.

Why Join FLA in 2026?

FLA has made membership more accessible with reduced and flexible membership rates, ensuring that every library worker at every stage of their career can participate. Don’t work in a library? Membership is also open to library supports and retirees. In short, anyone who loves libraries is invited to share their story and join the association.

I’ve been a proud FLA member for over twelve years. Through the Association, I’ve grown as a leader and built lifelong professional relationships with amazing people from across the state. As well, I’ve strengthened my advocacy for the essential work libraries do every day to connect communities, inspire learning, and protect access to information.

When you become an Individual Member, you gain:

  • Leadership Opportunities – Serve on committees or the Executive Board and develop valuable leadership skills
  • Timely Advocacy Updates – Stay informed on fast-moving legislative and policy issues impacting Florida libraries
  • Continuing Education – Access webinars, trainings, and professional development opportunities
  • Statewide Networking – Connect with colleagues from public, academic, school, and special libraries
  • Recognition & Awards – Celebrate excellence at the FLA Annual Conference
  • Voting Rights – Help shape the future direction of the association
  • Conference Discounts – Save on registration for our Annual Conference
  • Member Groups – Join or form communities centered on your professional interests
  • Member Communications – Stay informed through exclusive mailing lists and updates
  • Publication Opportunities – Access Florida Libraries journal and opportunities to be featured
  • Exclusive Online Resources – Including the member directory and professional tools

Whether you’ve never joined, or are considering returning, or are ready to renew, 2026 is the year to take that step.

Your Membership Matters More Than Ever

Libraries are essential infrastructure for democracy, education, and community resilience. Your membership strengthens FLA’s ability to advocate effectively, provide professional support, and ensure that all types of libraries across Florida can thrive. For more than 100 years, the Florida Library Association has championed our state’s libraries. Now we’re building the next century of access and empowerment, and we need you with us.

Don’t Wait. Join Today!

Commit to your profession. Invest in your growth. Stand up for Florida’s libraries.

Visit the FLA membership website and become a member today. Together, we are stronger. Together we will shape the future of libraries in Florida by telling our story. In 2026, I look forward to welcoming you as an FLA Member.

Make 2026 the Year to Rediscover Reading

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Are you ready to Rediscover Reading?

Below is a copy of my recent op-ed in the Palm Beach Post encouraging people to take part in the new Rediscover Reading.

Rediscover Reading helps locals realize the benefits of books

When was the last time you read a book for sheer enjoyment?

If you are like most people, it has been a while since you cracked open a novel. You may think that reading for pleasure is simply one entertainment option out of many. However, reading for pleasure is more than a possible pastime. It’s a story driven public-health prescription. That’s the rationale behind the Palm Beach County Library System’s 2026 yearlong initiative, Rediscover Reading.

As our communities wrestle with loneliness and frayed social ties, returning to pleasure reading, and the libraries that sustain it, offers an affordable, evidence-based path to improve lives. The scale of the challenge is striking. A 2025 study of more than 230,000 Americans found the reading for pleasure dropped from 28% in 2003 to just 16% in 2023. That decline isn’t just a worry for the publishing industry. It has public-wellness concerns. When a large part of the population stops reading for pleasure, we lose a simple, low-barrier route to better mental health.

A growing body of research finds that reading for pleasure delivers measurable benefits such as reduced stress, better sleep, enhanced empathy and improved cognitive well-being. At the same time, shared reading like book clubs and read-aloud sessions activate regions in our brains tied to social cognition and emotional connection. This helps counter feelings of isolation and distrust.

That’s where Rediscover Reading comes in. The Library is inviting Palm Beach County residents to pick up a favorite book, sample a new novel, and set a reading goal for the year. What would happen if we all committed to reading one book a month? How much more restful would we feel by exchanging 15 minutes of mindless scrolling before bed with the narrative delight of a story? The sense of wonder, escape or solace found in the written word can bring peace of mind, greater life satisfaction, and a more empathetic understanding of the world.

Reading for pleasure combines the best of both worlds: the private delight of losing yourself in a narrative and the social lift from shared reflection. Libraries, with our welcoming spaces and community activities, transform solitary reading into a communal experience. As research suggests, the path to improved well-being doesn’t require expensive interventions. Instead all we need is a book in hand and a comfy spot to read it.

The invitation is extended. Dust off that old beloved title or pick up a new bestseller, be it a physical book, e-book or audiobook. Rediscover Reading isn’t just about books. It’s about opening your mind to a world of unlimited possibilities through the simple, but powerful ritual of reading for pleasure.

Grab your library card and visit your local branch of the Palm Beach County Library System or a municipal library to access free materials. Check out free e-books and e-audiobooks online through our website: www.pbclibrary.org.

This year, reclaim the joy of literature as a daily act of self-care and community building. Join us as we invite you to Rediscover Reading.

FLA Needs Your Input and Support

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Below is an important message from the Florida Library Association. Whether you are an FLA member or not, your input and support are most appreciated.

The Florida Library Association (FLA) is in the process of updating the Florida Public Library Standards. This document is used to help guide public library service across Florida.

Work in a Florida library? Please take a few moments to fill out this survey to help us in the process. Your feedback will help identify items to update and change to keep our standards relevant.

The survey is open from Monday, November 3 to Sunday, November 30, and we are seeking feedback from all Florida library workers, not just FLA members.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

FLA STILL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Your donations support the work of the Florida Library Association, a 501(c)(3) organization. Gifts to FLA are deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Support FLA by making a donation toward its general operating expenses. Donating to the General Fund allows FLA the most discretion and flexibility in allocating your contribution to our greatest financial needs.

The healthier FLA is financially, the better able we are able to support and advocate for Florida libraries and library staff.

DONATE HERE

Thank you for your generous donation!

Libraries are at the Heart of the Reading Ecosystem

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When I say libraries, what is the first thing to come to mind?

It was probably books.

The purpose of libraries for thousands of years was to collect and preserve the written word. Of course, having books alone is not enough without people who know how to read them. That is why libraries have always strived to expand literacy. This is especially true today, even in the digital age.

Brooks Rainwater, CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, understands the important role that public libraries play in expanding literacy. In a recent article on the EdTrust website called Libraries are at the Heart of the Reading Ecosystem, Rainwater shares how libraries are important to literacy while at the same time facing a very challenging environment.

Without public libraries, it is much harder to solve the problem of illiteracy. At a time when only 31% of U.S. fourth graders are reading proficiently, a continuing downward trend from previous years, it is especially worrying that public libraries — critical to helping children and their families begin the important process of reading and writing fluently to gain on-grade skills — are under attack.

Rainwater stresses how libraries play a bigger role in our communities beyond just acquiring books.

Libraries are more than just passive repositories of books; they are indispensable neighborhood resources. Libraries are learning hubs at the very heart of community literacy, anchor spaces providing essential support to our youngest readers and their families, teachers, and other literacy providers, helping to build out a strong “literacy ecosystem” across communities.

From his leadership position at one of the largest library organizations in North America, Rainwater understands the challenges and knows how libraries are making a difference in their communities.

I am the president and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), an organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the essential role of public libraries as dynamic, accessible places for opportunity, learning and innovation. I’m proud to say that, despite the challenging environment we are in, our member libraries are still stepping up to meet the needs of our developing readers and their families in numerous ways that are aligned to all that we know about how young brains learn to read. 

To learn more about how libraries support literacy, please read the full article.

Supporting Florida Libraries

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This week I am sharing an important message from the American Library Association in support of Florida Libraries. Please consider offering your support to ensure that the Florida Library Association is able to continue its mission of connecting libraries and library staff across the state.

Imagine a Florida without libraries—no story times, no safe study spaces, no free access to books, technology, or community programs. That’s the future our colleagues at the Florida Library Association (FLA) are working hard to prevent.

Support the Florida Library Association

FLA has been a steadfast advocate for libraries across your state, but today, they need your help. Like many organizations, FLA has faced serious financial challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While their recent conference in Orlando was a success, they continue to face declining membership and the loss of key funding sources, including Library Services and Technology Act grants (through the Institute of Museum and Library Services).

Yet, we remain hopeful—and they remain active. In the past year alone, FLA:

  • Successfully lobbied against the “Material Harmful to Minors” legislation
  • Secured full base funding for Public Library State Aid
  • Achieved a 25% increase in funding for library cooperatives
  • Hosted a dynamic and educational 2025 conference
  • Made membership more affordable and accessible

Now, on behalf of our friends at FLA, we’re asking for your support to keep their momentum going.

📚 Donate: Every dollar helps them continue our collective mission to support and advocate for Florida’s libraries.
📚 Join or Renew: Personal memberships are 50% off through December—there’s never been a better time to get involved.
📚 Share: Help them spread the word by forwarding this message to your colleagues, friends, and family and posting to social media.

Donate to the Florida Library Association

Your contribution will help ensure that libraries remain strong, inclusive, and essential to every Florida community. 

On behalf of their friends at ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy office, thank you for showing up for the Florida Library Association.

Warm regards,

Lisa R. Varga, MLS
Associate Executive Director, Public Policy & Advocacy

Take Part in the Summer Reading Challenge

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It’s summertime! What are you going to read?

Libraries across the country are encouraging their members to grab an armful of books and make it a summer full of reading. For example, the Palm Beach County Library System has started the annual Summer Reading Challenge. As shared on their website:

Residents are invited to join the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Color Our World. Summer is a season that beckons everyone to embark on new adventures, explore faraway lands and lose themselves in the magic of stories. Where better to start your journey than at the Library!

Don’t live in Palm Beach County? Never fear! Almost all public libraries across the country engage in a summer reading program. Visit yours today to get started.

Summer reading challenges are happening at a time when many authors and researchers are highlighting the need for deep reading. An article from last October from the National Endowment of the Arts points to data showing a slump in reading for pleasure. An interview on NPR similarly discussed how Americans are reading fewer books. The effects of these trends are far reaching and still being studied. I intend to explore this topic more in future posts.

Meanwhile. I invite you to personally try to reverse this trend by signing up for your nearest summer reading program. Then pick your favorite books and enjoy the read!

Statement from the Urban Library Council

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The library world was shocked last week by news of the abrupt firing of the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. She was fired by email.

Like many of my colleagues, I was sad to hear this news. I am a big admirer of Ms. Hayden and believe that her career is an inspiration for librarians everywhere. From her background as a public library Director and her extensive experience working at the national level, Ms. Hayden was a natural fit for the Library of Congress. Despite this set back, I know that Ms. Hayen will continue to advocate for libraries across the country in her next role.

Below is a statement from the Urban Library Council regarding this situation.

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The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) is deeply dismayed by the dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress.

A visionary leader, Dr. Hayden modernized the Library of Congress, expanded its digital reach, and championed access and transparency. Dr. Hayden worked tirelessly to ensure that this vital institution served not only scholars and policymakers—but all people, in every corner of our country. She also made history as the first woman and first African American to serve in the role—an appointment that carried deep significance for the institution and the nation.

At a time when truth, history, and civic knowledge are under strain, Dr. Hayden stands as a steadfast advocate for open information and the enduring value of public institutions. Her leadership reminds us that libraries are, at their core, dynamic engines of democracy, equity, and the public good.

Her removal is not simply a personnel decision—it is a profound rupture in our national commitment to knowledge, access, and public service. This moment demands clarity, courage, and conscience—from Congress, from civic leaders, and from all who believe in the integrity of our democratic institutions. The Library of Congress is more than a building on Capitol Hill. It is a symbol of our nation’s belief in the power of knowledge and the free exchange of ideas. Its mission must not be subject to political whims.

The Urban Libraries Council calls on Congress to recognize Dr. Hayden’s historic contributions, to celebrate the transformation she sparked, and to protect the independence and integrity of the Library of Congress. Let this moment not diminish her legacy but instead galvanize a renewed commitment to libraries as pillars of democracy.

ULC stands in solidarity with library leaders across the nation in honoring Dr. Hayden’s vision, her service, and her unshakable belief in the power of libraries to change lives.