Florida Public
Library Standards
A brief history…
• 1967 – Florida Standards for Public
Library Service - first adopted version
in Florida
• 1974 – updated, more quantitative
• 1985 – Standards and Guidelines for
Florida Public Library Service
A brief history…
• 1995 – Standards for Florida Public
Libraries: A Vision for the 21st Century
• 2004 – Standards for Florida Public
Libraries
• 2006 – Revision adopted
• Standard 52 updated annually
2013 Survey of
Public Library Directors
• 36 responses
• 83.8% responding have used the
standards
• Ranked uses
• Strategic planning
• Budget preparation
• Staffing/Salary & Local Financial Support
• Tied for 3rd
2013 Survey
• 77% prefer core standards separated
• 88% have not used the toolkit
• 78% report standards useful
Requested Additions
• E-resources
• Section on how to prevent
privatization
• Electronic materials and public
training
• Electronic access/formats
Requested Deletions
• Less on building specs covered by
codes
• Library director opinions
• Facility size
Other ideas?
• Reflect downsizing reference collections
• Reduce physical books
• Will the size/number of facilities change due to
economic conditions?
• Analyze need for facility size; does size
matter?
• Specify competencies in e-sources and
devices
Process
• FLA Florida Public Library Standards
Committee
• Gather data
• Other states’ standards
• The Library Edge - Benchmarks
• The Aspen Institute’s, Rising to the Challenge: ReEnvisioning Public Libraries
• Florida Public Library Directors’ survey feedback
(2013)
• Florida data, IMLS data
• Develop draft by April 15
• Review by FLA member public libraries
• Present draft at FLA Conference in May
2015