Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

With your local libraries being in the news lately (libraries can’t have it all, internet access limited), I figured I’d look to see if I could find any library-related blogs. Sure ’nuff, there are all sorts of websites all around! Plus I learned that the entire system is a sort of pyramid scheme:

First the official websites:

Temple Terrace and Friends
Plant City - Bruton Memorial Library and Friends
Tampa - Hillsborough County and Friends

Those three independent library systems have joined forces to become the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. That’s where you go to update your library card info, and check out books and stuff.

College libraries include the USF libraries, the University of Tampa Macdonald-Kelce Library (friends), as well as the HCC libraries. The Tampa Library (blog) serves the students, faculty, and staff of Argosy University, Tampa Campus; The Art Institute of Tampa; and South University/Tampa.

All of these belong to the The Tampa Bay Library Consortium , Inc. (TBLC). TBLC is

a nonprofit multi-type library cooperative that assists and empowers libraries. All types of libraries — public, academic, school and specialized — are members. Since 1979, TBLC has worked with member libraries to provide better, faster service to the residents of west central Florida.

Today 97 libraries are members of TBLC. They include six community colleges, three state university system libraries, 27 private academic schools, colleges and universities, four public school systems, 41 public libraries and 16 special libraries. Together these libraries serve over 3.8 million Floridians (approximately 30% of Florida’s total population) in 12 counties in west central Florida. The counties served are Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota.

And they all also belong to the Florida Library Association (also see the Florida Library Association Blog).

The FLA develops programs and undertakes leadership activities for all areas of librarianship. FLA works with other professional organizations facilitating productive links within the library community; provides opportunities for librarians and support staff to advance their skills so that they can maintain their effectiveness in the new information age; and continues its role as legislative advocate for excellence in all types of library service within the State of Florida and beyond.

As far as blogs go, here are couple I found:

• St. Petersburg College Library Blog - The mission of the M. M. Bennett Library of St. Petersburg College in its support of the philosophy and objectives of the College is to provide comprehensive library and information services to meet the curricular, research, cultural and recreational needs of the college community.
• The Tampa Bay Library Consortium has a handful of blogs:
  TBLC - Beth’s Blog - Updates on TBLC projects
  TBLC - Ask A Librarian
  TBLC - TBLC Training
  TBLC - Library 2.0 Challenge - Web 2.0 is all the buzz. Library literature and conferences, the general news media, and the Internet at large are focusing on these new integrated technologies. Typically, Web 2.0 technologies are the “supposed second-generation of internet-based services that let people collaborate and share information online in new ways, such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies.” TBLC is challenging its members to get up to date and integrate these new technologies into their library services.
• Florida Genealogical Society, Inc. (Tampa) - We are the oldest genealogical society in Florida, founded in 1958. Our meetings are held at 10:00 AM on the third Saturday of the month at the John F. Germany Library, 900 North Ashley Drive, in downtown Tampa.
• HCC Brandon Library - Welcome to HCC Brandon Library’s Blog. Check in with us for news, events, and even research tips!
• USF Lakeland Library Services - News about services and resources offered by the USF Lakeland Library
• Tampa Theater Cinema Library blog - “In a firm partnership with the Tampa Theatre, The Tampa Theatre Cinema Library strives to educate and entertain the community with a rich assortment of motion picture resources.”

I’m sure I probably missed some. If you know of more, leave ‘em in the comments.

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