Blogs

The county's new Hagen Ranch Road library branch is now open to the public! A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on July 11 was followed by speeches from County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, Library Director John J. Callahan III, and Library Advisory Board Chair Regis Wenham. The new Hagen Ranch Road Branch will more than double the size of the old West Atlantic Avenue Branch, from 16,500 square feet to 34,000 square feet. Find additional details here.

The winner of our $700 scholarship went to library school student, Annemarie Campbell, for her distinguished essay. Congratulations, Annemarie!

The Association held its Annual Meeting on May 28, 2008 at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. The featured speaker for the meeting was Eliot Kleinberg of the Palm Beach Post. Kleinberg, a native Floridian, spoke of the value of local history to all who make Florida their home.

At the meeting, the Association approved an amendment to the bylaws and its slate of nominees for the Board of Directors: Ethan Allen (President), Elena Romeo (Past President), Phyllis Lilley (President Elect), Leah Plocharczyk (Secretary), Karen Mahnk (Treasurer), Connie Brain and Karen Spano (Public Libraries), David Pena (Academic), Cookie Davis (Schools), and Roxann Waggener (At-Large).

The Board sent a check in the amount of $300 to FLA's Campaign to Convince Floridians of the Value of Libraries.

FAME hosted a symposium on May 3, 2008 at the AW Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Stephen Abram, Vice President of Innovation for Sirsi Dynix Corp., was the featured speaker.

The April meeting, which took place at Florida Atlantic University's John D. MacArthur Campus, featured David Pena, from Miami Dade College, Heidi Estrin, from Congregation B'nai Israel in Boca Raton, and Donna Smith, from the Palm Beach County Library System. Each shared their experiences in both getting started publishing and the work involved in writing for publishing. David Pena, as editor of the Journal of Access Services, gave an editor's perspective on writing and getting work published. Donna Smith and Heidi Estrin both talked about getting started by reviewing books. Thanks to all three for the pointers and encouragement!