Florida State Library Loses Circulating Collection

A public backlash, involving librarians, historians, archivists, and many newspaper editorial boards, forced Florida's Gov. Jeb Bush to withdraw part of his plan to close the Florida State Library and transfer its collections to other agencies and even a university (see Late Bulletins , LJ 2/15/03, p. 13). However, he retained the centerpiece of his plan—the transfer of the library's almost 700,000-item circulating collection and the attendant loss of as many as 55 of 120 jobs.

Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan and Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced February 25 that the state library's collection would be transferred to Nova Southeastern University's (NSU) Library, Ft. Lauderdale, effective July 1. In addition, the administration proposed to give NSU $5 million over the next four years, presumably to handle the transfer and preparation of the collection, a move that perplexed librarians. "Not only are they giving away public assets of $10 million to a private institution," said one incredulous Florida librarian, "they are paying them to take it."

The move was denounced by former state librarian Barratt Wilkins (see News , LJ 2/1/03, p. 18ff.), who also revealed that he chose retirement rather than support a plan he opposed.

Bush originally aimed to move the library's circulating collection out of government and place the archives and records management functions with other agencies. The public outcry included petitions posted online by both historians and genealogists and a media campaign by the Florida Library Association (FLA).

On February 18, Judith Ring, the new director of the Division of Library and Information Services in the Florida Department of State, announced, "The services provided by the Bureau of Library Development, the Florida Library Information Network, and the Florida Electronic Library will be maintained and/or expanded. The State Archives, including the Florida Collection, and the Florida State Documents Depository Program" would be administered by the new agency. Ring, however, indicated that the new agency would have only 40 staff members.

Bush's plan, announced January 21, immediately ran into a roadblock, as Florida State University (FSU) refused to accept the library's circulating collection, as originally planned. FSU President T.K. Wetherell told the Tallahassee Democrat, "I don't see that [the library has] the money. I don't see that they have a facility." Subsequently, the newspaper editorialized, "If it weren't so appalling it would be heartbreaking that our governor's ideal is to not only empty state buildings of people but also of books."

State officials, however, said other options remained. By late February, the emerging destination was NSU—a private school with a new library that is a joint facility with Broward County Library. "Our goal was to transfer the volumes to a place where they would be much more accessible and better utilized by citizens statewide and at the same time gain a significant savings to the state," said Brogan of the decision to transfer the collection to NSU. "I feel we have accomplished both."

Librarians, including Wilkins, however, warned that, after moving the collection, the state library as the library of last resort for the Florida Library Information Network would die, as would interlibrary loan agreements. Also, the Statewide Video and Film Booking and Lending Service would cease unless NSU invests in a booking system. Without a collection, Wilkins added, the state library would be unable to perform its statutory role of providing research and information services for state government and state employees, nor be able to continue to provide the state's popular "Ask a Librarian" reference service.

Ring said that the circulating collection, which includes more than 326,000 books and 326,000 microfiche, is duplicated in many public libraries, while Wilkins noted that most of it is more specialized.

In one posting, Ring cited an October 15, 2001 memo in which Wilkins stated that "there are two essential services in the Division—the State Archives and the Florida Collection. Everything else is on the table." Wilkins responded that his words were taken out of context.

Other librarians joined in, on electronic mailing lists. "Why the rush to dismantle the State Library of Florida?" asked Kathleen de la la Peña McCook of the University of South Florida. "There is no crisis." FLA's VP John Szabo told LJ there may be a reason behind the pace of change: "If the collection is not there, it will be very hard to argue that positions are needed." He said FLA's board had to regroup and decide whether to focus on "the circulating collection, FTEs, or all of it."