What is LAB?

It is all kinds of people — administrators, aides, clerks, librarians, students, volunteers — from all kinds of libraries — academic, corporate, law, public, school, special, technical — who join together to network, exchange information, learn about other types of libraries, unite to bring interesting and beneficial programs to Brevard County, get involved, acquire new skills, and keep in touch. Join today!

The History of LAB

The concept of a library association for Brevard County had its beginnings in 1980 at a meeting of public library reference librarians. The subject of a county-wide library organization was raised by Elizabeth Donovan, reference librarian at the Cocoa Public Library. The organization would be open to all library personnel in the county. It would provide them with an opportunity to meet other library workers and to participate in workshops and programs. The idea was received with enthusiasm, but the reality was to determine if enough interest existed among county library personnel to warrant such an organization. A committee consisting of Elizabeth Donovan, Jean Snyder, Margaret Ouzts, and Jean Mandros was delegated to draft a questionnaire for distribution to all potential members. The survey was prepared in September, 1980, but it was not approved for distribution until August, 1981. At that time, every full- and part-time library worker in the public library system was contacted. The results of the public library survey showed that 39% of the then 97 library employees were supportive. The next step was to survey all the other libraries in the county. The questionnaire was redrafted, and in October of 1981 copies were sent to every special, academic, and school library in the county. Out of 127 possible responses, 42% indicated definite interest. The time to organize had come.

The survey committee recommended that a steering committee be formed with representatives from every type of library and from every area of the county. The final task of the survey committee was to find these representatives and to contact established Florida library associations for general guidance in the formation of an organization. On April 20, 1982, these goals were accomplished when the newly created steering committee met for the first time at the Cocoa Public Library. The original steering committee was composed of:

• PAMELA FORTMAN, Today Newspaper Library, representative of Special Libraries
• THOMAS MCFARLAND, Cocoa Public Library, representative of Public Libraries
• SARAH ELLIOT, Cocoa Beach High School Library, representative of Public School Libraries
• SISTER ANN CRONK, Central Catholic High School Library, representative of Private School Libraries
• ANN MASON, South Lake Elementary School Library, representative of Children’s Libraries
• VICTORIA SMITH, Florida Institute of Technology, representative of Academic Libraries
• ELIZABETH DONOVAN, Cocoa Public Library, representative of all interested parties

At that initial meeting and subsequent ones, the steering committee selected a name for the association, drafted a constitution and by-laws, formatted a newsletter, and set up a schedule of programs for 1982/83. The idea of a library association for Brevard County had become a reality.