Among more than 800 public, academic, school, and special libraries, Jacksonville Public Library was named Library of the Year this year by the Florida Library Association for demonstrating outstanding service to the community.I wanted to see who has won this award in the past. Yes, I'm sure it's spread around, but 800 libraries IS a lot of competition, so it's a fairly big deal.
Past Winners:
2016 Manatee County Public Library System
2015 Broward County Library
2014 Palm Beach County Library System
2013 Hernando County Public Library
2012 Sarasota County Library System
2011 Parkland Public Library
2010 Alachua County Library System
2009 Santa Rosa County Library System
2008 Pasco County Library System
2007 Osceola Library System
2006 New Port Richey Public Library
That's it. While other award have been around since 1956, the Library of the Year Award has only been around a decade. If you want to nominate a specific librarian, program, or other library-type person, here's the web address to the Florida Library Association.
Personally, I like the library here in Jax. The specific libraries I used in Milwaukee (West Allis and Wauwatosa branches) are better than the ones I've used here, but I have not been to every library. I also believe that, for its size, Johnson County Library in Kansas City was excellent, and it's only getting better as the system ties into the KCMO library.
A few recommendations: I liked being able to take out video games for the kids at the Johnson County Library. I'd also have to say my experiences here with the help desk have been lackluster, as in I'm not sure the people working there are actual librarians with any knowledge of the library, and I've seen them have to go into the back room to ask someone for help--who is in the back room, and why isn't she the one at the help desk? Lastly, my daughter was reading books from a series, and the library system had ordered the first book and then the fifth and sixth, but there was no sign of the other three--that's kind of poor ordering of books, but it might be isolated.
On the plus side, the Events page on the website was all messed up, showing events in seemingly random order. I think it was set to show by published date rather soonest event to take place, so I sent a message to the website folks. Now it looks good.
By the way, if you need a website that also functions properly, then let me know. This is a Blogger site for its ease, but I design all kinds of websites for churches and local businesses.
