The Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Inc. (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.

TBLC headquarters, located in Tampa, is the heart of the consortium
wth 11 full-time and part-time staff members. The organization is
administered by an executive director and is governed by the
13-member TBLC Board of Directors. The board of directors is
composed of elected representatives from member libraries.

Our members
Today 101 libraries are members of TBLC. Together these libraries
serve over 4.3 million Floridians in 12 counties in west central Florida:
Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough,
Manatee, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota.

Our mission
TBLC's mission is to lead and encourage collaboration, resource
sharing, staff development, and innovations to ensure that the
people of west central Florida receive excellent, up-to-date library
services and have access to the world of information.

Our vision
TBLC member libraries see a time when ALL the people of west
central Florida will enjoy seamless access to the rich information
resources of the region, the state and the world. TBLC will be the
bridge connecting all types of libraries in a regional information
network.

Funding
Grant monies from the federal Library Services and Technology
Act (LSTA) grant program enable TBLC to offer innovative projects to
member libraries. LSTA grant monies are used as seed money to begin
projects, which libraries then integrate into the services they provide
to their users. The LSTA is a state-based program with a broad
mandate to use technology to bring information to people in
innovative and effective ways, and to assure that library service is
accessible to all, especially those who have difficulty using the
library.

Recent LSTA-funded projects have brought a full range of technology
and library skills training to member library staff, expanded the
database of Florida library holdings on OCLC and begun the
development of regional, user-initiated interlibrary loan to the region.

Florida cooperatives
TBLC is one of six multi-type library cooperatives in Florida:
Central Florida Library Cooperative
Northeast Florida Library Information Network
Panhandle Library Access Network
Southeast Florida Library Information Network
Southwest Florida Library Information Network
Tampa Bay Library Consortium

Page Content Updated 04/15/2008

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