Membership














Membership in TBLC is a commitment to resource sharing. TBLC and its
member libraries work to 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. Libraries in Citrus, DeSoto,
Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Okeechobee,
Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties can be members of TBLC.
Membership in the Consortium can be as a full member or an
associate member. Full members are held to the TBLC Membership
Criteria and are governing members of the Consortium. Associate
membership entitles a library or group of libraries to limited
membership benefits with the opportunity for TBLC staff to assist the
library in reaching full member status.

Choose a membership below.

Full Members |  Associate Members |  Public Library Coop Members

Full Members

Full members of TBLC can participate in all of the programs and
services offered by the Consortium. These include, but are not limited
to, the following:

Full members are voting members of the Consortium.

Membership Criteria

To qualify for full membership, libraries must meet the membership
criteria:

  1. Member libraries participate in the Florida Interlibrary Loan
    Network (FLIN) to provide information and materials to
    Florida patrons.
  2. Member libraries have three avenues to identify a location
    for resources. These include:
    • The Florida Library Database (OCLC)
    • The emerging Florida network of library catalogs and
      electronic resources, including Alleycat.
    • Use of FirstSearch or mail to submit requests to the State
      Library of Florida and other designated agencies for searches
      within FLIN and the OCLC database.
  3. Member libraries have at least one full-time person with a
    degree in library and information science or experience in
    library administration.
  4. Member libraries have materials and services sufficient to
    meet minimum needs of their clientele.
  5. Descriptive cataloging and subject headings for member
    libraries' collections meet professionally acceptable
    standards.
  6. MARC formatted records are mandatory for TBLC
    bibliographic resource sharing. Automated member
    libraries agree to use or move toward using full MARC
    format.
  7. Member libraries agree to exchange materials by making
    available, without charge, through interlibrary loan or
    photocopy, printed materials normally available to their
    service community. This service will be available to TBLC
    member libraries and libraries in Florida that are FLIN
    participants.
  8. Member libraries agree to submit a Resource Sharing Plan
    as part of their application.

Request Membership Package

Name


Institution


Phone


E-mail


View the application packet PDF file
(PDF File, Size 7.35 KB)

PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Dues are based upon expenditures in previous fiscal year. Surveys are
conducted in January. TBLC annually determines if there has been a
change in status. Official statistical reports and surveys are used to
determine expenditures in the most recently completed fiscal year.

Dues Schedule (effective October 2007)

CATEGORY DUES
Special Library, Individual School Library, all other libraries with budgets under $100,000 $600
$100,000-$749,999 $750
$750,000-$1,499,999 $1,000
$1,500,000-$2,999,999 $1,250
$3,000,000-$4,999,999 $1,500
$5,000,000-$9,999,999 $2,500
Over $10,000,000 $5,000
School Districts:
Under 20 high schools $750
20-40 high schools $1,000
Over 40 high schools $1,250

A vote of the full members at the TBLC Annual Meeting in November is
required to change the dues schedule. Changes are implemented in
the following fiscal year, beginning the next October.

Back to top.



Associate Members

Libraries may join TBLC as non-voting associate members. Associate
members need not sign the membership criteria. Associate
membership signifies support for the principles of resource sharing as
embodied in the TBLC mission statement. Full member libraries are not
expected to provide resource sharing services to associate members.

Associate members may be individual libraries or they may join as
part of a membership in a library staff membership organization
serving west central Florida.

Individual libraries joining as associate members are non-voting
members. These libraries can attend continuing education
opportunities at member rates.

TBLC will provide assistance to help individual libraries qualify to
become full resource sharing members.

Dues Schedule

Individual Library $200

Back to top.

 

Public Library Cooperative Members

The Public Library Cooperative membership category is a form of full
membership provided to allow public library cooperatives and their
members the option of having a single TBLC membership or individual
memberships. The cooperative membership provides one vote and
the opportunity for one representative to be elected to the board
but otherwise the individual member libraries have all of the other
rights of full membership.

Dues Schedule

CATEGORY DUES
Library cooperatives with annual budget of $10 million $10,000*
Library cooperatives with annual budget of $5 million to $9.9 million $5,000*

*All members of the cooperative will be included as full members of
TBLC.

A library cooperative has the option for each individual library to
pay separately as individual libraries if that total is less than paying
as a cooperative.

Back to top.

 

Page Content Updated 3/10/2008




Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Inc. | Contact | LSTA | Site Map