(Tampa) The Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC) has recognized four distinguished leaders with its “Library Champion Award” for the exceptional support for libraries. The 2008-09 honorees are: Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers, Senator Mike Fasano (New Port Richey), Representative Rich Glorioso (Plant City), and Representative Will Weatherford (Wesley Chapel).

The TBLC Library Champion Awards are granted annually to recognize elected or appointed officials who have demonstrated exceptional support for and attention to libraries.

Dave Eggers, Mayor of Dunedin – “Mayor Dave Eggers always mentions the Library and keeps our budget concerns on the table. The Mayor attends most of our Library functions and best of all his wife, Becky Eggers, is the President of the Friends of the Library. Together they make a fantastic Library support team!” This is quite a testimonial from Anne Shepherd, Dunedin Public Library Director. In light of Florida cities’ serious budget challenges, TBLC is impressed by Mayor Eggers’ positive outlook and the way he sees the library’s importance in the lives of Dunedin residents.

Representative Will Weatherford – Mr. Weatherford participated in the Pasco County Public Library’s Leaders are Readers program and read with a group of young Pasco library users. Will was featured in a library Read poster supporting reading with children and in a video public service announcement encouraging parents to read with their children starting when children are infants. Will also works with Pasco County schools to encourage all children to read. Representative Weatherford was nominated by Linda Allen, Pasco County Public Library Director. TBLC admires Mr. Weatherford’s warmth and enthusiasm and his willingness to reach out to and inspire young learners.

Representative Rich Glorioso – Representative Glorioso from Plant City is one of those rare people who stay cool and calm no matter what, so it is a good thing he was Chairman of the Florida House of Representatives Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee last May during a very challenging session. Representative Glorioso was always receptive to calls and visits from the library community. He still smiled and was gracious after listening to our pitches and appeals for the umpteenth time.

When the shortage of dollars made it appear that library programs might lose their funding, Rep. Glorioso calmly listened, and calmly kept working to see to it that the programs were funded. Representative Glorioso was nominated by Bruton Memorial Library Director Anne Haywood. TBLC also commends Rich for his passion and commitment to working for young people at risk – that makes him two times a Champion in our eyes!

Senator Mike Fasano – Senator Fasano has so consistently saved the day for Florida libraries that the Florida library community should call him Mr. Library. As Chairman of the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee for a number of years, Senator Fasano has often made the critical difference. This year, when funding was particularly tight in Tallahassee and it looked like we might lose state funding for libraries, Senator Fasano fought fiercely to keep it in the budget in the face of powerful forces and prevailed. Mike and his staff are always gracious and pleasant to work with, regardless of the hour and the craziness going on around them. Senator Fasano was nominated by Charlie Parker, TBLC Executive Director. Like the residents of his district, TBLC appreciates how no one in the Florida legislature works harder for what he believes in than Senator Fasano.

The Tampa Bay Library Consortium is a non profit multi-type library cooperative comprising 100 member libraries serving 13 west central Florida counties. The counties served are Citrus, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota. TBLC is supported by funding from local member dues and fees, state Library Cooperative Aid Grants and federal Library Services and Technology Act Grants. For more information, log on to www.tblc.org.