Legislative Platform 2026: COMING SOON!

Funding Initiatives

State Aid to Public Libraries Grant Program
Fund the State Aid for Public Libraries Grant Program through the Division of Library and Information Services in the Florida Department of State. This grant supports libraries' efforts across Florida to positively impact their communities by providing operating dollars to pay for day-to-day needs. Public libraries serve as trusted polling places, increase literacy to enhance quality of life and improve access to gainful employment. Libraries provide educational materials for all levels, and serve as an anchor for the building of stronger communities.

Public Library Construction Grants
Fully fund all public library construction requests for FY 2026-27, as Florida’s population grows (an increase of over one million residents since the 2020 Census) and the state will need the viable community hub that is a public library.

Library Cooperative Grant
Support continued recurring funding and increase the State’s investment in the Multitype Library Cooperatives, which provide essential training for library staff and supports resource-sharing activities for all Floridians..

Upskilling and Workforce Diploma Special Project
Fund this critical program that provides educational access (at no charge) to adult students seeking to improve their quality of life and job opportunities through completing their accredited private high school education at their local branch library. 

Colleges’ and Universities’ Essential Library and Distance Learning Services
Support continued recurring funding to the Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network for library resources, distance learning, and student services. This critical program serves all of Florida’s State Colleges and Universities.

Florida’s Public and Academic Libraries Support Success

• Job Seekers - Librarians teach classes and provide one-on-one training for resume creation, job searching, and job applications. 

• Small Business Owners – Libraries provide space for business owners to meet, utilize fast internet access, and take advantage of industry-standard financial and business research tools and databases. 

• College Students - The Florida Virtual Campus is essential to the success of students, faculty, and researchers across the Florida College System and State University System. Florida’s State Colleges and Universities have contributed tens of billions of dollars to state economic growth through student success and funded research.

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Florida's Multi-type Library Cooperatives (MLCs) Provide:

• Resource sharing among Florida's libraries, including access to ebooks, electronic resources, WiFi hot spots, and other shared resources

• Library technology and digitization training and resources

• Continuing Education for library staff, ensuring high-quality public services

• Cost-saving benefits to Florida libraries through shared resources and collaborative purchasing - MLCs produced over $10 in value for every $1 invested by the State 

   

Florida Public and Academic Libraries Support Free and Fair Elections 

• Voting and Elections – Many libraries serve as polling locations for early and Election Day voting, providing physical space and support. All Florida public libraries also serve as voter registration locations and provide spaces for political and community forums.

Florida's Public Libraries Support Literacy Initiatives

• Children learning to read earlier – library storytimes teach important pre-literacy skills like improved vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure. Storytime movement activities promote vital cross-brain communication that is invaluable to development of learning to read. 

• Adults learning to read for the first time – Libraries provide Adult Literacy coaching, classes, and resources to assist the approximately 22% of adult Floridians who lack basic reading and writing skills. Floridians sit below the national average for Adult Literacy, in approximately the bottom 20% of U.S states. 

• Inspiring and nurturing the love of reading for all ages – Robust print and electronic collections, summer reading programs, year-round book discussions, and events coupled with trained expertise of professional and paraprofessional library staff. 

• Providing training and resources to increase Financial and Digital Literacy - valuable survival skills in people of all ages. These skills support families in their work and daily lives. 

• STEM/STEAM initiatives, like Makerspaces in many public libraries - Help foster financial independence and literacy with small business creation of selling items made in the Makerspaces.

Florida Libraries are Community Hubs

• Meeting place - Libraries offer spaces for study groups, parent groups, civic organizations, and other community groups that meet regularly. 

• Cultural programs and enrichment activities – Important cultural and historic events are held throughout the year across all Florida libraries.

• Emergency relief - During disasters both large and small, libraries provide essential services as required by their community.

Find Your Legislator

Florida House of Representatives	Florida Senate

2026 Legislation & Bills to Watch

2023 Love Your Library Campaign 

2023 Love Your Library Campaign 

✔ 15 Minutes

Light up the Lines: We are encouraging AS MANY ADVOCATES AS POSSIBLE to CALL your Legislators' offices and remind them to support all funding amounts listed in the FLA Legislative Platform! Find the phone number for your Legislators HERE.
 

Your personal stories are the most impactful.

Here are examples you can use to craft your own story to share your library's success: 

• Online resources like eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines and educational databases can be accessed anywhere with a library card. Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative customers collectively borrowed over 2 million eBooks, audiobooks and digital magazines in 2021.
• Libraries find ways to connect with their communities and bridge the digital divide. For example, Alachua County library system has over 200 Wi-Fi hot spots available for patrons to check out. Lake Park Library and Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County have self-serve laptop checkout kiosks for their patrons that can be used in the libraries. And many libraries across the state have free Wi-Fi access inside and outside their buildings along with public internet stations inside. State Library recent data reports that more than 1.5 million users received technology instruction from a Florida public library. All these resources help students, families, job seekers and small businesses.
• In response to the growing demand for COVID-19 testing, Miami-Dade Public Library System distributed 152,000 take home rapid test kits in 2 days to help their residents stay safe.
• U.S. Department of State Passport services have been available at Flagler County Public Libraries since 2008. In fact, libraries across the state of Florida offer this service for citizens along with notary services, adult literacy, job skills, Career Online High School and voter registration.
• A core service of libraries has always been youth literacy. Libraries came up with creative and inspiring ways to continue to reach youth in spite of social distancing constraints. Virtual story times, story times in the park, grab and go literacy bags, free online access to literacy programs, summer break time meals, snack bags to go and online programming for kids and teens. Most recent yearly reports to the State Library show that the total check out of youth materials in the state of Florida was 22 million items.