FHSLA celebrates 60 years!

2021 was a milestone year for many: the Fulbright program celebrated 75 years of cultural exchange and scholarship, the modern Olympic games celebrated 125 years of bringing our world together through sports, and the Smithsonian Institution, one of the most significant archival and educational centers in the world, marked 175 years since its creation. Here at FHSLA we are pleased to also be celebrating a milestone this year- 60 years of bringing together health science librarians throughout the state of Florida for networking, education, and resource sharing.
 
FHSLA began as a "grass roots" collective at the Regional Conference of Florida Medical Librarians (RCFML) on April 19, 1961. The first meeting was held at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center. Seven medical librarians attended this historic first meeting: Florence Bulmer (Bay Pines VA Medical Center), Eleanor P Diekema, Helen Donnelly, Christine Metcalf, Stephania Osborn, Pauline Woolridge and Mildred Moore. After drawing names out of a hat, Stephania Osborn was "selected" president.
 
From these humble roots, FHSLA has grown to an organization with over 115 members representing 45 knowledge institutions in Florida. This growth would not be possible without the early support of members Fred Bryant (J. Hillis Miller Health Center Library, UF), Mayo Drake, and Ted Syrgley.

Over the years, FHSLA has adapted its membership categories, meetings, and learning opportunities to grow and be responsive to its members’ needs. In its 60th year, FHSLA has adhered to its mission to “promote and strengthen its members through professional development, advocacy, and networking”. After an eventful year that tested the world, FHSLA responded to both the racial justice movement and the global pandemic through educational offerings at the 2021 annual meeting. To deliver information in a timelier fashion, FHSLA converted the biannual newsletter, FHSLA Alert, into an easily accessible blog. Culminating the 60th anniversary year is the redesign of the association’s logo seen below. As we move into the future, we look forward to the continued growth of our organization in support of health science librarianship in Florida.