LSSI Gets Its First Contract in Florida - Library Journal 30/12/11

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/893187-264/lssi_gets_its_first_contract.html.csp

"The Osceola County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 on December 12 to allow LSSI to take over management of the six-branch Osceola Library System. The deal begins Tuesday, and it is LSSI's first contract in Florida.
The Florida Library Association (FLA) opposed the Osceola deal, stating numerous reasons in a September 14 letter from Gloria Colvin, the FLA president. The letter, which echoes the long-standing position of the American Library Association, concluded:
"The Florida Library Association believes it is not in the best interest of the residents of Florida for publicly supported libraries to be managed by for-profit organizations. Therefore the Association opposes any efforts to provide library service by contracting with such organizations."
The county's former library director, Ed Kilroy, also opposed the deal.
"I think what we're going to find as they get further into the contract, I think there are going to be some unintended consequences that they are not aware of, nor have they truly vetted it," Kilroy told Myfoxorlando.com"

Privatization Showdown Moves to Osceola County, Florida - ALA Magazine

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/10262011/privatization-showdown-moves-osceola-county-florida

"After several months of rumors about the future of the Osceola Library System that serves Osceola County, Florida, a series of public hearings that began October 25 are seeking to explain why county officials are considering the outsourcing of library services to Germantown, Maryland–based privatization firm Library Systems and Services, Inc., and how LSSI plans to deliver the services sought. Officials seem to have an uphill battle on their hands to sway their constituents, however: The prospect of privatization has already pitted library supporters and the Florida Library Association against the county commission."

see http://www.flalib.org/advocacy_documents/Website_Osceola.pdf for Florida Library Association response to privatisation proposals

Florida Library Association (FLA) opposes Osceola outsourcing

A damning indictment of LSSI and the privatisation of public library services by the Florida Library Association
http://www.flalib.org/advocacy_documents/Website_Osceola.pdf