John J. Quick continues to generate recognition and recently received the President’s Community Service Award from the Miami-Dade County League of Cities. The Miami-Dade County League of Cities was formed in 1953 for the purpose of assisting its members in cultivating and maintaining the most proficient ways of administering government for the general welfare of the residents and business in the County.
John, as President of the Board of Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) and longtime board member, was an integral part of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Taskforce to Study the Future of the MDPLS. He spearheaded a campaign that saved libraries that were in danger of closing due to budget shortfall. The anticipated closures were among the largest in the country, amounting to hundreds of lost jobs, and a major lack in the County. Working with commissioners, officials, and significant red tape, he helped keep the libraries open.
Following the completion of the work of the Taskforce, he convened a two-session workshop led by nationally recognized library advocates to develop an advocacy strategy for the upcoming 2014-15 budget process and beyond. From this, the Coalition to Save Our Libraries was formed in March 2014 and Quick is a founding member of the Coalition.
As a result of his outstanding work, he received the Outstanding Member Award from the Florida Library Association, a statewide award designed to recognize a member of a Friends of the Library group, a library board member or a library foundation member for outstanding service or achievement.
This new recognition from the Miami-Dade League of Cities as well as the award he won from the FLA assessed his overall accomplishments and the means by which he has aided the development and strengthened the image of the library as a public service agency.
