Libraries are about information and preserving it for future generations. Libraries are truly annals of history. Viva Florida 500 is a huge quincentennial event with plenty to celebrate and share with the community. It served as a centerpiece in a series of important historical and cultural anniversaries in Florida. It also served to address a gaping community need in a fun and entertaining way. Nationwide, there's an epidemic of historical ignorance. Florida is no exception.

Just 13 percent of high school seniors who took the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress — called the Nation's Report Card — showed solid academic performance in American history. The two other grade levels tested didn't perform much better with just 22 percent of fourth-grade students and 18 percent of eighth-graders scoring proficient or better. Such results tell us that, as a country, we are failing to provide children with a high-quality, well-rounded education.

American students are less proficient in history than in any other subject. Most fourth graders were unable to say why Abraham Lincoln was an important figure and few high school seniors were able to identify China as the North Korean ally that fought American troops during the Korean War.

If students scored so dismally in general history, it's reason to believe that specialized knowledge like state history (Florida in this case) is lacking more.

The Orange County Library System kicked off Viva Florida 500 in January 2013 with a performance by a Ponce de Leon re-enactor. The re-enactor was also featured on the cover of the library's monthly glossy news magazine.

During the year, Viva Florida 500 was the featured cover story for the newsletter five times. OCLS engaged the public on social media. Patrons were invited to "check in" at the library with Foursquare when attending a Viva Florida 500 event. The Friends of the Library offered unique memorabilia in its Gifts & Greetings store and maintained a display of Florida-themed books throughout the year in its Bookstore. The Orange County Library System created a webliography to promote and celebrate books and resources from its collection that reflect Hispanic Heritage in the State of Florida. OCLS invited public contributions to its Viva Florida Time Capsule. It filled up quickly and area school children submitted drawings of what Florida might look like in 50 years.

On April 11, 2013, the Orange County Mayor held a Viva Florida 500 Press Conference on the lawn of the county administration building and the Orange County Library System was recognized with a Viva Florida 500 proclamation. Throughout the year, the library received favorable media coverage about its Viva Florida 500 events and programs.

OCLS was again recognized by elected officials at a December meeting of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. At this meeting, the library director presented the county with the sealed Viva Florida 500 time capsule. The Mayor handed it off to the Orange County Regional History Center where it will be displayed until it is opened in 2063.

The goal of Viva Florida 500 was to engage the community in celebrating this milestone anniversary while at the same time educating and entertaining a diverse cross section of the public that the library serves. Programs aimed at children, teens, adults and families were all part of the broad array of Viva Florida offerings that the library brought to the community.

At the end of the Viva Florida 500 commemoration, the Orange County Library System presented 172 Viva Florida 500 programs which were attended by 6,175 in total. OCLS used multiple channels to promote the programs including its newsletter, website and social media platforms. The media, including several area newspapers, picked up on and promoted these events as well. Our Viva Florida 500 website had 1,118 page views. OCLS enlightened many, many people about Florida's vibrant past and bright future.

The library system partnered with Orange County Public Schools to include Viva Florida 500 in the curriculum. OCLS also worked with Visit Florida to promote Viva Florida 500 as a reason to vacation in Florida and make the Sunshine State a destination in 2013. OCLS had more Viva Florida 500 programs than any other entity (including other libraries) in the state.

By effectively engaging the community in this milestone, the library system contributed positively to a resurgence of Florida history in the Sunshine State.