What's in your wallet?

...a library card.

In these tough economic times, your public library card offers you free access to thousands of books, DVDs, audios, magazines and newspapers. You can viist your library for programs for children, computer classes for adults, reading, using the computers, and finding information.

Library staff are eager to help you find information or a good book. Your library card allows you access to books and information, free of charge to the user.

Public libraries are supported by taxpayers. Appropriations by County Commissions and the Florida State Legislature provide an operating budget for libraries. Library staff work hard to use public funds wisely and provide information for all to use.

Holiday closings

Libraries and bookmobiles will be closed on December 24 through Dec 28, 2008. Regular hours will resume on Monday, December 29.

Libraries and bookmobiles are also closed on January 1, 2009.

You can renew books online and online information is always available.

Popular magazines

Florida residents have a great deal of information available to them online. This is reliable, accurate information in the form of online databases from reputable vendors. Look at our web page to see what is available with your library card.

Another area for current information is popular magazines. Check the link on the main web page that says Popular Magazines. This will take you to a database of some popular magazines that contain full text articles.

Some print versions of the magazines may be available in the libraries. But no one or no library can afford or has room for everything. So we rely on sharing and online resources.

The popular magazine online resources are made available for Florida residents by the State Library of Florida.

It's been a busy year.

We've compiled our statistics for FY2008 (October 1- September 20, 2008) and the libraries have had a busy year.

Over 226,000 items were checked out to customers of the three libraries and two bookmobiles. It is good to see residents of the area reading and enjoying their libraries.

Library staff are busy answering questions and helping customers find information they need. Over 11,000 questions were answered.

Libraries offer free use of computers that access the Internet, for information, access to social services, and job seekers. Over 49,000 people used the library computers.

Libraries have long offered programs for children. Over 16,000 area children, preschool, elementary, and teens, visited the library for programs; hearing stories, puppet shows, music and other ways to bring to joy of reading to our children. Teens participated in programs too. Their favorite activity is probably online gaming tournaments sponsored by the libraries.

Yes, it's been a busy year and we like it that way. We're hoping next year will be even busier. Spread the word and help us make it so.