A Great Deal

Florida State Parks celebrate literacy in September.

With your library card, a library book, or a donation of a gently used family appropriate book you can gain free admission to a Florida State Park in September.

There are many parks in our area, and September is a perfect time to visit one.

Back to School

Public schools in our area start in mid August.

Back to school means school supplies and new clothes. In Florida we are fortunate to have a tax holiday on school supplies from August 4 to August 13.

Another back to school supply is a library card...for adults and children. With it you have access to over 130,000 items, online databases for research...just a world of information.

All you need is an ID that has your current address. Parents need to register for children. Children aged kindergarten and up are eligible for their own card... a nice way to send new students off to school.

We're just wild about Harry....

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh Harry Potter book, was released on July 21. The libraries have ten copies and all are checked out with people waiting their turn.

Union County Public Library hosted a Harry Potter party. Almost 200 people attended and were treated to games, food, and the release of the book at 12:01am on July 21. Take a look at their video. (If you are reading in from a library computer, you'll be blocked by our CIPA mandated filter. Please watch if from home.)

Summer Programs Winding Down...

Summer programs for children are winding down. One library finishes this week and the other two soon after. But there is still time for children to attend a program and of course, still time to read books.



The newest Harry Potter book will be released at 12:01am on July 21. The libraries will have copies on hand on Saturday when we open to check out. The publisher has strict guidelines as to when books can be purchased at a store or checked out at a library. This all helps to build the suspense for the last Harry Potter adventure.

July 4

The libraries and bookmobiles are closed on July 4 in observance of the July 4 holiday. You can renew your books on line or reserve a book (place holds in library lingo) while we are closed.

Bookdrops are always open so you can return your books and items 24/7.

For more information on July 4 and our Declaration of Independence check this website.

Summer is underway...

The calendar might not say it is summer yet (June 21 is the first day of summer) but the libraries are busy with summer programs.

Union County Public Library and our multitype cooperative (NEFLIN) sponsored a snow day. Watch their video. (Our filter, Websense, blocks this site[YouTube] from access by library computers. Please watch their short video from home.)

Emily Taber Public Library has hosted programs featuring a storyteller and a puppeteer. Read their blog and see their photos.

And you can find out about programs at Bradford Co. Public Library here.

This is the week!

Libraries in Florida and in our three counties have been preparing for several months...and now is the time summer programs start to appear.

Florida uses a statewide theme for summer programs (this year : Read All About It) and each library develops the local programs as they want. The State Library provides us with program guides and incentives for children. The incentives this year are paper book bags , a popular item year after year, and of course bookmarks.

I've mentioned before the importance of keeping children reading during the summer. Most children need a grown-up to take them to the library. They either live too far away to walk or ride their bikes to the library or parents have safety concerns if children are on their own.

Check out the program schedule. (A print copy is also available at each library too.) The libraries have many great programs planned, new books bought, and they are ready to read.