WPPL News

     We are thrilled to announce that we are now the home of the James Gamble Rogers II Collection, which is housed in our Winter Park History & Archives. This incredible collection will contain the plans to 67 of Roger's buildings, including Casa Feliz and the Barbour Apartments on Knowles Avenue, as well as almost 200 books from his personal library.

    "Getting this collection is not only an incredible accomplishment for the library," said Library Archivist Barbara White, "it's also a wonderful benefit for the people of Winter Park to have the drawings of some of the city's most beloved buildings by its most famous architect preserved right here in their own community."

     The new collection showcases the work of James Gamble Rogers II, an architect born in 1901, who started his own firm in Winter Park in 1935 and practiced well into his 80s. His best- known buildings include the Florida State Supreme Court Building in Tallahassee and Rollins College's Olin Library, which he drew himself at age 85.

     In Winter Park, Rogers is probably best known for designing Casa Feliz, formerly called the Barbour House, which was commissioned in 1932. Other Winter Park landmarks designed by Rogers include the Greeneda Court shopping area on Park Avenue and the Holt and Mizener houses. After World War II, his firm became involved in large, institutional commissions and the architects for Rollins College. He designed the Mills Library, the Olin Library and the Archibald Granville Bush Science Center, eventually becoming responsible for work on 20 buildings at Rollins.

     Rogers' books and architectural drawings are housed in our Winter Park History & Archives and are available for use and viewing by the public. For more information or to access to the collection, contact the Library's archivist at 407-623-3300, ext. 106, or bwhite@wppl.org

Please Speak Up for Your Library
Your Library needs your voice in expressing concern over proposed cuts in state funding for public libraries.
The state legislature is in the middle of developing the 2010-2011 state budget and is seriously considering eliminating state aid to libraries or cutting funding to levels that will cause drastic reductions in local library services and likely require closures.
The Florida Library Association believes that most legislators want to fund state aid but need to hear from library supporters to give them the justification to restore it. We need you to add your voice to our calls to restore funding to the $21.2 million. Use FLA's informative and convenient Online Advocacy tool that will assist you in sending messages to the governor, key legislative leaders and your local representatives -- http://capwiz.com/ala/fl/issues/alert/?alertid=14792616&PROCESS=Take+Action

More information:
This year, Florida libraries received $21.2 million. In the state senate's current 2010-2011 budget, that is cut to $15 million. The state's house version is a mere $500,000. In previous versions of the budget, library funding was eliminated entirely.
We recognize that the state is facing serious shortfalls and must make spending cuts, but taking from libraries yet again is not the answer. Libraries in Florida already receive over a third less money than they did in 2001 despite huge increases in library use statewide. When the WPPL started receiving state aid in 2003, its share was $120,000. This year it is just $65,340, despite a 25% increase in use over the last two years.
If you would prefer to write your representatives directly, there is a sample letter below for your consideration. You can locate contact information for your local senator and representative by using the "Find Your Representative" tool in the upper left of www.myfloridahouse.gov.

Sample letter:

Dear [Insert Recipient's Name]:

Please restore funding for State Aid to Public Libraries to the current $21.2 million. If state aid is eliminated, branches will close all over the state and library service in rural libraries will be decimated because of their reliance on state funding.

I know the state budget is seriously stressed but library funding has already been cut by over a third, from $33.4 million in 2001 to $21.2 million today. Local funding has been deeply cut in last the 3 years and more reductions are coming in 2010-11. Many libraries report cuts exceeding 30%.

This comes at a particularly bad time for Floridians who are turning to their public libraries for help during these challenging times:
- Job seekers are getting help learning about and applying for jobs.
- Floridians needing assistance applying for E-Government services and benefits are getting help from library staff, computers, and Internet service.
- Families are relying on library books, CDs and DVDs to stretch household budgets.
- Families continue to rely on libraries to help children learn to read and help parents and caregivers learn to be children’s first teachers.

For these reasons , I strongly advocate that funding for State Aid to Public Libraries at the current $21.2 million and request that you vote accordingly.

Libraries as Community Gathering Spaces/Places
Wednesday, April 14; 7 p.m.; Library Community Room
In recognition of National library Week, Professor Wayne Wiegand, F. William Summers Professor of Library and Information Studies and Professor of American Studies at Florida State University, will give a presentation and facilitate a conversation about the history of libraries traditionally used as community spaces.

The Winter Park of James Gamble Rogers
Thursday, April 15, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Library Community Room
Join Winter Park architect Jack Rogers as he talks about the contributions of his father, James Gamble Rogers II, to the history, character and architecture of Winter Park. Get a first glimpse at drawings and books in the newly established James Gamble Rogers II Collection in the Winter Park History & Archives.

Rollins and the Library Growing Up Together
Thursday, April 29, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Library Community Room
For the past 125 years Rollins College and the Winter Park Public Library have shaped the rich cultural traditions of Winter Park. Hear community historian Thaddeus Seymour tell of this lively history and share stories of unsung heroes and events.

Director’s Annual Report - 2010
(This is the full text of the library Director Bob Melanson's report to the annual meeting of the Winter Park Library Association.)

     Before sitting down to organize and write this, I was afraid it was going to be very short as, with the funding the way it has been, I didn’t think we accomplished much in 2009. I was wrong. It just goes to show you that out of adversity comes creativity.

     The primary news of the year is the continued, unprecedented increase in use of the Library. At the end of the 2009 fiscal year, circulation of items checked out had risen to over 659,000. It was just four years ago that we broke 500,000 for the first time. Around 310,000 people entered the Library. This does count the number of early voters we had, but does not count those who contact the Library by phone or who access our catalog or reference resources by the Internet.

     The Summer Reading Program again broke registration records signing up 1,309 participants who read 36,258 books. That averages to 3.46 books read each week by each participant. During the eight week program, the Youth Services staff offered 213 programs that were attended by 7,615 children and teens.

     We managed to form a Youth Services Advocacy Group, although they have not been as effective so far as we had hoped—something to work on in the coming year.

     The Library’s relationship with the City continued to be strong. They renovated and updated the first floor ceiling and lighting system. They approved a supplemental $42,000 matching contribution so we could end the year with in the black, and they approved a flat budget request while cutting most city department budgets.

     Other fundraising activities were also taken on. Bash for Books, while not as successful as we might have liked, was certainly more successful than many other organizations’ events, many of which were cancelled. Staff partnered with Barnes & Noble to put on a book fair and we even sold parking spaces in adjacent lot during the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. Perhaps most importantly, our endowment began to recover from the effects of the stock market.

     We entered the new world of social media by launching a Library Facebook page that is updated several times a week.

     In terms of policies, we revamped our fine and fee collection policy to encourage patrons to return their overdue materials sooner. We approved a Whistleblower and Conflict of Interest policy and a carefully considered reorganization was implemented that eliminated two middle management positions.

     The Lifelong Learning Institute was busy, offering 571 programs attended by 16,294 people. Program highlights included a walking tour of churches in west Winter Park, an exhibit documenting Puerto Ricans in Central FL, and a lively mayoral candidate debate.

     One major bequest was received from the estate of Ruth McLain. A health and wellness endowment was established with part of the bequest and the remaining portion went into the Board-designated operating endowment.

     An important addition was made to the Winter Park History and Archives collection with the signing of the donor agreement with Jack Rogers for Gamble Rogers’ architectural drawings and a 250 volume rare architecture book collection.

     Finally, we began planning for a year-long celebration commemorating the Library’s 125th anniversary.

     As always, it takes a joint effort of staff, Board, Friends, and other volunteers to make this all happen. Teamwork was a key component to all of this. We look forward to work together for a successful 2010.

History & Archives Collection Can Provide Info on Winter Park Homes

     New to Winter Park? Have an historic home within the city you'd like to learn more about? The Library's Winter Park History & Archives Collection may have just what you’re looking for!

     The Winter Park Public Library employs a full-time archivist, Barbara White, who frequently receives requests for information regarding the history of private homes in our city. Often she is able to use our extensive collection of files, records and photographs to find information about specific residences.

     Using materials in our Archives and her expertise as an archivist and librarian, Barbara will look for an overview of the history of the home, as well as specifics on the architecture and structure. If that information is not readily available, she can try other sources such as the Orange County Property Appraisers or refer you to other organizations to help you in your research.

     The Library's Online History & Archives Collection provides history on some of the city’s most notable homes such as Casa Feliz, Osceola Lodge, and Wind Song.

     Archivist Barbara White can be contacted at bwhite@wppl.org or 407-623-3300, ext. 106.

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October Library Director's Report

Henry David Thoreau once wrote: “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries…” He could well have written that statement any time during the past 24 months since the beginning of the recent recession.

If the Winter Park Public Library were a for-profit business that saw a 25% increase in usage of their product or service in the past two years, we could comfortably assume that our revenues would be up a corresponding 25%. Instead, almost all of our various funding and revenue sources have been flat or decreasing to the tune of an 8.2% decrease in funding over the past two years. We understand that everyone has been impacted by the economic downturn, but it's still frustrating to be buying fewer materials and cutting staff at a time when our patrons need more of everything.

Every once in a while I like to play a mental game called “How good can it be?” The idea is to try to imagine what the maximum use of a public library could be if there were no budgetary, space, or other limitations. The Winter Park Public Library has been my beta test site for the game for the past 22 years and so far, I haven’t been able to find an end to use or demand. I think of the collections we could offer if our budget kept up with our usage. Imagine walking into the Library and immediately finding a copy of all the most recent best sellers available. I think of the additional children we could reach with programming. Imagine the inspiration our staff could offer children who are reluctant readers or a Summer Reading Program that reached not 1,300 children but 2,300. I think helping people to learn new things no matter the stage of life. Imagine seniors who come to the Library to learn the latest social networking software so they can stay in constant touch with their grandchildren or learn about current events. I think about a world where learning and reading took precedence over rumor and innuendo...(OK, I got a little carried away with that one but you get the idea.).

My point is that we are doing more than ever with fewer resources than ever, but we haven't stopped focusing on doing the very best we can under the circumstances. And we continue to look forward to better financial times and to think of innovative ways to serve this community with the very best in Library materials, services and programs.

- Bob Melanson, Library Director

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September Library Director's Message

If you have been following any of the discussion about the expansion of Central Park and the relocation of the post office distribution service, you know that an expanded public library has been a possibility thrown into the mix.

Back in 2002, the Library commissioned a library planning consultant to study our programs, collections, and services and to make a recommendation as to whether the Library needed to expand and if it did, whether an expansion could be accommodated on the current site.

Based on the growth in use of the Library over the past 20 years, and an anticipated growth in the Winter Park community over the next 20 years, he recommended a minimum sized building of 68,000 square feet. We currently have 33,000. He also determined that while the current site could accommodate a building of that size, the existing building size/parking space ratio would not allow for an expansion.

The City generously included the Library’s need for expansion in their “Planning The Possibilities” study. Their consultant, ZHA, determined several options for a new or expanded 60,000 sq. ft. building. If a parking cooperative agreement with Rollins College or with the church could be reached, adequate parking could be realized for an expansion on this site. The building could also fit on the state office building owned by the City on the corner of Morse and Denning or could fit onto the post office building site with structured parking. The city hall site was also considered for a possible new city hall, library and parking structure on that block.

The City Commission recently has determined a preference for park expansion on the post office site, retaining the retail function of the post office downtown and moving (at least temporarily) the distribution function to the state office building site. There would be adequate room to still put the new library there.

In the next few months, the Library Board will make a recommendation with justifications for where they feel the best location for a new library building will be. We appreciate the City’s consideration of our needs and look forward to formulating a plan with them in the coming months.

- Bob Melanson, Library Director

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New Rankings Show WPPL Continues to Excel

The newest national public library rankings have been released and WPPL is the best library in Florida in its category (top 6% nationally!!) and the second highest scoring library in the state.

For the past five years, WPPL was the #1 library in the state overall, but was outscored by 5 points by the Martin County Library System in the 2009 ratings. Several library systems in the state have been nipping at our heels for the past several years, and it was only a matter of time before one of them in a fast-growing area passed us (the population of Martin County increased over 9% since 2000 while Winter Park’s has grown by less than 1%). Martin County's library system has six branches and serves a population of almost 140,000.

While we are sorry to have lost the distinction of being #1, we will continue striving to provide the Winter Park community and all of our patrons with the very best Library materials, services and programs possible.

The rankings come from Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings and are determined by 15 factors including circulation, reference services, funding and staffing.

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Changes Coming to the Library’s Fines and Collections Policies

Tough economic times have forced the Library to examine all aspects of our expenses and income. In order to be responsible to our government funders, private donors and patrons, we realized that we are going to have to do a better job of collecting the fines and fees that are owed to the Library.

Beginning July 6 the following changes will take place:
1) All accounts with a balance of $10 or more will be referred to Unique Management’s collections program (this is only for accounts that are still unpaid 21 days after they are sent a Billing Notice. You will ALWAYS be sent a Billing Notice and have 21 days to respond before being sent to collections).
2) The account balance that will trigger a block (loss of borrowing and computer privileges) will drop from $10 to $5.
3) Patrons who owe less than $5 will have one month to get their account balance to zero. If the account is not brought to zero within one month of being notified that there is a fine on their account, their account will be blocked.

As part of these changes the 800 patrons who have an outstanding balance of $10+ will be sent a Library Billing Notice on June 15. Please do not ignore this notice if you receive one. Doing do will result in additional fees and possibly havings your account sent to collections.

We know that fines and fees are our patrons’ least favorite part of their Library experience, so we would like you to understand both how the fine and fees are structured and how to avoid them.

How Fines Work at the WPPL
Fines are charged per day as follows: 25 cents for adult and young adult materials, 10 cents for children's materials and $2 for videos, DVDs, video games and computer software. Fines continue accruing until that full value of the item has been reached.

Essentially the Library will have four different levels of fines, each with its own set of conditions and consequences.

Level 1: 10 cents to $4.99 – You will be verbally notified (either during a visit to the Library or on the phone when you call to renew) that there is an outstanding balance on your account and will be encouraged to pay the balance at that time. If you are unable to pay the fine at that time, you will have one month to pay your account down to zero. If your account balance isn’t paid down to zero within one month, a block will be placed on your account and you will lose Library borrowing/computer privileges until the account is paid in full.

Level 2: $5 - $9.99 – Your account is blocked. Although you can have the block lifted by paying only enough of the fine to get your balance under $5, you must pay the full amount of the fine within one month of being notified about the fine or your account will be blocked again until the balance reaches zero.

Level 3: $10 – 24.99 –Your account is blocked and you will be referred to our Collection Agency’s “small balance program” if you do not pay your balance within 21 days of receiving our Billing Notice (which will be sent via first class mail). At any time, you can pay the fine down to under $5 to resume use of your account, but if you do not pay the balance within one month your account will be blocked again until the balance is zero. If your account balance is referred to Unique Management’s small balance program you will also be charged a $10 collections fee that cannot be waived.

Level 4: $25+ - Same as above except that balances not paid within 21 days of the Billing Notice, will be referred to Unique Management’s “large balance program” and you will be charged a $20 collections fee that cannot be waived.

How to Avoid Fines and Fees at the WPPL
- Return items on time
- Renew items that are about to come due via phone (407) 623-3300 or online at www.wppl.org. Please note that if you have $5+ in fines, online renewal is not available and you will have to renew by phone.
- Pay special attention to DVDs, videos, software and video games. They only check out for a week at a time and the fines are $2 per day!
- Monitor and manage all of the Library accounts in your family. Remembering to return/renew items on both the kids’ and parents’ cards is key.
- Open any e-mails and letters that come to your home from the Library. They may contain important information about your account that you won’t want to miss.
- Ask for a complete list of all items you have checked out each time you come to the Library and check the due dates.
- Ask any staff member at our Circulation Desks to sign you up for e-mails from the Library that will notify you when items are about to come due or when held items are available for pick up.
- Notify the Library immediate if you change your mailing address or e-mail address (if you have chose e-mail notification for your overdue and hold notices)
- Return or renew Library materials before you travel for extended periods or ask us about the "vacation loan" option if you want to take materials with you.
- Manage your account online at www.wppl.org. There you can view all of your due dates and renew items.
- Bring a method of payment with you when you visit the Library if you suspect you have fines. We accept cash, check, and major credit cards.

Contacting us about Your Account
Above all, we want you to enjoy your Library experience and to continue using our materials and services. So we want you to contact us ASAP about any account or billing issues that you may have questions about. Taking care of issues early can save you a lot of time and money, as well and keeping your account free of blocks so you can enjoy all that the Library has to offer. To discuss an account or billing matter, contact:

Bonnie Wright – Head of Circulation – 407-623-3300, ext. 107 or bwright@wppl.org

Tom Tarvin – Youth Services - 407-623-3300, ext. 4 or ttarvin@wppl.org

Evelyn Malles – Head of Youth Services, 407-623-3300, ext. 4 or emalles@wppl.org

Bill Johnson – Assistant Director, 407-623-3496 or bjohnson@wppl.org

   Budget Cuts Come to the WPPL
     The realities of the economic times in which we are living have come to the WPPL. Except for the City of Winter Park, which gave us a 3% increase, all other categories of income have been reduced or are expected to be more difficult to achieve. State aid has fallen for the last several years—this year by 20%. Income from our endowment has declined as the principle is being effected by the decreasing market valuation. Grant funds from foundations are also shrinking as their endowments are reduced. Contributions from our usually generous individual and corporate donors are being more carefully considered as the economy impacts family incomes.

     When it came time to make reductions in collections and services to get a balanced 2008/09 budget, we tried to do it in ways to least impact levels of services. So many of the changes we’ve implemented may be invisible to you as we work on new ways to do things more efficiently. But some of the cuts that will effect you include:

- We’ve cut the materials budget, which means we reduced the total number of materials we buy, most notably fewer copies of best sellers and high demand books and movies.

- We’ve frozen the position of Tween Librarian, meaning there will be fewer programs for that age group.

- We eliminated the position of Winter Park History Digitization Assistant, meaning fewer historical images will be digitally preserved and put online for research purposes.

- We’ve discontinued the tutor.com live homework help online service.

- We’ve discontinued consolidated searching service that allowed patrons to search both our catalogs and select databases simultaneously.

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Due Date Reminder E-mails to Your Inbox
     You asked and we listened! For years, patrons have been asking for reminder e-mails about due dates before their items come due. And now, thanks to upgrades in our software and hard work on the part of our Technology staff, we have started providing this service.
     You can now receive e-mails two days before your item comes due, giving you plenty of time to return the item or renew it.
     Not receiving reminder e-mails? Here's how to get them:
     1) You must have enabled e-mail notification on you Library account. This means that you will also receive your late notices and holds notices by e-mail as well.
     2) To do this, you must call (407-623-3300) or visit a circulation desk at the Library (either speak to the first floor Circulation Desk or to Youth Services) and give them your e-mail address.
     3) Please adjust your spam filters to allow e-mails from wppl.org addresses.

New Fee Effective July 1
In an effort to shorten the amount of time patrons have to wait for popular items, there will be a $1.00 fee for each reserved/held item not picked up within three days (not including the day you are notified).
To avoid this fee you can:
- pick up holds/reserves on time,
- cancel or suspend your holds online, or
- call the Library for staff assistance before your hold expires (three days after notification).

It is simple and easy to manage your holds online.

How to Cancel and Suspend Holds Online
- Go to www.wppl.org
- Logon on to your account using the “Click here to login to your account” link in the upper right corner of the screen.
- From the Account Overview screen, click on Hold Requests
- Find the Requested items not yet available section of this page
To cancel holds:
1) Select the items that have holds you wish to cancel by clicking the small boxes to the left of each item.
2) Complete the cancellation by clicking the Cancel Hold Request button
To suspend holds:
1) Select the items that have holds you wish to suspend by clicking the small boxes to the left of each item.
2) Using the Suspend until drop-down boxes, select the date when you will be available to pick-up items again.
3) Complete the process by clicking the Suspend Hold button.

Note:
* Cancelling holds means that you have been permanently removed from the waiting list for that item. You can place another hold for that item at any time. To cancel a hold that is already available to you, call the Library before the three day limit expires.
* Suspending a hold keeps your name on the holds list, and you will continue moving up the list normally. If your name reaches the top of the list before your “suspend until date” the item will be given to the next person waiting but your name remains at the top of the list. You can only suspend items that are not yet available to you.

Save Time By Using Library Self-Check Machines
We know it can be frustrating to wait in line at our Circulation Desks when all you want to do is check out a CD, DVD, software item or video game. So we've now enabled our self-check machines to handle these items, allowing you to check them out without a wait.

Using the self-check machines is EASY!
- Touch the screen to begin
- Scan your Library card (just like the UPC bar codes at the grocery store)
- Pass the library materials over the pad one item at a time
- After you’ve checked out all of your materials, touch the word “Done” on the screen and take your print-out
- Using the tool provided, remove the security cases and drop the cases into the labeled openings in the counter

You must see a staff member:
- there is a message on your account
- you owe $10 or more in fines
- you want to renew items
- you want a full list of all items you have checked out
- you are a new patron with the “new patron” limit

Large Print Books Available
Did you know that the Library has a great selection of large print books for people with sight impairments or just for those who prefer larger type? We order almost all fiction best sellers and most nonfiction best sellers in large print format and have a good-sized collection of older large print titles.
The newest large print books, as well as all of those that have been added to the collection within the last three years or so, are stored on special shelves on the Library’s first floor. Older titles are located on the second floor. Please ask a staff member to help you locate large print titles.

New Limit on Video Games
In order to better share our video game collection with all patrons, there is now a limit on the number of games that can be checked out on a Library card at a given time. Only three video games can be checked out at a time per Library card.
This limit does not affect computer software. The Library has games for most popular video game consoles, including the Wii, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Xbox and Playstation 2 and 3.

Library Spellbinders Win United Arts Award
     The WPPL’s Spellbinders storytellers were named Volunteer Organization of the Year at the United Arts of Central Florida’s Arts+ Awards.
     The Library’s Spellbinders of Central Florida receive extensive training in the art of storytelling and then volunteer as storytellers in local classrooms. Last school year, our Spellbinders delivered storytelling sessions to 11,322 children, teachers and parents.
     When Spellbinders go into a classroom, they support the educational curriculum by telling stories and coaching children in telling stories of their own. Research shows that storytelling improves children’s listening skills, attention span and imagination – all vital to literacy.
     To provide training and coordination of the Spellbinders program, the Library partners with Project Imagination (insert link), a local organization that offers storytelling performances and workshops.
     To learn more about Spellbinders, which is a national organization, or how to become a Spellbinder of Central Florida, contact Library Institute Coordinator Ruth Edwards at redwards@wppl.org or 407-623-3309.

New Ways to Keep You Informed
For those interested in receiving WPPL programming bulletins sent directly to your Inbox, we’ve launched two new e-newsletters. Learning @ Your Library is a monthly listing of all programs for adults. WPPL for Kids, Tween & Teens is a monthly list of all programs presented by our Youth Services Department. Both are sent around the first of each month. You will only receive them if you specifically request them; you do not have to receive both.

To subscribe, send an e-mail to mgcoffee@wppl.org with the subject “Subscribe.” In the body of the message, type “subscribe kids” or “subscribe adults” or “subscribe kids and adults”.

     If you are new to the Library's e-mail lists, you are best served by using the box on the Library's homepage that says "Sign-up for our e-newsletters." You will be able to join any or all of the Library's e-newsletters using that tool.

     Caution! Should you ever use the “Unsubscribe” option contained in any of our e-newsletters, you will immediately be dropped from ALL mailing lists.

How to Manage Your Account
We understand that many of you are very concerned about receiving spam and other unwanted e-mail. The Library uses a very secure service to manage your e-mail information and subscription preferences. This service makes sure that no one can subscribe or unsubscribe you to anything without your permission. The “downside” to all of this security is that there are several steps involved for YOU to be able to change your preferences. Here are the steps:

1) Go to the Library’s Web site and enter your e-mail address in the box that says “Sign up for our e-newsletters."

2) If you are not already signed up through our secure e-mail system, you will be asked to fill out the basic enrollment form and will be permitted to choose which of our e-mail newsletters you would like to subscribe to.

    If you ARE already in the system, you will see a screen informing you that you are already a member of the mailing list and to hit the “Submit” button if you would like to change your preferences (meaning subscribe or unsubscribe to particularly e-newsletters). Shortly after you click “Submit” you will receive an e-mail from MaryGail Coffee, the Library’s Community Relations Coordinator containing a link to take you directly to your account. Note: You must click on the link is that e-mail, follow the instructions and click “Submit” to finalize any change.

We apologize for what appears to be a complicated process, but the security of your personal information is our first priority.

Something Special for Fiction Readers!

When John Grisham is out, Mary Higgins Clark is on hold and you've read Harry Potter three times already, use NoveList, the WPPL's newest online tool to help you find your next read. Search for an author, read-alike or even a plot, and this powerful database will immediately supply you with titles (a link on the lower left side of the screen will even zoom you to our catalog to check the book's availability).

     This database of over 143,000 fiction titles for readers of all ages lets you use your favorite author or book to link to other books you might enjoy. Grisham fans can find over 200 other legal thrillers they might like to read, and the Lord of the Rings fan in your home can locate hundreds of fantasies with young heroes!

Looking for a book for your next book group meeting?
     Click on the Book Discussion Guides link to find over 100 in-depth book discussion guides for popular book group titles. Each guide contains a brief author biography, a plot summary and discussion questions (with answers!). These guides are guaranteed to make your next book club meeting one of the best.
Don’t belong to a club? These guides are a great way for independent readers to deepen their individual enjoyment and experience of a good book.

Looking for a book to help your first-grader get ready for the first day of school (or any other plot you can imagine)?
     Use the “Describe A Plot” function and enter the words that describe the book you would like to read. NoveList will search using the plot you supply and generate a list of books for you to consider.

A full service WPPL card is required to use this service; available from home or the library. Click here to begin using NoveList or access NoveList from our Databases page.

E-newsletter and E-mailed Account Info Are HERE!
     This Fall 2007 issue is the last print newsletter the Library will mass mail to its database of 8,500+ addresses. Starting in October, the Library will switch to an electronic newsletter that will be sent directly to your e-mail account. Sign up using the form on our homepage so you won’t miss an issue! You can also request that a staff member at one of our Circulation Desks add you to the e-mail list.
     The e-newsletter is an important effort on our part to increase efficiency, be responsible with public and private money we receive, and increase communication with our patrons.
Benefits of an e-newsletter
     Based on the results of our recent patron survey, we know that most of you want us to communicate with you via e-mail. The e-newsletter will allow us to communicate with you more frequently about a broader range of things. It will allow you to quickly find the information you want most. The quarterly print newsletter only allows us to inform you of programs, materials or services we know about four months ahead of time.
Why switch now?
     The recent property tax cuts made in Tallahassee have forced us to go through the Library’s operations and find ways to become even more efficient. Annual printing and postage costs for the newsletter are around $17,000. An e-newsletter will cost a fraction of that.
Get E-mails about your Library account
     Seventy percent of those who responded to our patron survey said that they wanted us to communicate with them about their Library accounts via e-mail. Now that we are actively collecting patron e-mail addresses, we are making this service available. Patrons who wish to receive e-mail notification about their holds and overdues can let us know on the newsletter enrollment form or at any Circulation Desk.
Being responsible with e-mail addresses
     The Library will not loan or sell your e-mail address to any outside organization. We will only use your e-mail address responsibly to communicate with you about Library news, programs and services or about your Library account.
     We plan to send an e-newsletter about once a month. If, on occasion, there is particularly exciting or important information we feel we need to share with you immediately, we may send an additional message.
     Those who sign up for e-mail notification about their accounts will receive e-mails as often as necessary (whenever your held items are available or when you have an overdue item).
     You can unsubscribe to the e-newsletter by following the directions at the bottom of each issue.
What if You don’t have e-mail?
1) We’ll help you get e-mail. Our Reference Librarians are happy to direct you to a number of free services that will allow you to get a free e-mail account. The Library has plenty of computer terminals for residents to use for e-mail.
2) Pick-up a print copy when you are in the Library. Let us know that you would prefer to pick-up a copy and we will take your name off the mailing list.
3) Stay on our snail mail list. For some period of time, we will continue mailing a limited number of copies to people who cannot receive the information any other way.