Library Funding F.A.Q.s
(Frequently Asked Questions)
 

We get asked lots of questions about Winter Park Public Library and how it is funded.  We thought it might be interesting to compile some of the most common questions and answers here.  Click on a question to view the corresponding answer below.

Q: What is Winter Park Public Library's annual operating budget?

Q: Is Winter Park Public Library a city agency?

Q: Doesn’t the City of Winter Park provide all the money you need?

Q: I pay city taxes, why should I contribute to the Library too?

Q: I’m not a resident of the City of Winter Park.  Why can’t I have free access to everything your Library offers?  Isn’t Winter Park Public Library a “free library”?

Q: Why isn't Winter Park Public Library part of the Orange County Library System?

Q: How can I contribute to Winter Park Public Library?

Q: I've heard about "Book-A-Year" endowments to purchase a book each year in honor or in memory of a friend or family member. How do I set up a "Book-A-Year" endowment? How much does it cost?

Q: A friend recently passed away and his/her family requested that gifts be made to the Library. How do I make a memorial gift? How do I designate the Library to receive gifts if one of my family members passes away?

Q: What's the perfect holiday gift for the book-lover who already has everything? (Okay, we don't get asked this question often but we should!)

Q: What is Winter Park Public Library's annual operating budget?
A: WPPL operates on an annual budget of about $2.9 million.  This includes the cost of renting the current library building, which is funded by the City of Winter Park.

Q: Is Winter Park Public Library a city agency?
A: Technically we are not a city agency, but we are heavily supported by the City of Winter Park.  Winter Park Public Library is operated by the Winter Park Library Association, Inc., a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with financial support from the City of Winter Park.  The Library has its own Board of Trustees who oversee Library operations, set the Library's budget and policy, and provide strategic planning and guidance.  The city provides just under two-thirds of our annual operating budget.  The remainder comes from the charitable support of the community (over 25% and growing) and a tiny portion (4%) from the State of Florida and fees charged for Library services (less than 5%).

Q: Doesn’t the City of Winter Park provide all the money you need?
A: No. The City of Winter Park provides less than 66% of our annual operating budget. Over 25% of our annual budget comes from the charitable support of the local community through new charitable gifts, special events (like Bash for Books), proceeds from the New Leaf Bookstore and income from charitable endowments that support the Library. As library use continues to grow and we add new materials and services to meet changing library needs, charitable support will become increasingly important. Less than 5% of the Library’s operating budget comes from fees (room reservation fees, program fees, overdue fines, and library user fees.) Only 4% of our annual budget comes from the State of Florida.  We can't depend on increases in support from the City and State to keep pace with the growth of library usage and the rising cost of providing library services.  That is why we need your support!

Q: I pay city taxes, why should I contribute to the Library too?
A: While support from the City of Winter Park provides the majority of our funding, a growing share of our funding comes from the charitable support of the local community. A charitable gift to our Annual Fund will help underwrite our annual operating costs. You can also make a restricted gift or establish an endowment to fund specific library programs, materials or services. Charitable gifts from the community are becoming increasingly important as property tax reform and state budget cutbacks reduce Library funding from government sources.

Q: I’m not a resident of the City of Winter Park.  Why can’t I have free access to everything your Library offers?  Isn’t Winter Park Public Library a “free library”?
A: Every library needs funds to operate and that money comes from somewhere.  Books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, librarians, computers, and all the other things it takes to make a library function… these things just don’t grow on trees.  All kidding aside, Winter Park Public Library provides city residents a free library card because their property taxes help fund nearly 70% of the Library’s annual operating budget.  We provide free reciprocal borrower privileges to Orange County Library System and Maitland Public Library patrons, just as these two library systems provide to patrons of our Library.  For patrons residing outside of city limits and the areas covered by a reciprocal borrower agreement with Winter Park Public Library, you can buy a library card for a $100 annual fee.  This fee is approximately the same amount as the financial support the Library receives from the city for library use by city residents.  (Like most libraries, Winter Park Public Library charges fees for replacing a lost library card, for overdue and lost items checked out from the Library, photocopies and printouts, and certain Library programs. We can't give everything away!)

Q: Why isn't Winter Park Public Library part of the Orange County Library System?
A: In 1885, a group of Winter Park residents met to establish the first circulating library in Central Florida. Members contributed their own books and paid an annual membership fee to participate. More than 120 years later, our Library is still independent and operated under the belief that local residents can best plan for and provide their own Library needs. Winter Park Public Library has reciprocal borrowing privileges with the Orange County Library System and with the Maitland Public Library, providing patrons of all three libraries access to most of the services and collections at each branch.

Q: How can I contribute to Winter Park Public Library?
A: Our Annual Fund is the most common way to contribute. Gifts to the Annual Fund help fund the one-third of the operating expenses not provided by tax dollars. Click here to make a gift to the Annual Fund.

Q: I've heard about "Book-A-Year" endowments to purchase a book each year in honor or in memory of a friend or family member.  How do I set up a "Book-A-Year" endowment?  How much does it cost?
A: The cost currently is $300 to establish a Book-A-Year endowment to provide one book each year in perpetuity.  Please call our Development Coordinator, Ray Barr, at 407-623-3277.

Q: A friend recently passed away and his/her family requested that gifts be made to the Library.  How do I make a memorial gift?  How do I designate the Library to receive gifts if one of my family members passes away?
A: You can click here to make a memorial gift online or for forms to mail in a memorial gift.  To designate the Library to receive gifts in lieu of flowers for a family member who has passed away, call our Development Coordinator, Ray Barr, at 407-623-3277.

Q: What's the perfect birthday or holiday gift for the book-lover who already has everything?
A: You can make a tribute gift in honor of a friend or family member this Christmas. Gifts can be made in any amount. We will send a card to the person you're honoring for gifts of $25 or more to inform them of your gift. For $300, you can give the gift that keeps on giving, a "Book-A-Year" endowment.  A Book-A-Year endowment will provide one new book each year for the Library collection in honor of the friend or family member you designate.  We'll send a card to the designee to inform them of your gift and will add one book each year to the collection in honor of your loved one.