Letter from the Library Director:

Books, Bytes, Buildings, and Budgets

Your St. Johns County libraries are more than just books.

People of all ages use the library to enrich their lives. You and your family come to the library for programs, stop by just to enjoy meeting friends and neighbors, and increasingly take advantage of rapidly expanding services available on computers, smart phones, and other mobile devices. The challenge to serve all age groups could easily strain our budget, but your librarians are listening to your needs and working each day to anticipate the next “big” thing, whether that is a new technology, a new program, or an additional library branch.

We have increased the eBooks budget based upon their significant popularity. We maintain free Wi-Fi connections to make the use of iPads, laptops, and other portable devices easy and convenient, even from outside our facilities. We have expanded our virtual and in-house programs based upon demand.

Need help with school? We participate in the free Career Online High School diploma program and we offer homework help through the Brainfuse HelpNow database our website, along with access to trustworthy indexes and full-text sources 24/7 so students of all ages can achieve their goals with convenience and confidence. How about “jump starting” a new career? Check out our new Universal Class offerings and resume-building assistance through the Brainfuse JobNow database…all available free through the library’s website.

The primary goal of our Library System remains a constant: YOU. Our patrons come first, as we continue to offer the broadest spectrum of services, while spending your tax dollars wisely and efficiently. We remain vigilant in managing resources, without compromising the quality of library services. We have worked diligently to keep our Fiscal Year 2023 budget request relevant and realistic. The County Administrator’s public budget hearings are currently planned for May 23-25, 2022. Please take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the Library System’s budget and the overall fiscal health of the County’s departments and services. More information is forthcoming and will be available on the County’s website.

Your loyal support for SJCPLS is greatly appreciated as we continue to do our very best to serve you.

Debra Rhodes Gibson

Library System Director, St. Johns County Public Library System