I have many fond childhood memories of my neighborhood library. From “storytime” to my ravenous explorations of whatever subject interested me that week, it was a special place where I could make decisions for myself and direct my learning wherever I wished. I didn’t realize until adulthood however, and specifically upon moving to St. Pete, just how much my library card can do!
More than just books
The Pinellas Public Library Collective wants you to have just the piece of media you want. So if that murder mystery you’ve been dying to get your hands on is already taken out, or at a branch all the way across town, just put in a request online or in person and they will send it to your local branch for your pick up. You can keep checked items for two weeks or easily renew online. In addition to books, an incredible selection of music and movies is available. You can also sign up for alerts when a new crop of books arrive in the system, or download free audiobooks directly to your smart phone for a one or two-week period using the the free, wildly popular, Overdrive App.
Free classes and passes
The library’s website is a wealth of information, but if you’re unsure how to make the new library technology work for you, they’ve got you covered. There are free computer/tech classes on Mondays and Tuesdays at the main branch, as well as a vast array of other programs. Just check out their calendar! There are a host of activities for children and plenty for adults. Book clubs throughout the week cover topics from true crime to short stories, biographies to sci-fi. Their programs and classes, all free of charge, range from AARP tax prep to ukulele workshops, Pokemon league to knitting/crochet class, job-seeking techniques and interview skills, gentle chair yoga, meetings with “healthcare navigators,” Sunday afternoon family-friendly movie showings, and meetups of the awesome, empowering group, Girls Who Code. Pretty incredible offerings, eh?
I can’t stop singing the praises of the library’s fantastic Museum Pass program. Museum passes cannot be acquired online, so stop by your local branch to pick yours up. This will score you free entry to the Florida Holocaust Museum, Chihuly Collection, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, and Museum of Fine Arts of St. Pete. Each branch has two passes for each museum, which you check out just as you would a book. Admission is valid for up to 2 adults, and 3 children under the age of 18 in the same household. Limited to one pass at a time per family, passes are valid for one visit within the 7-day loan period.
But wait, there’s more!
There is also an advanced version of Ancestry.com that you can access at your local branch. In addition there are programs such as multi-lingual citizenship prep, resources to enable smart investing, small business resources, access to a great number of databases, and plenty more at your fingertips.
If you don’t have a library card yet, run – don’t walk – to your closest branch. Just make sure your ID shows your local address. Have a chat with a friendly librarian about all they have to offer. It really is a treasure trove – and absolutely everything is free of charge. Can’t beat that!
For library hours, visit: www.splibraries.org.
