Information and Inspiration @ Your Library

Welcome to Your Santa Rosa County Library System –
from Linda Hendrix, County Library Director

On October 1, 2006, the Santa Rosa County Library System launched operations as an independent library system for the first time in its history.  Libraries are located in Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, and Navarre, and Pace (opened April 12, 2007). Operating Hours for all libraries:

• Monday – Thursday:  9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday:  9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday:  Closed

The first operating year (October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007) included many accomplishments and great success!  Highlights include:

• Pace Library Opened in April 2007 with a collection of 25,800 items 3,700 new library cards issued to Pace residents during the first few months      
• 495,325 items circulated creating a record breaking 56% increase over the previous operating year - Individual library increases: Gulf Breeze 34%, Jay 120%, Milton 31%, Navarre 32%
• Library attendance 455,550
• 22,197 new library cards issued this year, bringing the total to 29,582
• 87,690 one-hour computer schedules for public computer use
• 23,886 customer reference/research questions answered
• 14,068 customer instruction sessions for computer use
• 48,864 items added to the collection, including 11,360 best sellers - bringing the total collection count to 131,457 
• 226 children's programs (ages 3-5 and grades K-5) provided with 4,022 attending.
• 38 Tween/Teen (ages 12-17) programs provided with 296 attending
• Library website:  48,000 visits and 264,000 views
• Teen spaces created in libraries with adequate space and youth areas in the Jay and Milton libraries updated and revitalized
• Bulletin boards and display racks installed to allow community organizations and groups to display and distribute not-for-profit brochures, flyers, and information 
• Book discussion groups for adults and teens added for summer reading program
• Teen and family programs added to summer reading programs
• Online book club implemented with 200 subscribers
• Online subscriptions to adult and youth reader's advisory program implemented and used over 4,000 times
• Programs provided to school personnel and daycare centers regarding library services
• Self service options added for checkout, computer reservations and print, copy, and fax functions and payments
• Community reading encouraged through One Book, One Community program
• Friends of the Library groups at each library supported funds for self service checkout stations and collection enhancements
• The Santa Rosa County Library Foundation launched and will begin fund raising opportunities for library capital projects

Libraries are cornerstones of American communities and the mission of your library system is to be a gateway to the heritage of the past and to the promise of the future, to offer boundless opportunities for enrichment and discovery through a broad array of collections and services, and to provide world class service in comfortable, friendly, and safe library environments.

If you would like to get more involved in supporting your library system, please consider your Friends of the Library group or the Library Foundation.

We hope you find Information and Inspiration @ Your Library!