One of the first things I did when I moved to St. Johns County was join the library. I figured it was the fastest and best way to find out anything I wanted to know about my new home. The library did not disappoint. Before long I met a delightful man named Harold George. Harold worked at our library for many years and knows it inside and out. He knows its collections, he knows its potential, and he knows its surprises… so I asked him to introduce the library to all of us. Here is what he wrote.
We like to say that the smartest card in your wallet is your St. Johns County Library Card; whether from the comfort of your own home or at one of our six locations plus bookmobile stops, your library card is a passport to the joys of human connection.
Books? We got ‘em! Programs? So Many! Smiling faces? Everywhere!
Let us be a major part of your community experience, by connecting you to the nearly 330,000 books, movies, and music discs housed throughout our collection, as well as the multitude of online databases, eBooks, and much more available through the library’s webpage.
The number one resource in our library is the staff who will make you the number one priority and look forward to serving you around the clock.
Here are some of the free services available through our library locations and webpage:
- Programs on Technology, Art, Genealogy, Crafting, Cooking and Nutrition, Author talks and much more!
- A yearly partnership with AARP that offers free tax advice.
- The Universal Class database, filled with over 200 courses in a large variety of topics. Some of these courses offer continuing education units.
- Interlibrary Loan Services, that make it possible to borrow books from all over the country.
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi.
The Bookmobile Visits Nocatee Every Week
Movies and Music
Did you know that we have streaming movies and full albums of music via our HOOPLA database? That’s right, you can checkout up to 7 items per month via HOOPLA. This is on top of the multitude of CDs, Blu Ray, and DVDs that we carry at each location. Plus, we have special movie programs in-house! Start your journey of discovery at www.sjcpls.org
Universal Class
Free access to 500+ online courses with CEU credits available. Classes designed and led by professional instructors, complete with videos, assignments, and quizzes. Courses include crafts & hobbies, entrepreneurship, self-help & more. To get access, sign into the Libby app, then go to the “Extras” section on the library home screen.
Books-by-Mail
Like many residents in St. Johns County, you may have challenges to mobility, travel, and free time. You can still enjoy your library and what it has to offer. Along with our online resources, our Library System offers Books-by-Mail to everyone in St. Johns County. You can have books mailed to your home for free, and you might also qualify for free return postage, otherwise the books can be sent back at your own cost or dropped off at the library. Contact any location to learn more about this service, and how to qualify for free return postage. We work with you to learn what you like to read, who are your favorite authors, how often you wish to receive books, and many more details that will tailor the experience to your liking.
Interlibrary Loan
With interlibrary loans, the world’s libraries truly are your oyster! There is always going to be a book or film that you want but we don’t have in our collection. With interlibrary loans, we are able to borrow items from libraries across the nation. If the item comes from a library within Florida, there is no charge. Otherwise, there might be a $5 fee for items that come from a library outside the state.
Genealogy
While you may not be in the habit of visiting the library in person, there might be something that breaks that stay-at-home spell: Ancestry.com. This database is available for free at all of your branch libraries. In addition to this great database, the Southeast Branch Library holds a thorough collection of Genealogy Books, available for in-house reference and research.
– Harold George
