Public meeting on new Gulf Gate Library set for May 24 Sarasota County Public Works will hold a public meeting on Thursday, May 24, about the design, permitting and construction of the new Gulf Gate Library. Citizens can attend the open-house-style meeting anytime between 5-7 p.m. at St. Andrew United Church of Christ, 6908 Beneva Road, Sarasota. First opened in 1973, the Gulf Gate Library moved to its current location at 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota, in 1983. Design of a new and larger, two-story library began in January 2012. Attendees at the public meeting can view, ask questions and comment about preliminary floor and site plans and conceptual exterior and interior images. The design of the library is expected to be completed in December 2012, with construction beginning in early 2013. Funding for the estimated $7.5 million construction project will come from the penny surtax (1-cent sales tax) and library impact fees. For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000.   Amnesty Week, May 14 - 19, 2012 Patrons of Sarasota County libraries that have outstanding overdue items will be able to return the items without penalty May 14-19 to any Sarasota County library location. Items must be returned in person to the circulation desk in order for the transaction to be completed and recorded. Fines will not be waived for items returned in book drops or by mail. “The primary goal of amnesty week is to encourage library patrons to return their materials and to return to using library resources,” said Andrea Ginsky, Sarasota County libraries Public Services Manager. Three important points to remember about participation in Sarasota County Libraries Amnesty Week: Visit the Circulation Desk to have overdue fines waived for previously returned items. Bring outstanding items to the Circulation Desk; related fines will be waived. Fees charged by the materials recovery agency will not be waived. Ms. Ginsky added, "We hope that many patrons will take advantage of this opportunity. It can be a win-win outcome, by welcoming back former library patrons, and returning outstanding items to the shelves, so that others may have access to them.” For more information, see the Amnesty Week FAQs below or contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000. Amnesty Week @ Sarasota County Libraries - Frequently Asked Questions Why is the library offering an Amnesty Week? When materials are not returned others cannot use them. The library is providing an opportunity for materials to be returned without fines for one week in May 2012. In addition, when library patrons have past due items their library card becomes inactive preventing them from using library services. We want to see that everyone who wants access to library services is able to use those resources. How can I find out if I have overdue items? Visit the library online at www.sclibs.net, and click on “My Account”, or visit any library location to speak with staff, or call Sarasota County Libraries Info Central at 861-1110 to ask about the status of the account. Is there a limit on the number of items I can return with fines? No limit. Bring them all, no matter how long ago they were borrowed. What about damaged items? Items must be in good condition to be eligible for fine waivers. An item is considered to be damaged if the item is in such poor condition that it cannot be returned to the shelf. Examples of damages include: if the item is missing the cover or internal pages, if it is stained or if the pages are stuck together, or if it is damp. Media materials are considered damaged if they are melted, severely scratched or broken. If items are damaged, visit the library to talk with staff or call the library to ask about arranging payment. Where can I return materials? Visit the Circulation Desk at your local library to have overdue fines waived for previously returned items. Bring outstanding items to the Circulation Desk and related fines will be waived. The Sarasota County Library System has nine convenient locations. Can I return items through a book drop or by mail? No. In order for a patron account to be properly updated a library staff member must access the account, waive the fines at the time past due items are delivered to the library, and then update the account. Will there be another time in the future? In 2012 there will be one Amnesty Week, May 14 – 19; that will be the only opportunity this year for fines to be waived. Amnesty Week may be proposed for scheduling again in 2013. Can fines be waived for items returned before May 14? Yes. If items were returned prior to May 14 but there are still overdue fines on the account, patrons should present the library card at the Circulation Desk for the account to be cleared of fines. What if my account has been referred to a materials collection agency? Library patrons’ accounts that include items that were outstanding for more than 60 days and/or fines totaling more than $25 are referred to the materials recovery agency. The agency charges $10. The fine portion of a patrons’ account can be waived. However, the $10 fee must be paid as part of the contract agreement between Sarasota County and the agency and that payment must be made for a library card to be re-activated. What if I am a reciprocal borrower? Fines will be waived on overdue materials belonging to Sarasota County May 14-19, 2012. The items must be returned to one of the nine Sarasota County Libraries, not to libraries in other Counties.   One Book choices announced The Sarasota Herald Tribune's Susan Rife just announced the six candidates for One Book. Read all about it on artssarasota.com: "Voting starts soon for One Book choices." Visit onebooksarasota.com for more information on One Book, One Community.   Teen Volunteers: Get ready for summer! Start the application process now for summer volunteering at one of the Sarasota County Libraries! You can gain valuable volunteer hours for your Bright Futures Scholarships and start building your resume. Some of the opportunities include shelving books, preparing crafts for the youth programs, and assisting with youth programs and activities. Apply online at www.scgov.net/volunteers and print, fill out, and return the Parental Consent Release Form and Library Teen Volunteer Form located at sclibs.net/teens/volunteers.aspx to the Youth Department Volunteer Coordinator, when you start volunteering. For more information and assistance with the online application, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator listed below at the library near you. Elsie Quirk Library - Deirdre Morrow, 941-861-1212 or dmorrow@scgov.net Fruitville Library - Tiana Emsley-Dawoodjee, 941-861-2525 or temsley@scgov.net Gulf Gate Library - Robert Vaura, 941-861-1237 or rvaura@scgov.net Jacaranda Library - Andrea Gehringer, 941-861-1278 or agehring@scgov.net North Port Library - Tyra Keating, 941-861-1304 or tkeating@scgov.net North Sarasota Library - Nancy Traylor, 941-861-1377 or ntraylor@scgov.net Osprey Library - Peg Mendon, 941-918-4037 or pmendon@scgov.net Selby Library - Nadia Ingram, 941-861-1131 or ningram@scgov.net Venice Library - Pam Johnson, 941-861-1348 or pjohnson@scgov.net Techn Teen volunteer opportunities - Erin Mahaney, emahaney@scgov.net, or Karen Geis, kgeis@scgov.net or 941-861-1156   Sarasota County Libraries are "2012 Library of the Year" The Sarasota County Library System has been named the “2012 Library of the Year” by the Florida Library Association. The nine Sarasota County Libraries are located throughout the county and serve more than 2.5 million customers each year. “This award is truly a recognition of the library staff, volunteers and community partners who, day after day, dedicate themselves to delivering extraordinary customer service,” said Sarabeth Kalajian, General Manager, Sarasota County Library System. “With more than 520 public libraries in the state, one of the greatest accolades you can receive is recognition from your peers,” Kalajian said. “To be singled out as the 2012 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association is really special.” The Florida Library Association recognized the Sarasota County Library System for “community building” through partnerships and collaboration. Several milestones have been achieved in the last several months: • Introduction of eBooks and eAudiobooks to the library collection. • Opening the county’s first “connections” library, the Osprey Public Library at Historic Spanish Point. • Renovation of Selby Public Library, the largest library in the system. • Construction of the first Teen Center, a facility designed by and specifically for teens. • Establishment of the Library Foundation of Sarasota County. “I am so proud of the people I work with,” Kalajian said. “Despite budget reductions, reduced staff and changing needs of customers, our library staff members have done a fantastic job building one of the best library systems in the state.” The award will be presented at the Florida Library Association 2012 Annual Conference, April 18-20, in Orlando. For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000.   Interested in volunteering in the downtown Sarasota area? Not sure where to look or how to start volunteering in the downtown Sarasota area? The Within A Mile volunteer recruitment program can help you find the volunteer opportunity you've been looking for. Within a Mile brings together nonprofit organizations within a mile of Selby Library. A representative will be available at Selby Library every Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. as of April 2, 2012, to answer any questions you have about agencies or volunteering and to help you get started.