Lee County Library System (Florida)

The Lee County Library System was founded in 1964 and is composed of 13 branches which serve Lee County, Florida, United States. Olive Stout, who arrived in Fort Myers in 1886, started the town's first reading room and was pivotal in founding its first library. Around 1955, the city moved the library into a small one-room building. The Lee County Library System's mission is to strengthen the community by informing and enriching individuals.

Adult
Library cards are issued free of charge to individuals 18 years or older who:


 * Are residents of Lee County for at least six months
 * Are employed in Lee County
 * Are property or business owners in Lee County
 * Are students of Lee County
 * Are residents of other Southwest Florida counties with libraries participating in the Reciprocal Borrowing program

Non-residents may obtain a Lee County Library card for a fee by showing photo identification.

Library cards are valid for two years, and renewal must be done in person, with the same documents as required for original card registration. Cards may be used at all branch locations. Loss or theft of a card, as well as any account changes, must be reported to the library immediately.

In order to obtain a replacement card, patron must show photo identification and pay a $1 fee.

Child/teen
Library cards with full privileges are free of charge for children and teens under age 18. Requirements include:


 * Name ID, such as birth certificate, insurance card, school ID, official school schedule, report card or letter from school
 * Parent or legal guardian who accompanies the child or teen shows ID for proof of address and owes less than $10 on his/her own library account

The Lee County Library System provides a way to pre-register for a card online. A temporary card grants access to downloadable and streaming materials. A permanent card can be obtained by proving eligibility at any branch.

Reciprocal Borrowing Program
Residents from participating neighboring counties may obtain a Lee County Library card free of charge through the Southwest Florida Library Network's (SWFLN) Reciprocal Borrowing Program. Residents of participating counties must first visit their own community's library and ask for a SWFLN Reciprocal Borrowing sticker, which they may then present to any Lee County Library location, along with photo identification. This must be done every calendar year.

Services
The library system has over 1.5 million items available for patrons to use or check out, and circulates over 6 million items per year. The system also offers amenities such as meeting rooms, an online catalog and e-sources, as well as DVDs, CDs, and the streaming of movies and video. Each branch provides users with internet access, including wireless access points. The system also provides public access computers, and scanning and printing capabilities.

Telephone Reference
The Lee County Library System offers Telephone Reference to members to inquire about frequently asked questions, information regarding membership, library services, and reference help. LiveChat and text capabilities are also offered through this feature.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
The Lee County Library System allows members to borrow materials that are not owned by the LCLS through their Interlibrary Loan service. Members simply fill out a Request Form to place a hold on an item from another library system. Members can request up to three items at a time, including photocopy requests. However, items published within the last six months are not available to request. If members cannot find an item that they are looking for, they can recommend items through the Lee County Library System's Patron Purchase Request Form.

Bookmobile
The Lee County Library System has a mobile book service called the Bookmobile that travels throughout the county to bring materials to those who cannot physically make it to a library branch location, or those in housing projects and low income neighborhoods. Patrons of the bookmobile have about 4,000 items to choose from, including books, DVDs, and magazines in both English and Spanish. An in-person English

Literacy and Adult Basic Education
The Lee County Library System offers in-person and online programs to foster and support language learning, Literacy awareness and basic education. In-person language programs include ESL classes that offer adults formal instruction in reading, writing, and speaking English; and an English Cafe where members can practice their English speaking skills at Libraries in Lee County. Online language programs consist of a Spanish Conversation Club where members can practice their conversational Spanish skills with others regarding current events, as well as apps such as Mango Languages, Rosetta Stone, and News For You Online. A wide variety of literacy collection materials are offered, which assist members with school and career planning, citizenship preparation, and language learning. These materials include Gale Interactive Courses, Peterson's Career Prep, Peterson's Test Prep, and READY Collection Adult Literacy Materials. Each of these programs and resources are offered at no cost to library users.

Talking Books
The Lee County Library System is a subregional library of the Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library. Recorded books are shipped free of charge to patrons who fill out an application affirming their visual or physical disability that makes traditional reading difficult. In addition to recorded books, the Talking Books Library also provides Braille books and narrated magazines. The Lee County Talking Books Library has thousands of titles in its collection as well as access to 2.5 million titles through the Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library.

Books-by-Mail
Books-by-Mail is a service offered by the Lee County Library System, which supplies library materials to individuals who are unable to use the library due to temporary or long-term physical and medical disabilities. Books-by-Mail sends materials, including books, CD books, DVDs, Blu-ray and music CDs through the mail in zippered nylon bags to registered patrons. When the materials are due, the patron attaches postage and mails the bag back to Books-by-Mail, or drops off the bag at any branch of the Lee County Library System.

Online library
The Lee County Library System is partnered with Overdrive, Libby, kanopy, and hoopla to provide popular digital content. These services allow free access to eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, videos, video streaming, and music.

Southwest Florida Reading Festival
The Southwest Florida Festival is the second largest reading festival in Florida. It draws thousands of fans to hear and meet best-selling authors, participate in creative contests and activities, and find the latest and greatest in books and information technology. It is a fun, informative and entertaining one-day event that celebrates books and the written word, and promotes reading, literacy and free library services. The festival appeals to all ages, with adult and children's programs. This annual event is usually held in downtown Fort Myers in March. The Lee County Library System produces the festival, which began in 2000.

Fandom Fest
Fandom Fest is a free, annual celebration of geek and pop culture that offers live music, contests, and cosplay. It is hosted by the Lee County Library System. It is located at the Fort Myers Regional Library located at 2450 First Street. It includes live entertainment, a reading challenge, character meet and greets, an all-ages costume contest, and lots of prizes. The festival is divided into fandom themed areas which have included Space, Sword and Sorcery, Superheroes and Villains, and Asian Culture. This event offers a mixture of activities, games, tech demos, and DIY makerspaces. There is a virtual reality hub, as well as Kpop dance tutorials. The Fandom reading challenge allows participants to win prizes through virtual activities using the READsquared app platform. Participants of all ages can win prizes. The Character meet and greets allow participants to take pictures with their favorite characters. The costume contest has categories for birth-age 5, kids ages 6–11, teens ages 12–17, and adults ages 18 and up. The winner is chosen by crowdsourced voting and a judges panel. To ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment of Fandom Fest, attendees must observe the Lee County Library System Patron Code of Conduct on festival day.

In 2020, the Fandom Fest was held exclusively online, and the one-day Fandom Fest was converted into a month-long virtual festival with different themed weeks, costumes, and prizes. It returned to an in-person event in 2021.

Library support
The library receives public support in a variety of ways, including through Friends groups, volunteers, and donations.

Due to inflation and changes in public views towards government spending, library budgets have needed to turn to Friends of the Library groups for fundraising from private sources.

According to the State of Florida's 2017-2018 statistics, Lee County Library System's Friends groups had a total of 1,270 members, raised $152,589 for their library system, and spent $80,829 on projects and programs.