User:Tdusf/Pinellas Public Library Cooperative

The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) oversees the coordination of shared activities and resources of the 15 member library systems throughout Pinellas County, Florida through an interlocal agreement. The PPLC office also houses and coordinates the Talking Book Library.

Mission
"PPLC provides leadership, resources and opportunities to enhance the quality, value, and availability of library services to members."

The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative accomplishes this by supporting the collaboration of member libraries thereby creating services and extraordinary access for residents that could not be provided otherwise.

History
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative was created in 1989 due to the passage of a referendum offering the opportunity for Pinellas County librarians to "open their doors to people outside their legal boundaries".

PPLC hired its first administrator, Bernadette Storck in 1990. Storck retired from PPLC in 2002. Following Storck's retirement, the current Executive Director, Mary Brown, was selected for the position.

The Talking book library was established in 1992. PPLC provided courier services for Pinellas County Libraries; however, the PPLC member libraries did not share a library automation system until 2009. This was a "milestone" for the Cooperative, the member libraries and Pinellas County Residents. The integrated automation system, which is still currently in place with Polaris Integrated Library System, allows for users to search for materials throughout the any of the PPLC member libraries in one place. Additionally, library users can place reserves on items to have them transported to any other member library location and conveniently return items to any of these libraries.

Coordinated library services are based upon an Interlocal Agreement, which was renewed with changes on September 17, 2013. The new agreement has been met with some controversy due to changes in board membership.

Although Mary Brown is currently the Executive Director of PPLC, she recently submitted her resignation. The Cooperative is still looking to fill the position as of December 2013.

The Interlocal Agreement
The Interlocal Agreement establishes the rules by which PPLC will operate and facilitate the workings of the member libraries throughout Pinellas County.

According to the City of St. Petersburg, the new Library Interlocal Agreement precisely establishes the following:
 * Sets forth the primary functions of the PPLC in order to focus future funding priorities;
 * Provides for selection of the PPLC's Board of Directors by those governmental units providing library services;
 * Provides for Board membership by the Chair of the Library Directors Advisory Council;
 * Clarifies the terms of PPLC membership;
 * Clarifies the terms of local funding support and member library funding allocations; and
 * Reduces the term of the agreement from ten (10) years to five (5) years.

Member Libraries
The following libraries are members of the Pinellas Public Cooperative:
 * Clearwater Public Library System
 * Dunedin Public Library
 * East Lake Public Library
 * Gulf Beaches Public Library
 * Gulfport Public Library
 * Largo Public Library
 * Oldsmar Public Library
 * Palm Harbor Public Library
 * Pinellas Park Public Library
 * Pinellas County Talking Book Library
 * Safety Harbor Public Library
 * St. Petersburg Public Library System
 * St. Pete Beach Public Library
 * Seminole Community Library
 * Tarpon Springs Public Library

Services
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative allows for the coordination of member library services throughout the county including courier services and integrated automated library services. The Cooperative also facilitates the financial contributions of the member libraries providing patrons with eResources and eBooks.

The Cooperative provides the grounds through which the member libraries work together by providing funds to the member libraries, providing support for countywide programming, and coordinating agreements amongst the member libraries.

Additional services include, but are not limited to Books by Mail, Born to Read, grant writing support, library advocacy, literacy services, marketing and the Talking Book Library.

eResouces
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative facilitates the sharing of eResource and eBooks of member libraries. All member libraries contribute financially to purchasing access to these sources and patrons of any of the member libraries have access to most resources countywide.

PPLC libraries provide access to the following databases: PPLC libraries provide access to the following downloadable audiobooks and eBooks: Other downloadable resources are provided by specific PPLC member libraries; however, they are not available to all library cardholders countywide:
 * Mango
 * Florida Electronic Library
 * Gale Databases
 * A to Z Databases
 * Ancestry
 * Overdrive
 * 3M Cloud Library
 * Axis 360
 * OneClick Digital
 * Freegal
 * Zinio