Circulation Services
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Library Card:

Resident Membership:  Anyone who owns or rents property within Polk County is eligible for a free library card.  Photo ID is necessary at the time of application along with proof of current physical street address.  The following proof of residency forms are acceptable: driver’s license, current utility bill, local personal checkbook, car registration, voter registration card, or property tax receipt.  

Youth Membership:  Children under the age of 12 must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them at the time of application.  A parent/guardian must sign the application and assume responsibility for materials borrowed on the card of the child.  Students may qualify for a library card with proof of enrollment and photo ID. 

Non Resident Membership:  Persons residing outside of Polk County are required to provide the same identification as listed above and will be charged a $35.00 membership fee, renewable annually.

A non resident with a valid library card and valid ID from one of the following reciprocal borrowing libraries is eligible for a free Polk County library card: Osceola County Library System, Highlands County Library System, Hardee County Library System, Bruton Memorial Library (Plant City), and Temple Terrace Public Library.

Apply online for a library card:

Click here to apply for a library card online.  Upon completing the online application, you will be given instructions on how to obtain the physical card.

Check-out and Renewals:

Renewals may be made as follows:

• In person at any library in Polk County

• Via telephone at 863-291-5880

• Online at http://catalog.mypclc.org and selecting the "Your Account" tab.

Fine Policies: Library materials are due on the date printed on your circulation receipt. If you cannot return them on time, you can renew materials online from the library catalog, follow the links or call the library at 291-5880 and renew them over the telephone. Overdue items are $.10 per day, per item.

Fines and fees may be paid by:

• cash

• check

• debit card

• credit card.

New $5 Fine Threshold - Effective April 6, 2009
In an effort to provide and maintain a rich variety of materials for our community to access and enjoy, the Winter Haven Public Library has reduced the fine threshold to $5 per card holder.  This means that Library card holders must keep fines under $5 to utilize checkout and computer privileges.  Once the $5 limit has been reached, it must be paid in full.  If you have any questions, please see Library staff or call 863-291-5880.

Interlibrary Loan: Interlibrary Loan (ILL) offers Library patrons the opportunity to request and receive books that are not owned by the Winter Haven Public Library. Through ILL, you have access to the circulating book collections of all the library systems in Florida, as well as universities and public library systems throughout the United States.  Click here for policies.

Collection Development
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Library Collection Development is defined as the process of planning and acquiring a balanced collection of library materials of many formats, including books, periodicals, online resources and audiovisual materials. 
Click here for more information on:

• Purpose of Policy

• Authority & Responsibility

• Formats

• Chronological Coverage

• Languages

• Funding

• Gifts

• Memorials & Endowments

• Library Bill of Rights

• Weeding the Library Collection

• The Weeding Process

Computers for Public Use
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The Library has a total of 41 computers for public use.  All have access to the Internet and Microsoft Office 2007 as well as a variety of other programs that are specific to the department in which they are housed.  Computer usage is governed by Internet Policy and Computer Use Policy.

• Reference Department:

  • 22 computers

  • Must be age 18 or older

  • Maximum 60 minutes per day

• Circulation Department

  • 3 computers

  • Must be age 12 or older

  • 30 minute sessions; maximum 60 minutes per day

• Young Adult Room

  • 8 computers

  • Must be between ages 12-17

  • Maximum 60 minutes per day

• Children's Department

  • 8 computers

  • Must be ages 11 and under

  • Maximum 60 minutes per day

All computers are equipped with

• a read-only CD-ROM drive (cannot copy to CD)
• two USB ports (for flash drives, etc.)
  Note: some USB devices are not compatible.
• access to a printer
  • Black/White - .15 per page
  • Color - .25 per page
  • print jobs are deleted from the
    print queue after 2 hours.
• NO floppy disk drive
• NO read/write CD-ROM drive.
• NO DVD drive

Click here to find out more about our Wireless Internet access which is available throughout the entire building. 

Copy Machine
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A copy machine is available for public use.

• .15 per copy

• Cash or vending card only (no debit/credit cards)

• Black/white only, no color

Location: Upon walking into the library, it is along the left wall toward the middle of the library.

Email Notification
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Winter Haven Public Library can email you when:

• Your items are overdue (Overdue notice)

• You owe $5.00 or more in fines and fees (Billing notice)

• Your checked out materials are about to reach their due date (Courtesy notice)

• Your requested items are ready for pickup (Hold notice)

NOTE: When fees accumulate $5.00 or more, they must be paid in full before material can be checked out.

Click here for instructions on how to enable this feature.

Fax Machine
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The Library offers a self-service fax machine
for sending faxes (cannot receive faxes).
Only Debit/Credit cards are accepted.

Location: Upon walking into the library, it
is along the left wall toward the middle of the library.
Click here for more details.

iPad Checkouts
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The Library offers iPads for checkout. 

• Requires a library card from any library in Polk County.

• Must leave your Driver's License or current photo ID for security.

• May only be used INSIDE the library.

• Check-out time: 2 hours

• May renew for an additional 2 hours if no one is waiting.

• $1.00 per hour late fee if not returned on time.

• Holds not permitted.

• Youths 17 and under must have a legally responsible adult (parent or caregiver) check out the iPad.

Laminating
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The Library offers Laminating Services to the public. Lamination is a great way to protect your important and/or personal documents, covering them in a thin layer of plastic.  Items for laminating may be dropped off at the main circulation desk with your name and phone number attached.  You will be contacted when your order is ready for pickup – typically 1-3 business days.  For details or questions regarding this service, contact the Library at 863 291-5880 Ext. 222.

• Soft Lamination is available for any size document, not wider than 24 inches.  This type of laminate is produced in one large sheet.
  Cost: .75 per FOOT, plus tax 

• Hard Lamination provides sturdier protection and is available for items no larger than standard-sized documents (8 ½ X 11) or legal sized documents (8 ½ X 14). 
  Cost: .75 per PAGE, plus tax

Library Policies
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• Behavior Policy
• Circulation Loan Policy
• Computer Use Policy
• Exam Proctoring
• Interlibrary Loan Policy
• Internet Policy
• Meeting Room Policy
• Study Room Policy

Magnifier for the Visually Impaired
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The Eclipse viewer enlarges the pages of books, magazines, newspapers and other reading material for those who are visually impaired.  It is located midway along the left wall as you enter the library.

Meeting & Study Rooms
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The Library offers Meeting and Study Rooms for public use.  Click below for details:
     Meeting Room
     Study Rooms

Polk County Libraries - Services Offered Chart

Click here for a chart of libraries in Polk County and the services provided by each.

Reference Services
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Study Rooms
The Reference Staff monitors the 3 study rooms at the library. If you would like to reserve a study room contact the library at 291-5880.  Click here for details.

Exam Proctoring
The Winter Haven Library offers an exam proctoring service.  There is a charge for proctoring as you must schedule a time with the librarian.   Click here for details.

Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi)
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The Library offers free wireless Internet access throughout the building and parking lot, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.  No login required.  However, upon first opening the web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.), one must agree to the City's Internet Usage Agreement.

• Wi-Fi setup instructions
• Wi-Fi printing

Youth Services
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The Children’s Department is pleased to offer many services to our youngest patrons. We have a section for pre-school children, school aged children, and a young adult department. We also have 8 computers with educational software games.

Baby Bookworm s held on Wednesday mornings at 11 a.m. from September through April.  This program is designed to engage babies under the age of 2.  Activities include stories, finger plays and songs. Programs are held in the Story Hour Room located in the Children's Department, and last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Class Visits - Contact the Children's Librarian to schedule class visits.  See below for contact information.

Computers for Children - There are 8 computers for use by children 11 and under.  Click here for details.

Computers for Young Adults - There are 8 computers for use by young adults ages 12-17.  Click here for details.

Excellence in Reading is a very successful program at the library. Children read specific books and are tested on a computer. There are a set number of books to read and incentives awarded along the way. Click here for details.

Florida Library Youth Program is a State Library of Florida sponsored program. This program is conducted throughout the summer for children of all ages. Activities include: puppet shows, performers, storytellers, reading logs and arts and crafts.

Outreach—The local elementary schools, grades 3-4, are invited to the library in the spring each year to bring their students and introduce them to what their public library has to offer.

Pre-school story hour is held on Wednesday & Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. from September through April. We invite both parent/caregiver and child to participate in this interactive reading experience. Programs are held in the Story Hour Room located in the Children's Department, and last approximately 30 - 40 minutes.  Story Hour is open to all children 5 and under.  Weekly programs are based on different themes using puppets, flannel board, music and storytelling.

For more information about youth services, contact the Library at 291-5880 Option 3.

Did you know you can renew your books using the online catalog? Just click the Catalog link below.