Frequently Asked Questions About...

Circulation

Reference

Youth Services

Computers

The Main Library

Circulation

How do I get a library card?

You may apply for a resident library card if you are a permanent Clearwater resident or permanently reside anywhere within the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) district. Resident library cards are valid for three years.

If you are a temporary or seasonal Clearwater resident, you may apply for a temporary library card valid for up to 6 months that may be used only at Clearwater Public Library.

Nonresident fees for persons who reside outside Clearwater and the PPLC districts are $100.00 per year per household. Some local municipalities will reimburse part of this fee for their residents. Please contact us for more information.

Applicants under the age of 14 will need a parent's signature to obtain a card. Please see our Library Card Application page for complete instructions and an application form.

Can I use my PPLC library card at Clearwater Public Library?

Yes. PPLC cards are valid at all PPLC libraries.

Is there a limit to the number of items I can borrow?

For more information on all PPLC General Policies including loan periods, overdue fines, library card applications and other circulation policies, please click here.

How long can I keep an item? Can I renew an item?

For more information on all PPLC General Policies including loan periods, overdue fines, library card applications and other circulation policies, please click here.

What if I return an item late or if I lose it?

For more information on all PPLC General Policies including loan periods, overdue fines, library card applications and other circulation policies, please click here.

Borrowers are charged a replacement fee for lost items, and may be charged a repair fee for damaged items.

When you get a library card, you agree to abide by Library rules and pay for any loss of, or damage to, Library materials, and to pay overdue fines accumulated on this card or any additional cards for which you maintain responsibility.

Failure to return overdue library materials, failure to report lost library materials or to destroy or damage library materials, or a failure to reimburse for such lost materials or damages is a violation of Pinellas County Ordinance 96-52 and may result in a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 60 days.

What should I do if I lose my library card?

Notify the Clearwater Public Library immediately! Until we are alerted that the card is lost, you are responsible for any materials borrowed with your library card. A replacement library card will be issued upon payment of a $1.00 fee.

Can I return items borrowed from other PPLC libraries at Clearwater Public Library, and vice versa?

You can return any PPLC item to any PPLC library, which includes Clearwater Public Library. The only items that cannot be returned to other PPLC libraries are items that we have obtained for you via inter-library loan (ILL) from libraries outside of Pinellas County. These ILL items must be returned to the library from which you checked them out.

Reference

How can I find out if your library owns a particular item?

Check the Online Library Catalog for Clearwater Public Library holdings. The Catalog will indicate if we own an item, which branch has it, and whether or not it is presently available for borrowing.

How can I get an item if it is currently checked out?

As long as the item is not reference material, you can request that it be held for you by placing a Reserve Request. We will contact you when the item is available and then hold it for five days at the Clearwater Library branch of your choice. If you want to pick up an item that is currently on the shelf at one of our branches, call the Answer Line at 727.562.4970, option 3. We will attempt to locate it for you and hold it for 24 hours. For items not owned by PPLC libraries, you can use our Inter-Library Loan service. For more information about inter-library loan, please call 727.562.4970, option 3.

I need an item ASAP. If you don't have it, where can I go?

Your best choice is probably to go to a bigger library. The biggest public library in the Tampa Bay area is Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library, and the biggest academic library is the University of South Florida Library in Tampa. Both libraries offer, among many other things, comprehensive business and government documents collections. For legal research, try the Pinellas County Law Library at (727) 464-3411 or Stetson University's Law Library. Be aware, though, that you may not be able to borrow materials from these libraries using your Clearwater or Pinellas Public Library Cooperative card. Each library has its own policies regarding borrowing privileges so be sure to contact them to determine your eligibility. You can also check out worldcat.org to see if these libraries own the item.

Do you have computers or typewriters for public use?

Yes. The Main Library, East Library, Countryside Library, North Greenwood and Beach have computers available with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. The charge for printing is $.10 per sheet. We have typewriters at the Main and East Libraries. Please call ahead (727.562.4970, option 3) to use the typewriter at the East Library as availability is limited. You will need your own paper and correction materials. Paper is also available at the Reference Desk for $.10 per sheet.

Can I use your online catalog from my home computer?

Yes. You can access it on the World Wide Web at our Online Catalog.

Youth

What sort of programs do you offer for my baby?

Presently, there are no group programs for children younger than 24 months offered at the Clearwater Libraries. However, because reading to your child starting at birth is important in preparing your child for lifelong learning, the Youth Services Librarians at all libraries will help you get started on the right foot. Check out some Mother Goose books and have fun with your baby. For further pointers, try The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.

What sort of programs do you offer for my toddler?

Weekly Family Story Times are offered at the East (Wednesdays at 10:30) and Countryside (Thursdays at 10:30 am) Libraries. These storytimes offer age-appropriate stories, fingerplays, songs and activities for children 24-36 months and their caregivers. The program lasts about 20 minutes and is designed to be an introduction to library activites for young children.

What sort of programs do you offer for school-aged children?

Programs for children Kindergarten through fourth grade are offered every Monday at 3:30 at the Main Library. Themes vary weekly. The first week of each month we explore the world Beyond Books: poetry, science and more come to life. The second weekof each month we travel Around the World - we explore the folklore, art and culture of different countries. Create something to take home the third Monday of each month at the Hands On program. Kid Vid presents a movie and craft the fourth Monday of each month. Call the Youth Services department at (727) 462-6800 x239 for details.

Students second grade and above are invited to join the Tell-a-Tale Troupe. We meet the second Friday of each month at the Main Library at 3:30 to hear stories, learn stories and find out more about the art of storytelling. We are preparing for a Festival of Stories, to be held during National Library Week in April. Other holiday and special programs are held throughout the year at all library branches. Look for more information on the Library Home Page.

My eighth grade child is not a good reader, and finds books written at his/her reading level to be babyish. What do you recommend?

Look for recommendations in one of the high interest/low vocabulary (hi-low) bibliographies, such as "High/Low Handbook: Encouraging Literacy in the 1990s" compiled and edited by Ellen LiBretton [REF/028.5/Hig] and "Rip-Roaring Reads for Reluctant Teen Readers" by Gale Sherman and Bette Ammon [REF/y/028.535/She]. The librarians are also always happy to help with recommendations.

My second grader is tired of picture books, but not ready for long novels with no pictures. What should s/he read?

Around second or third grade, most children are ready to move on to Transitional Readers: books with short chapters, not much text on each page and one picture or so per chapter. Often these books are part of a series so that children can stick with the comfortable and familiar. The librarians will also be happy to help you find appropriate books, or check "Beyond Picture Books: A Guide to First Readers" by Barbara Barstow and Judith Riggle [REF/011.625/Bar] for suggestions.

My child really enjoyed a particular book. What should s/he read next?

Check out our Books and Authors database for recommendations for all ages. Two helpful reference books to look for are "What do Children Read Next?: A Reader's Guide to Fiction for Children" [REF 016/.813/Col] and "What Do Young Adults Read Next?: A Reader's Guide to Fiction for Young Adults" [REF/016/.813/Spe]. You can also check out our online subscription database, What Do I Read Next*? In these books you can look up the title or author of a book you or your child enjoyed and similar titles and authors are recommended.

Computers

Does your Library offer public access to the Internet?

Yes. Internet access is available to the public at all Clearwater Public Libraries using an Internet Explorer workstation with full graphics. All of the Library's Internet Explorer workstations are PC-compatibles running Microsoft Windows. Free wireless is available without a password at all five libraries.

Is there a charge?

There is no charge for using the service. We do, however, charge $0.10 per black and white printed page and $0.50 per color printed page. We also have flash drives ($5.00) available so you can save your work.

Do you offer any training?

The Clearwater Public Library System offers computer classes and drop in computer help without an appointment at all five branches and monthly at the Aging Well Center. Click here for the class schedule. For more information about these programs, please call 727.562.4970, option 3.