Area Students Now Can Access Free Library Materials and Resources

Library cards are still a thing. And now, every single student in the Lake Wales Charter Schools and Polk County School system has one.

The Polk County Library Cooperative has partnered with Lake Wales Charter Schools and the Polk County School System to provide free access to public library materials and online resources.

Tina Peak, Director of the Lake Wales Library, said the new program is beneficial on many fronts.

"This is a wonderful partnership. We often see students who want to use our libraries, but a regular library membership for a child requires a parent or guardian to sign their application. This can prove difficult when parents' schedules don't provide a time to visit the library. Now these students have a library account," said Peak. "It's been a year in the making, and it's a great thing. We're really proud."

Called PLUS Card accounts, students may now borrow up to three books at a time from any of the Polk County Library Cooperative's 15 libraries, Bookmobile and Vending Library at the Outpost 27 Visitor's Center in Davenport. PLUS accounts can also receive library materials via mail through PCLC's BMail, Books by Mail service.

Students can create presentations, conduct research and type papers using public library computers. WiFi Internet, printing and scanning services are also available at public libraries.

They also now have access to Lake Wales' digital library to enjoy electronic titles in books, audiobooks, music, magazines, movies and television as well as free online learning resources and homework help.

As of Nov. 1, all Polk County Public School and Lake Wales Charter School students are automatically enrolled with a PLUS library account.

Students use their student ID number for their library card number and PIN to check-out books, download titles for the digital library and access online learning resources. No physical card is issued. The PLUS account is not associated with any other library card or account. Students may have a standard library card in addition to the PLUS account.

For more information and policies, call the Polk County Library Cooperative at (863) 519-8524, or the Lake Wales Public Library, (863) 678-4004, extension 224.

The city's library already serves many charter school students on a regular basis, Peak added.

"Our Youth Services Department is the regular library for Bok Academy North. Every student cycles through the library over a two-week period," she noted.