Concerned About The Flu?

Get the latest information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by clicking below.

An Afternoon With Mark Twain

Legend describes a 1991 eavesdropping where a Western Kentucky University professor overheard a graduate student toying with a Twain-style accent. At the final exam of the Mark Twain Seminar, the professor, who enjoyed a reputation for giving difficult tests, apprised the class there would be no exam, “if Mr. Ned Johnson will regale us with his Mark Twain imitation for the next hour and a half…” The next 90 minutes formed the basis of the show that is now in its 18th year and has been performed in multiple venues across multiple states.

Celebrate Mark Twain's birthday at the Tarpon Springs Public Library with a live performance by Ned Johnson on Friday, November 13 at 4:00 pm. All ages are welcome.

Friends of the Library Annual Meeting

The Friends of the Tarpon Springs Public Library will have their Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 14th at the Riverside Venue (formerly Pappas Restaurant), 10 Dodecanese Blvd on the Sponge Docks [map].

Featured speaker this year is local artist Christopher Still, a lifetime member of the Friends of the Library, whose paintings can be found in museums and private collections including the Governor's Mansion of Florida and the Smithsonian Institution.

This meeting is open to the public and registration forms are available at the library. The cost of the luncheon is $22 including gratuity and there are three meal selections. Doors open at 11:30 AM with a cash bar.

Please join us for a wonderful afternoon and learn more about the Friends of the Library.

Giant Book Sale!

Thursday, Nov. 19
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Friday, Nov. 20
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 21
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

The Friends of the Library are having a three-day book sale with thousands of used hardcover and paperback books all at bargain prices! The Holiday Booktique will feature books paired with holiday items to get you in the gift-giving spirit.

Featuring Special Guests!
Watch local artists at work in the library lobby on Friday, Nov. 20, and bring the kids on Saturday, Nov. 21 for free face painting with Sugar Bear the Clown from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

Historic Photograph Donated to the Library

In honor of the Kaminis family, Jan Kaminis Platt donated a beautiful framed photograph of the Tarpon Springs sponge docks in 1934. It is from the Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system. The photograph is currently on display in the fiction section of our library. Please stop by and enjoy.

Enhance Your Web Surfing

PC Magazine has released its special report on their Top 100 Web Sites of 2009. The sites are divided into several areas of interest: Apps, Fun, Info, News, Shopping, and Tech. They list both the classic sites that many of us already use, as well as some undiscovered gems.

Please Update Your Browser Settings

The Tarpon Springs Library website has a new address:
http://tarponspringslibrary.org

It's the same site; it just lives on a new server. If you have any of our web pages saved to your bookmarks or favorites in your browser, please update them to the new addresses.

We Need You!

The library is always looking for volunteers to assist in a variety of ways. Most volunteers work in four-hour shifts once or twice a week and are given tasks that best match a person's strongest skills with the current needs of the library.

Do you enjoy helping people? Do you like to work with your hands? Do you have a knack for organizing? Do you enjoy teaching? Any of these talents can be put to use in a rewarding way that serves the community. Some of the ways you can help include:

• checking out and shelving materials
• assisting with programs and computer classes
• helping in the Youth Services Department
• processing new materials
• cleaning and repairing items
• providing genealogy assistance
• working on special projects

For more information, contact Barbara Aglieri, Volunteer Coordinator, at (727) 943-4922, ext. 21.

New Library Catalog

PALS is here! The Pinellas Automated Library System (PALS) is the new county-wide catalog system that unites all public libraries in Pinellas County. Patrons may now browse and request materials from the rich resources of all participating libraries. Borrowing policies are also now uniform throughout the county.

To check your account, you must enter your library card number and use the last four digits of your phone number as the password. Once logged on, you may change your password if you wish.

Because this is a new endeavor, we welcome all comments and suggestions for future improvements.

How Much Is The Library Worth To You?

Find out how much money you SAVE by using the library. Visit the Library Services Personal Savings Calculator to add up the value of the services your library provides.

This service is provided by the State Library and Archives of Florida.

Happy Holidays

On December 15, library staff and volunteers participated in the Tarpon Springs Christmas Parade. Some rode on the float, while others on foot distributed free books to children along the parade route.

Get Hooked On Reading

Which book first got you hooked on reading?

FirstBook.org, an organization that gives away books to children, asked people to tell them what book got them hooked on reading. Over 100,000 people responded which generated a list of the top 50 books that got people hooked on reading.

FirstBook's website also features author and celebrity favorites, staff favorites, and a mechanism to contribute to their organization in order to further their mission: "to provide children in need with brand new books of their very own."

Downloadable Audiobooks Are Here

Download digital audiobooks to your home computer using OverDrive. Browse titles from this site, and check out and download 24/7 to your PC. Transfer titles to your MP3 player, or burn many onto CD for listening on-the-go.

Another Use For Your Library Card

You can now present your Pinellas County Public Library card when ordering at any Pinellas County Waffle House to receive 10% off your bill. Yet another reason why reading is rewarding!



Valid at any Pinellas County Waffle House location. Not valid with any other coupon or promotion.

Download Videos from the Library Website

MyLibraryDV allows you to download videos on demand to your computer, with 24/7 access to hundreds of hours of video programming including classic movies, cooking, travel, health, how-to, and other lifestyle programs.

MyLibraryDV is easy to use:

1. Log on to the library home page and click the MyLibraryDV logo.
2. Install the download manager. This is a one-time requirement that takes 2 to 4 minutes.
3. Start watching videos from the comfort of your home computer. (MyLibraryDV may not be used on computers within the library.)

For further questions, consult the Frequently Asked Questions page.

City Celebration on February 17th

The City of Tarpon Springs commemorated the 120th anniversary of its incorporation and the 10th anniversary of the Library's relocation to Lemon Street with a city celebration on February 17th with free food, fun, and giveaways. The Department of Cultural and Civic Services also conducted historic walking tours of the downtown area.

New Library Director Appointed

Effective January 30, 2007, Cari Rupkalvis has been appointed as the new director of Tarpon Springs Library. Ms. Rupkalvis has served in the acting capacity as library director since June of 2006. She has a master's degree in library and information science from the University of South Florida and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been with the Tarpon Springs Library since May of 1997 and most recently served as head of adult services.

Time's 50 Coolest Websites

Time.com has published its top 50 picks for this year's cool websites for entertainment, shopping, news, travel, staying connected, and wasting time. Also check out its related list of 25 Sites We Can't Live Without.

New Resource for Genealogical & Historical Research

Earlier this month, the Middle Ages met the Information Age when the 11th-century Domesday Book was made available online. The Domesday Book is a record of people and lands ruled by William the Conquerer using information gathered from a survey of England conducted in the year 1085. It is the oldest record held by Britain's National Archives and one of its most valuable documents.

Click here to learn about, search, and download images from the online Domesday Book.

iBorrow is Here

After hours? Don’t have time to stop by the library? No problem! You can now scan the shelves of dozens of Florida libraries without ever leaving the chair in front of your computer. Just logon to a new online service called “iBorrow” and check out the books or other materials you need. Your order will be delivered to your local library in a few days for pick-up.

By logging on to www.iborrow.org, you can search the collections of 45 different participating libraries across the state of Florida to request materials that are not available from the local library catalog.

iBorrow replaces Alleycat resource sharing and is a service of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium. Funding is made possible by federal Library and Technology Act (LSTA) grants, as administered by the State Library of Florida.

New U.S. Poet Laureate Announced

The Library of Congress has announced that Donald Hall has been named the next Poet Laureate of the United States. This distinguished author of 15 poetry books will assume his new post in the fall. Read more about it here.

Great Kits for Children

Thanks to a grant from Target, the Youth Services Department has obtained new reading kits consisting of books with corresponding soft toys. Cataloger Diana Angeliades, pictured at right, has enjoyed the challenge of preparing the kits for circulation.

Examples of the mixed materials kits are:

• Babar Goes to School
• Green Eggs and Ham
• Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
  

Dragon Sighted at Tarpon Springs Library

A dragon recently collided with the lighthouse in the Youth Services Department. No injuries were reported, and the dragon has decided to make this his new home.

Actually, our new large (but friendly) dragon, aptly named Crash, was a gift from a patron to a library staff member who collects dragons. We invite everyone to visit Crash and see the other colorful new additions to Youth Services.

Free Credit Reports

Starting this month, Florida residents are now able to obtain free credit reports online from AnnualCreditReport.com

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, consumers can request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to do so.

Please note that AnnualCreditReport.com is the only service authorized by the Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reporting companies for this purpose. Other services may charge fees, so be careful out there in cyberspace.

The library reference staff can help you with further information and computer assistance in obtaining your credit report.

Artistic Treasure

We are fortunate to have renowned painter Christopher Still as a resident of Tarpon Springs. A reproduction of his mural Changing Tides has been hanging behind the circulation desk for many years. It has recently been removed and replaced with the original work.

Click here to view Changing Tides on Christopher Still’s website. But to truly enjoy the rich colors and intricate details of this painting, you should come to the library to view the original. To enhance your experience, we have also displayed a key to the painting that explains the significance of its images. You will not be disappointed.