Library System

The Flagler County Public Library System provides more than 30 different products and Services to all residents regardless of age, race, ethnic, and financial backgrounds. The library acts as the heart of this Community with more than 57,000 registered borrowers. The delivery of library Services is a multifaceted effort of county staff, volunteers and the Friends of the Library.

County Staff:

Our library has a Director and a total staff of 18 -14 full time and 4 part time. Its Fiscal Year 2019-20 operational budget is $1.3 million. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of Flagler County at 112,000.Thus our library has a per capita cost of about $12. For this expenditure of taxpayer money, a typical family of four could receive over $500 in value by active use of the library during the year. Thus, a family can satisfy its educational and entertainment needs and have more money in their budget for food, clothing and shelter.

No wonder Andrew Carnegie said — “A library outranks any other .thing a Community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.’“

Volunteers:

About 100+ individuals supplement the county staff by shelving returned items, manning the Welcome desk, the Research desk and performing other sundry duties. In the past year, volunteers contributed 10,890 service hours saving more than $220,000 in personnel expenses. According to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the value of volunteer Services may be used on financial Statements — including Statements for internal and external purposes, grant proposals, and annual reports.

Friends of the Library:

In 1978, The Friends of the Library of Flagler County held its first public meeting to start a campaign for a countywide library System. Today, we have a modern library and over 600 Friends. Their mission is to support and advocate quality Services for all the people of Flagler County. With membership dues and fundraising, the Friends enrich and enhance library offerings through Adult, Young Adult and Children’s programs throughout the year. In addition, it funds purchases for the library as to equipment and media materials. Over the past ten years or so, these many different expenditures have totaled almost one million dollars.

2018-19 Combined Service Statistics:

  • Circulated 479,115 items saving residents more than $7,186,725 if they were to purchase items themselves
  • Provided service to 299,633 persons who visited the library
  • Answered 33,657 reference and informational questions asked by citizens and visitors
  • Provided 139,879 visitors and residents with public access to Internet
  • Borrowed 341 books from other libraries for use by local customers and loaned 740 books to other libraries
  • Registered 126 persons to vote
  • Presented 432 programs for children, teens and adults in which approximately 12,234 customers attended
  • Processed more than 2,500 passport applications and took almost 3,000 photos. (revenue of $117,000+)
  • Registered borrowers saved $11,589,541 for FY 18/19 through use of library materials.

A public library is an institution to help us as individuals to follow the dictate of Emerson: ” Do not go where the path may lead, go where there is no path, and leave a trail”