Mission Statement
It is the mission of Palm Springs Public Library to provide modern library service to the residents of Palm Springs. We will continue to serve the public as individuals worthy of personal recognition and service. We will provide the best library service appropriate to our community. We will value and protect the intellectual freedom of our residents and utilize the best professional skills to insure an objective point of view and nonjudgmental regard for all we serve.

Elena Romeo
Library Director
561-965-2204
(561) 964-2803 Fax
elena.romeo@vpslibrary.org
www.VPSLibrary.org

History
The Village of Palm Springs has supported a public library since the early 1960’s. The library is dedicated to providing Palm Springs residents the best possible library service. It strives to provide cultural, educational, economic, and recreational benefits through its collection and services. The library started as a small room at Village Hall, staffed by volunteers, expanded and relocated to a trailer across the street, and in November of 1978 relocated to the current facility. The building was expanded and remodeled in 1988, and again in 2004. This building is named in honor of the late Village Council member and staunch library supporter, Jeanette J. Guerty. The library is now a department of the Village, with a staff of 12, a wide range of programs and services, a collection of more than 45,000 print and audiovisual materials, and computerized access to many databases and the Internet.

Library Cards
Cards are available free to Palm Springs residents, property owners, businesses, and other institutions, and to residents served by libraries in The Library Cooperative of Palm Beach County. Current Cooperative members include municipal libraries in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Lantana, West Palm Beach, and all branches of the Palm Beach County System. Palm Springs residents qualify free cards at these libraries, too.

In addition, under the Power Card Program, all elementary school students in Palm Beach County are eligible for free library cards as well. The program is a partnership of the School District of Palm Beach County, school media specialists, and the Library Cooperative of the Palm Beaches. Power Card offers students free library cards in their choice of 21 Palm Beach County libraries.

Name and address identification is required to obtain a library card. Children up to age 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when applying for a library card.

Loan Policies
New or high-demand books, instructional videos, DVD’S, periodicals, audio books, audiocassettes and compact discs are loaned for two weeks. Videos are loaned for two days. All other materials are loaned for four weeks. Reference materials do not circulate. Most materials can be renewed once, if they are not overdue, and if no one is waiting for them. Phone renewal is available. Special eight-week loans may be arranged for some items upon request.

The following limits apply for loans of library materials: three non-fiction books in one subject area, three recorded books, three issues of a magazine, and three videos or DVD’s per person. Reserves are accepted on all circulating items.

Only persons seventeen years of age or older may check out R-rated videos.

Fines
A fine of 10 cents per day per item is charged for most overdue materials (except video cassettes or DVD’s). The maximum fine for an adult book or audio tape is $2, for a child’s item, $1. The fine for video cassettes or DVD’s is 50 cents per day with a maximum of $5.00. No fines are charged for days the library is closed. Book and video drops are located outside the library near each entrance.

• A fine of $.50 per day is charged for movies, DVD’s and VHS’s with a maximum fine of $5.00.

• Patrons must pay replacement costs for items that are lost or damaged.

• Failure to return materials that are overdue will result in suspension of library borrowing privileges. Privileges are restored when the materials are paid for or returned.

Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library sponsor many activities, including programs, service projects, and a special “Born to Read” gift for each baby born to Palm Springs residents or Village employees. If you wish to join this lively group, please contact the library.

Friends’ Mission Statement
The Friends of the Palm Springs Library will strive to promote for all age groups, fund raising, library services, volunteerism, and communication between the library and the Palm Springs Community.

Programs
The library offers a wide variety of programs for patrons of all ages, starting at age 18 months. Check the Village Newsletter or The Palm Springs Reader for details.

For Children
A Preschool Story time is held every Wednesday morning at 10:30 AM. It is for children from age three to starting Kindergarten. It includes stories, finger plays, flannel boards, filmstrips and crafts. No registration is necessary.

A toddler Story Time series is held twice a year; in spring and fall. Please leave your name and address, and the name and birth date of your child, at the circulation desk. You will be contacted when registration begins. This program is for children 18 to 36 months old and their accompanying parent or caregiver.

A variety of after-school programs are available for school age children during the school year. Contact the library for the schedule.

A Summer Reading Program is held at the library each year. Please contact the library for more information. Registration usually starts mid-May. Contact the library if you wish to arrange for a special program or tour for school classes, Scout troops, or other groups.

For Adults
Palm Springs Library hosts a neighborhood forum series in cooperation with the Center for Lifetime Learning of Palm Beach Community College. Programs for the season run from January to April in the Meeting Room two Thursdays each month from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Please check the Village Newsletter or the Palm Springs Reader for topics and dates.

Computer classes are offered free of charge at the library. Topics and dates are available in the Village Newsletter or the Palm Springs Reader. Registration is required for all classes.

The Friends of the Palm Springs Library sponsor several programs or events each year. Please check the Village Newsletter or the Palm Springs Reader for details.

Library Services
The library supplies books for all age groups, as well as videos, DVD’s, audio cassettes (both music and recorded books), CD’s book-cassette kits, and selected back issues of magazines.
Reference, inter-library loan services, and eLibrary, a database of magazine and newspaper articles are available. One typewriter and one word processor are available for public use, and may be reserved for use. You must purchase paper for the printers, typewriter, and word processor at the Circulation desk.

The library offers internet access. The Library website www.vpslibrary.org, not only offers links to many information databases, but also helps to keep patrons up to date on the programs and events happening at the Library. MS-Word for word processing and MS Excel for creating spreadsheets are available.