How Do I?

Only service animals or service animals in training are allowed in the Library. Owners of other pets will be asked to remove them from the Library. Animals used in educational programs sponsored by the Library are exempt.

Books, Audiobooks and CDs: 3 weeks

DVDs, Video Games, and Software: 1 week

Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks: 1, 2 or 3 weeks – you select the checkout period when you download the item

Mobile Hotspots: 1 week

Bicycles: Same-day checkout. (Available to full-service and reciprocal cardholders)

Laptops: 4 hours

Most items can be renewed up to four times (some exclusions apply). Renewal periods are for the same period of time as the original checkout (e.g., a book checked out originally for three weeks will renew for three weeks). Physical items will automatically renew on their due date, unless someone else has requested them or you've reached the maximum number of renewals. If you have questions about what this means for you, email us at info@winterparklibrary.org.

Full-service members may place an item on reserve (hold) if the item is checked out, waiting for another member, on order, or otherwise unavailable. Reserves (holds) can be placed in person, by phone, or online. You may place up to ten items on reserve (hold) at a time (some exclusions apply). When an item comes in/is ready for you to pick up, you will be notified according to your account preferences (email, text message, or phone call). Items are held for five days. If they are not picked up within five days, the reserve (hold) will be canceled and returned to the shelves.

You may cancel or suspend your reserves (holds) in person, by phone, or online. Once an item is available for you to pick up, you can cancel it in person or by phone.

If you are a full-service member and you would like a book that the Library does not own and it is less than a year old, you can fill out a “Suggest a Purchase” form on our website, and we will consider it for purchase. If the book’s publication date is over a year old, ask a Librarian about borrowing the book through our InterLibrary Loan service.

It is not. The Winter Park Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you have an OCLS library card and you live in Orange County, you may apply for a reciprocal membership card. Please visit here for more information.

Donations and Solicitations for the Library Collection

The Library accepts book donations that support and further the mission, goals, and objectives of the Library. All donated items will be subject to the Library’s materials selection guidelines. The selection development team will assess each donated item for adherence to the following guidelines:

• Only new copies will be considered for the collection. All donations of previously used material will be directed to the New Leaf Bookstore.
   
• Accepted donations must be copies of titles that are available through the Library’s contracted vendors.
   
• Preference will be given to titles that are reviewed in mainstream media sources, and/or in professional library and academic publications.
   
• All donated copies that are accepted for addition to the Library’s collection will be subject to the Library’s regular weeding practices.
   
• Donated copies that are not selected for addition to the collection will not be returned to the donor. They will be given to the New Leaf Bookstore.​
   

The Winter Park History Archives maintains a Local Authors Collection and follows these guidelines:

• Authors must reside in the City of Winter Park, Florida.
   
• All books must be approved by the Winter Park History archivist and/or selection team before being added to the collection.
   
• Appropriateness of format (textbooks and pamphlets will not be accepted), relevance to the City of Winter Park residents, subject, style, content level of intended audience, professional reviews, quality of writing, and production will all be considered. 

Please fill out the Local Authors Submission Form. Submit the form along with your book to the Winter Park Library.