Prep Your Books for Publication With Pressbooks Public

Hey local authors! Check out our Pressbooks Public database and create, edit, format, and generate print-ready and e-book formats for your literary creations. Whether you have written your first book or are just starting the journey, you can easily write, edit, and design digital and print copies of your text. Pressbooks Public delivers print-ready and e-book files optimized to look great in all e-book stores.

Don't forget to enter the Florida Author Project writing contest for adult and young adult fiction! Submissions are accepted through May 31. More information about prizes and incentives can be found here.

Free Financial Strength, Investment Ratings, and Planning Tools @ SJCPLS

How do you know if your Bank or Credit Union is financially stable? Did you pick the Best Life Insurance or Property Insurance Company? Are you getting the best deal on your Medigap Insurance? Which Mutual Fund will give you the best return? Which Stocks are the best to choose? SJCPLS is proud to offer access to the Financial Ratings Series Online, powered by Weiss Ratings and Grey House Publishing, free with your library card. Weiss Financial Ratings gives you accurate, independent ratings and financial planning tools you need to make INFORMED DECISIONS about your insurance, banking and investment options. Visit SJCPLS's Weiss Financial Ratings page to log in and take advantage of these important financial planning tools today!

The Big Library Read Returns

Join the world's largest e-book club with the Big Library Read! From May 3 through 17, you can borrow the e-book or e-audiobook of "Tastes Like War" by Grace M. Cho with no holds or waitlists through the Libby app. Part food memoir, part sociological investigation, "Tastes Like War" is a hybrid text about a daughter's search through intimate and global history for the roots of her mother's schizophrenia.

The Big Library Read is an international reading program that connects millions of readers around the world with an ebook through public libraries. Readers can participate in an online discussion about the book on the Big Library Read website. 

Hoopla Bonus Borrows in May

Hoopla Bonus Borrows are back through May with new themed collections! Numerous top titles are available across formats, and titles checked out do not count toward your monthly lending limits. So even if you're out of borrows for the month, there's no end to the reading, watching, and listening you can do with the Hoopla Bonus Borrows Collection.

New SSYRA Books Are In!

You want them and we have them -- SSYRA books are in! 2023-2024 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Books are flying off the shelves and you'll want to place holds ASAP for these popular titles. Remember, to help fulfill holds faster, all SSYRA books circulate for 14 days. Check out the Junior Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8 lists.

Libraries Closed for Staff Training and

Memorial Day

In order to provide the best possible service to our patrons, all SJCPLS libraries and bookmobiles will be closed on Wednesday, May 3, for Staff Development Day. The goal of each Library Staff Development Day is to raise the bar on the abilities of library staff in order to maintain and improve library services for all of St. Johns County. Standard operations will resume on Thursday, May 4.

Additionally, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday, all SJCPLS libraries will be closed on Monday, May 29. Book drops will remain open, and our virtual services such as eBooks, downloadables, and databases are available 24/7.