Libraries
*Astor County Library in Astor. *Cagan Crossings Community Library inServices
Residents of Lake County have access to print and digital resources with an LCLS library card. These resources include print books, audiobooks and e-books, as well as music and movies. The libraries also provide patrons with access to online resources, including internet access and online reference databases. In addition to resource materials, LCLS provides outreach services to patrons of all ages. Library cards are free to Lake County residents. Residents ofDatabases
Lake County Library System also provides links to several databases for the convenience of their users. These databases include: * ABC Mouse: For early learning for children ages 2–8 * Ancestry Library: Allows users to search ancestry history through ancestry.com * ''AtoZ Databases'': Provides users job search functions, reference, free E-mail services, and person/business search functions * Employ Florida Marketplace: Designed to connect job seekers and employers in the state of Florida. * Flipster: Digital magazine catalog * Florida Electronic Library: Allows users to search the Lake County Library System for magazines, books, newspapers and more. * Heritage Quest * LinkedIn Learning: Allows users access to open online courses in business, technology, and creative * New York Times * Occupational Outlook Handbook * Overdrive/Libby Catalog * Pronunciator * Tumblebooks Catalog * TumbleMath * Tutor.com: Connects students to tutors online. * WorldCat Database: Allows users to search libraries worldwide.Library Location and History
Astor County Library – 54905 Alco Road, Astor, FL 32102 Cagan Crossings Community Library (Four Corners) – 16729 Cagan Oaks, Clermont, FL 34714 Opening in February 2008, the state-of-the-art library contains 30 public access computers and wireless hookups. At 19,000 square feet the library houses 47,000 materials, reference assistance, children's and adult programming, and daily courier service from other Lake County libraries. The building was designed by Harvard Jolly Architecture and cost $8,000,000. Cooper Memorial Library (Lake-Sumter State College, South Lake Campus) – 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont, FL 34711 The Cooper memorial library has had many homes. In 1906 the library books were kept in the home of Mrs. Payson Pierce until 1910 when they were moved to another library organization members home, Isaiah Benson. A year later the books were moved to a small Baptist church. Wanting to give the books a permanent home, club member, Mrs. Alice Cooper leased a lot on DeSoto near the current City Hall in downtown Clermont and for $600 the library construction was secured. In 2009 it made its move the Historic District and was restored into a museum. To continue serving the community a new Cooper Memorial Library was built. Breaking ground on June 30, 2008, the new 50,000 square-foot library was built at Lake-Sumter Community College's South Lake Campus. The library is still considered a public library and is open to both the college students and the public. East Lake County Library – 31340 S. County Road 437, Sorrento, FL 32776 Eustis Memorial Library – 120 North Center St., Eustis, FL 32726 Eustis is one of several towns in Lake County dating back to the 1870s, and as of 2023, is home to the nation's longest-running Washington Birthday Celebration (now named GeorgeFest). The Eustis Memorial Library was founded in 1902, and The Eustis Public Library Association purchased the 1 ½ story Aber Cottage on Grove Street between Magnolia and Orange Avenues (about where City Hall stands today) for $1,200 in 1912. Mrs. Clark, the librarian, moved into the upstairs and maintained the library downstairs. The Library later moved into a new building on the corner of Grove Street and Orange Avenue, now known as City Hall. Cary Hardee, 23rd Governor of Florida, dedicated the building on May 1, 1923 at a ceremony attended by at least 250 people. The new library building cost an extraordinary $12,843.54, with landscaping donated by Dr. J. J. Ervin. In December, Rufus A. Perry, Commander of the American Legion, asked that the name “Eustis Public Library” be changed to “Eustis Memorial Library” in honor of those soldiers who had given their lives in World War I. In March of 1985, the Library moved into the building where it still operates today, occupying an entire City block on N. Center Street and East Magnolia Avenue. Volunteers from the community lined up starting at the Library's old location on Grove Street to the current location on Center Street, passing books along from one building to the other. The N. Center Street building has previously been occupied by many businesses, including a Winn-Dixie, a roller skating rink, a laundromat, a shoe store, and a beauty salon. The Library today offers a collection of 100,000+ items, a robust schedule of programs for all ages, rotating exhibits featuring the art of local artists, a bookstore, e-books, databases, WiFi, public access computers, device charging stations, mobile printing and more. Fruitland Park Library – 604 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park, FL 34731 Helen Lehmann Memorial Library – 17435 Fifth St., Montverde, FL 34756 Lady Lake Public Library – 225 W. Guava St., Lady Lake, FL 32159 Leesburg Public Library – 100 E. Main St., Leesburg, FL 34748 Marianne Beck Memorial Library – 112 W. Central Ave., Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737 Marion Baysinger Memorial Library – 756 W. Broad St., Groveland, FL 34736 Minneola Schoolhouse Library – 100 S. Main Ave., Minneola, FL 34715 The town of Minneola was founded in 1884, originally as a part of Sumter County. After the town's conception, the children of the town had to attend school in a local church building. However, in the late 1800s, the residents of Minneola built a schoolhouse. Originally, the schoolhouse consisted of 1-2 rooms and a belltower. In 1915, the county conducted a school merger. A larger school was built in nearby Clermont, and the Minneola Schoolhouse closed its doors. After the closure, the schoolhouse was converted into a home. The homeowners performed renovations on the old schoolhouse, but kept much of its wooden exterior and wood flooring intact. The city of Minneola acquired the historic building for $150,000 in 2007. The schoolhouse was the first historic property purchased by the city of Minneola. After the purchase, the city began receiving donations of historic items related to the schoolhouse, such as old photographs, and an old school desk. The city bought the old schoolhouse with the intention of converting it into a library and museum. Two years after the purchase of the building, the once-schoolhouse-turned-library had its grand opening on April 18, 2009. The Minneola Schoolhouse Library is now open Monday-Friday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The library offers a variety of services to its community, such as public computers, faxing, printing, scanning, and curbside pickup. The Minneola Schoolhouse Library also hosts a variety of monthly events for its community. Paisley County Library – 24954 County Road 42, Paisley, FL 32767 Tavares Public Library – 314 N. New Hampshire Ave., Tavares, FL 32778 Umatilla Public Library – 412 Hatfield Drive, Umatilla, FL 32784 W.T. Bland Public Library – 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757 Originally built in 1905 the Mount Dora Library's 150-book collection resided in a small room located in Town Hall. The library soon outgrew its humble room and in 1917 was moved to a basement located in Education Hall, a private school. The building was prone to flooding and in 1929 the library was moved to its main floor. In 1965 a library branch was established in East Town, were most of the city's African American population resided. This allowed students to attend before integration. Continuing to outgrow itself a new building was built in 1976 in what the city's Parks and Recreation building is now. Its final home was built in 1995 with its most resent expansion being completed in 2012. The library now spans 21,000 square-feet allowing room for an archives room, a larger computer work area, community room, and a used bookstore.References
{{Coord missing, Florida Public libraries in Florida Education in Lake County, Florida