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Reference Services Tarpon Springs Public Library

The Reference staff is available to assist patrons with their questions in person, by phone (727-943-4922), or by e-mail via form submission. The Reference staff helps patrons to find information and to locate materials at the Tarpon Springs Library or other libraries. Staff also assists patrons in using the library's computers.

The Adult Services section of the library currently has 14 computers with Internet access and Microsoft Office. In addition, there are 2 computers reserved exclusively for word processing, and 2 computers are available in the Sol Peska Business Center for business use. Patrons may register to use a computer at the Reference Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons are limited to 30 minutes using the Internet computers if others are waiting. When registering to use a computer at the Reference Desk, please let the staff know if you have special computing needs so that you may be placed on an appropriate computer.

Patrons may print out pages from the library's computers and then pay for pages at a coin-operated print station. The cost is 10 cents per page for black-and-white printouts and 25 cents per page for color printouts. Patrons may also use floppy disks in the library's computers. The Circulation Desk sells floppy disks at a cost of $1.00 per disk.

Patrons may send and receive e-mail from the library's Internet computers by signing up for their own independent web-based e-mail accounts. These e-mail accounts are not the responsibility of the Tarpon Springs Library. For more information on using e-mail and for some links to popular e-mail providers, visit the Internet Resources page.

For further information, please refer to the Tarpon Springs Library's Internet Policy and Web Site Policy.

View Technology Plan for universal service discounts application.

Patrons may place interlibrary loan requests for items that are owned by libraries other than the Tarpon Springs Library. Reference staff is available to assist patrons in finding materials at other libraries and requesting that the items be sent to the Tarpon Springs Library for patrons to check out for a period of time. Patrons may also place interlibrary loan requests on their own from inside or outside the library. Patrons may put holds on items in SunCat: The Sunline Web Catalog or may create requests in iBorrow by using their library card numbers.

The Genealogy Department at the Tarpon Springs Library is part of the Reference Department. The genealogy collection is located by the magazine section in the library. Volunteers are available twice a week to provide assistance in conducting research and using the library's resources. Genealogy help is offered on Mondays with John Kiwala from 10 am to 4 pm and on Tuesdays with Ken Nichol from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Tarpon Springs Library's genealogy collection consists of about four hundred books as well as periodicals, videorecordings, CD-ROMs, and online databases. Family books by individual authors and publishers as well as books containing census information, immigration information, and local histories of communities in the United States make up the greater portion of the collection. A wide variety of periodicals are also available. The collection also contains miscellaneous articles, how-to books, and bibliographies of other libraries' holdings. The CD-ROMs include the Family Search series by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Family Tree Maker. The volunteer genealogists and the reference staff are available to assist patrons in using these products.

In addition, a seven-part series of videorecordings may be checked out for viewing at home. These videocassettes feature professional genealogists providing instruction on conducting genealogy research and advising what various sources of information have to offer researchers.

Please see our Genealogy Tips page for help in getting started on finding your roots.

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