News Story

For Immediate Release
Contact: Elaine L. Birkinshaw,
Manager, Special Projects,
St. Petersburg Public Library
727-892-5003

Libraries Closed Tuesday

St. Petersburg, FL (April 18, 2008) -- The Main Library, Johnson Branch, Mirror Lake, North and South branches of the St. Petersburg Public Library System will be closed to the public on Tuesday, April 22, to allow staff to bring up the library’s new combined catalog, P.A.L.S. (Pinellas Automated Library System).

The new catalog will complete Phase One of the P.A.L.S project by bringing together the holdings of Clearwater, East Lake, Gulf Beaches, Gulfport, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg Public Libraries. The remainder of the public libraries in Pinellas County will come online in late summer to complete the county’s first combined public library catalog. The new automation system will combine patron information from all county libraries and will permit patrons to see and request materials throughout the county.

The library’s technical staff will be making final adjustments to staff and public computers, online databases, and the computer reservation system while public service staff check in and shelve items that were returned during the past week while the automation system was off line.

All St. Petersburg Public Libraries will reopen at their regular time on Wednesday, April 23.