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Library Volunteers Make House Calls

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: February 25, 2009

Homebound people living in Sun City Center can depend on the pizza delivery man, newspaper carriers and even tax preparers who make house calls. Now volunteers with the Sun City Center Library are offering home delivery of books and other media materials for stay-at-home residents.

Irene Glow, the administrator with the Sun City Center Library, said those who are interested in the new service may fill out a questionnaire about their favorite authors and genres. Volunteers who work for the library four hours a week, make the house calls.

"The volunteers call on them once or twice a month depending on their needs or how fast they read," Glow said.

She said the library, which started in 1963, is not a public library but is a community library supported by the residents of Sun City Center. The library is open for people 55 years of age and older living in the Sun City Center and the surrounding areas.

She said the new delivery program is for people who can't come to the library due to transportation or health problems, as well as their caregivers, who don't feel as though they can leave the home.

Glow said the library carries CD's, DVD's as well as the old-fashioned VHS tapes.

"We still have VHS for people who still have those," she said. "For some people, it's easier to handle the tapes than the discs. We also carry a collection of large print books. That's our specialty."

Yvonne Casavant of Sun City Center, an administrative assistant with the Sun City Center Library, said she has already received a few inquiries about the new delivery service.

"A lot of our people are older and unable to get into the library," Casavant said. "Our administrator thought it would be a nice service. I think it will really go over (well)."

In addition to an extensive collection of books for the visually impaired, the library has six computers, including two with Internet access for people who need to check their e-mails.

Angela Lewit of Sun City Center is one of 60 people who volunteer for the library.

"I've been doing it for 15 years," Lewit said. "I think we do a very good service. It's just outstanding."

The library started as a 500-book collection donated by Erma Krauch to more than 22,000 items today. Following in the library's tradition of altruistic giving, the Interfaith Council of Sun City Center recently donated $2,000 for large print books, audio cassettes and books on tape for visually impaired people to add to the library's collection.

The library will host its annual book sale, a fundraiser for the library, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and March 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Caper Room.

For more information on the library, 1011 North Pebble Beach Blvd., call (813) 634-1315 or visit the library between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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