FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Cynthia Cobb, Lee County Library System
                (941) 479-4621

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 15, 2001) – The Lee County Library System has launched a new "Books on CD" service in its libraries, featuring more than 250 adult titles and 50 young adult and juvenile titles available in an audio format.

Books on CD are similar to Books on Tape, allowing patrons to hear books being read. Patrons can check out an unlimited number of Books on CD for up to four weeks, with a two-week renewal period. Books on CD also can be placed on hold from any library location.

Adult authors include everything from Hemingway and Steinbeck to Dick Francis, John Sanford, Anne Rice and Carl Hiaasen. Young adult and children’s titles include Face on the Milk Carton, Matilda and The Outsiders.

This is the latest in a series of new services added in the past year to make local libraries more accessible and relevant to patrons. They include:

• Placing the card catalogue on the Internet for easy access from home or work (March 2000);

• Adding 65 public-use computers throughout the system (April 2000);

• Introduction of Music CDs (November 2000);

• E-mail reference (January 2001).

The Lee County Library System has three regional libraries, eight branch libraries, and special services including a Bookmobile, a Talking Books library, a Books-By-Mail program and a Family Literacy Program. The Library System circulates more than 2.5 million books annually, adds 100,000 new books to its collection each year and has public Internet access at all of its locations. It will open its newest library – East County Regional Library in Lehigh Acres – in April.

You can visit the Library System’s web site at www.lee-county.com/library.