FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:    Heather O'Connell, Public Information Coordinator
                    (941) 479-4629 Office
                    (941) 479-4631 Fax

EAST COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY FREE SHUTTLE TO CONTINUE

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the East County Regional Library opened in May of this year, a free Lee Tran shuttle was also started to take residents from the old branch library to the new location at 881 Gunnery Road, just in front of Lehigh Senior High School. Libraries Director Cynthia Cobb has announced that the shuttle service will continue through the next fiscal year.

Because of strong usage by, and support of, east county residents, Shuttle and Library usage have grown steadily. Already, the Library has had more than 70,000 visitors. The shuttle has provided more than 3,500 rides.

"This is a great example of how citizens are the key to our success," says Cobb. "The residents of east Lee County are embracing this regional library and the community support has been tremendous."

The $8.5-million, 40,000-square-foot facility opened May 12. It has 60 public-use computer stations, a 150-seat meeting room and extensive Youth Services and Young Adult sections.

The Lee County Library System has four regional libraries, seven 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.