Editing Sarasota County, Florida (section)

===Museums and libraries===
{{main|Sarasota County Library System}}

Library branches:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/hours-and-locations|title=Locations and Hours|website=Sarasota County|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072319/https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/hours-and-locations|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library
* Elsie Quirk Public Library
* Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library
* Fruitville Public Library
* Gulf Gate Public Library
* Jacaranda Library
* North Port Public Library
* Osprey Public Library at the Historic Spanish Point
* Selby Public Library
* Shannon Staub Library
* William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library

Sarasota County residents may obtain library cards for free and valid library cards may be used to check out materials at all ten Sarasota County libraries. Manatee and Charlotte County residents, as well as library users from any of the [[Tampa Bay Library Consortium]] libraries may register as reciprocal borrowers and check out materials in Sarasota County. Non-resident cards are available for purchase and offer the same privileges as resident cards.

The library system provides a variety of services which include adult, teen and children's materials. Computers for public use are available at all ten Sarasota County Libraries and free wireless access in the libraries is provided by the Sarasota County Government.  The library system has licensing to [[CloudLibrary]], [[Hoopla (digital media service)|Hoopla]] and [[Freegal Music]]. On April 27, 2022, Sarasota County Libraries migrated all digital content to from Overdrive to CloudLibrary to provide a fuller, more streamlined digital collection and discontinued using Overdrive'''.'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Does the Sarasota County Libraries have ebooks and downloadable audiobooks and how do I get started? - Ask Us! |url=https://scgovlibrary.libanswers.com/faq/245904#:~:text=Dec%2006,%202023%205964,free%20with%20your%20library%20card |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=scgovlibrary.libanswers.com}}</ref> [[Ask a Librarian]], the on-line Florida librarian reference system is available through the Sarasota County Public Library System.
Sarasota County residents have access to the Pinellas Talking Book Library as well as a Books-by-Mail service.<ref name="scgovlib2">{{cite web|url=https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/services-and-policies|title=Services and Policies|agency=Sarasota County Government|access-date=April 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072825/https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/services-and-policies|archive-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref> The [[Selby Public Library]] has been a selective depository in the [[Federal Depository Library Program]] and receives almost 50% of the government publications distributed through the program.<ref name="scgovlib2"/> Additionally, the Sarasota County Library System is an organization member of the [[Florida Library Association]].

The [[Little Free Library]] program was introduced to Sarasota County in 2014 as the result of a collaborative effort between the Libraries and Historical Resources department, the [https://www.scgov.net/parks/Pages/default.aspx Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources] department and the [http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/ UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension and Sustainability] department. The [https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/little-free-libraries Sarasota County Little Free Libraries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134637/https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/little-free-libraries |date=April 10, 2018 }} have been placed at thirteen different county parks and recreation centers.<ref name="scgovlib3">{{cite web|url=https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/little-free-libraries|title=Little Free Libraries|agency=Sarasota County Government|access-date=April 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134637/https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/little-free-libraries|archive-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>

====History====
The first library, which was established in 1907 by the Sarasota Town Improvement Society. County libraries have been established in response to community demands and needs. The first libraries were autonomous with the Head Librarians reporting directly to the County Administrator. Sarasota Public Library was managed by Betty Service, the Englewood library by Harriet Ives, and Venice by Jean McGuire. Joan Hopkins directed and coordinated library services for the rapidly growing population. She directed the establishment of Gulf Gate Public Library, North Port Public Library, Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library and the new downtown Sarasota library, and laid the groundwork for building future libraries in the county.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Sarasota County Library System |url=http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/flstud_pub/96 |journal=Florida Studies Center Publications |publisher=[[University of South Florida]] Tampa Library |date=January 1990 |access-date=December 19, 2018 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124015840/https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/flstud_pub/96/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November 2023, the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners voted to cease the Sarasota County library system's membership with the [[American Library Association]] and the [[Florida Library Association]], referencing concern over Marxist influences and that the associations' were "acting like political action committees."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kimel |first1=Earle |title=Sarasota County Commission votes to end memberships in state, national library groups |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/11/14/sarasota-commissioners-urged-to-keep-ties-with-library-association/71565104007/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=November 15, 2023}}</ref>