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Services
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SEEDLab Technology Classes
Grow your skills in our SEEDLab! These hands-on classes cover a variety of tech topics—from basic computer skills to creative digital tools.
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Digital Memory Lab
Preserve your past with the Digital Memory Lab! This self-guided space offers the tools you need to convert old media—like VHS tapes, audio cassettes, film reels, photographs, and more—into digital formats.
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SEEDLab Support Desk
Have a device issue or tech question that needs more time and attention? Sign up for a one-on-one session with library staff.
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Suggest A Title
Can’t find what you want? Suggest a title!
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Personal Shopper Service
Not sure what to read next? Let us pick for you! If you’re looking for a book or audiobook recommendation, we’re here to help!
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Library Newsletter
Stay informed with the latest library news, upcoming programs, technology classes, and more—delivered right to you.
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Staff Recommends Blog
Curious about what the Winter Haven Public Library staff are reading and watching? Visit our blog for staff reviews of books and movies.
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Excellence In Reading
Encouraging young readers since 1982, this program invites children ages 5 to 17 to enjoy specially selected books, complete quizzes, and earn incentives and prizes as they build their reading skills and confidence.
Book Club Kits
Grab your friends and start your own book club! The Library now has Book Club Kits available for checkout.
How it works:
- 12 kits are available; full list here Book Club KitsCulture Pass Book Club KitsCulture Pass How it works:
- Kits checkout for 6 weeks, no renewals
- Available for checkout at the Winter Haven Public Library to valid adult Polk County Library card holders
- Kit must be returned to a Winter Haven Public Library service desk with all included items
What's Included:
- Eight physical book copies
- Access to the ebook and eaudiobook version (when available) to download from Libby
- One Discussion Packet including information about the author, discussion questions, link to an online author talk (when available) and a list of available kits
- One branded tote bag with the above contents
Culture Pass
Florida Children’s Museum, with additional sponsorship from Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, has partnered with the Polk County Library Cooperative to provide library card access to checkout a Culture Pass that will allow you to visit Florida Children's Museum for free.
What is Florida Children's Museum?
Florida Children's Museum is an independent, non-profit, children’s museum at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland. Through cultural exhibits, educational programs and events in the arts and sciences, they provide children and families with fun, hands-on learning opportunities to inspire and equip the next generation with confidence, creativity, and a love of learning. You can find out more about the museum by visiting the Florida Children's Museum website.
How the program works:
- One Culture Pass is available per day for adults to check out on a first come, first served basis.
- The Culture Pass is valid for the date listed on the receipt and good for a one-time, same-day General Admission visit for up to five people to the Museum.
- At least one adult must accompany minors. Families may check-out one pass at a time.
- ID is required for admittance to the Museum. Your Culture Pass receipt will serve as your admission ticket to Florida Children's Museum and must be submitted to Florida Children's Museum staff.
- Neither the Florida Children’s Museum nor any participating public library is responsible for lost or stolen checkout receipts.
- Additional restrictions including blackout dates may apply.
Search “Culture Pass” in the catalog for daily pass availability at participating libraries.
Sensory Spaces
The Friends of the Library Sensory Garden
The Sensory Garden was created for the well-being, learning, and coping needs of children and adults with autism, sensory impairments, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. The garden includes a multi-purpose programming space that will allow users to experiment with and manipulate natural materials, focus attention on sensory experiences, participate in activities that enhance physical wellness, balance and coordination and engage in calming and relaxing activities.
Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the garden as well as volunteers willing to help with programming. Join our team!
| Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday & Friday | Reservations available from 9am to 4pm |
| Tuesday - Thursday | Open 9am - 4:00pm, no reservations required. Check event calendar for availability. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Sensory Bags with various activities to try are made available for each booking. Sensory Bag Contents and Descriptions
Visit whpl.libcal.com/reserve/Garden or call the Winter Haven Public Library at (863) 291-5880. Walk-in bookings may be available. Inquiries can be made at the front desk.
The Garden booking is up to 4 people per reservation.
Bookings are for up to 30 minutes per day.
Bookings can be made up to a month in advance and are limited to 4 reservations per month. Email address and Library Card number are required to make a booking.
We invite you to explore with your senses, but please respect the gardens and do not pick the fruit and veggies as we harvest on specific schedules.
Restrooms are located in the main lobby of the Library by the North entrance to the building.
Check the Library's event calendar for days when the Sensory Garden is open for anyone to drop in and enjoy with no reservations needed.
The Sensory Room
The Sensory Room is a unique space for children on the spectrum to interact with an array of sensory experiences. The room is designed to allow children to customize their experience by choosing which sensory experiences they wish to use. What makes the room unique is that the room can be set to calming and serene atmosphere for children who are experiencing sensory overload, or it can be easily be turned into a colorful and active play area if the child needs more sensory stimulation.
Children, together with their families and caregivers, may benefit from improved focus, cognitive development and sensory development as well as benefiting from these calming effects.
Computers
The Library has 10 adult computers, 4 children's computers, and Chromebook laptops available for public use. Computers have a daily usage limit of 90 minutes and Chromebooks have a daily usage limit of 120 minutes.
View Guidelines for Public Computer Use (PDF) that define the age breakdown, usage limitations, guest passes, and more.
A valid library card from any Polk County Library is required.
Costs
- Black/White - $0.15 per page
- Color - $0.25 each per page
Double-sided printouts count as two pages.
You can pay with nickels, dimes, quarters, $1 bills, and $5 bills.
Other Usage Guidelines
- 100-page limit
- Unless it is the fault of the printer, blank pages will not be refunded. It is recommended that Print Preview is used to view and select page(s) to be printed.
- Users may not supply their own paper or labels for printing documents due to possible printer jams or confusion with the print queue.
- The Print Release Station deletes print jobs after 24 hours. Once deleted, they cannot be retrieved.
- Install the Princh app on either iOS or Android
- Open your document and share it with the Princh App
- Use the printer ID "103390"
- Select “Print”
- Check Accept Terms and Conditions and click continue
- See a staff member at the Walk-Up Window and give them the 4-digit security code to release your print job. If you are using the app, you can see your print history and access the 4-digit code if you don’t remember it.
Cost
- Black and White - $0.15 per page side
- Color - $0.25 per page side.
Accepted payment methods are credit and debit cards, and PayPal.
Cash/coin payments are not available for this service
Other Usage Guidelines
- Patrons must have their four-digit print confirmation code in order to retrieve prints. Staff cannot retrieve confirmation codes or prints.
- Unless it is the fault of the printer, blank pages will not be refunded.
- Print jobs are deleted after 24 hours. Once deleted, they cannot be retrieved.
- Go to our Princh website and use the printer ID: 103390
- Upload your file
- Check Accept Terms and Conditions
- Hit Continue
- Make your payment
- Select “Order Print”
- See a staff member at the Walk-Up Window and give them the 4-digit security code to release your print job (note that staff will not have access to this code). Please remember it in order to complete your order.
Cost
- Black and White - $0.15 per page side
- Color - $0.25 per page side.
Accepted payment methods are credit and debit cards, and PayPal.
Cash/coin payments are not available for this service
Other Usage Guidelines
- Patrons must have their four-digit print confirmation code in order to retrieve prints. Staff cannot retrieve confirmation codes or prints.
- Unless it is the fault of the printer, blank pages will not be refunded.
- Print jobs are deleted after 24 hours. Once deleted, they cannot be retrieved.
The Library has a copier for public use. With its convenient document feeder you can print multiple pages at one time, either single sided or double.
- Letter paper (8 1/2″ x 11″): b/w $.15 per page side, color $.25 per page side.
- Legal-sized paper (8 1/2″ x 14″): b/w $.15 per page side, color $.25 per page side.
- Can pay with nickels, dimes, quarters, $1, $5
Free scanning is provided as a courtesy for patrons. A maximum of 50 pages per person, per day is allowed.
Scanned documents can be sent to an email address or must be saved to a flash drive.
Free faxing is provided as a courtesy for patrons. A maximum of 25 pages per person, per day is allowed. The library does not accept any incoming faxes or replies.
Faxing services are for out-going faxes only. The Winter Haven Public Library cannot receive faxes.
Faxing confirmation is available upon request. Fax confirmation only confirms that the fax was sent successfully from our system not that it was received.