One phone number to connect all county libraries

Starting Friday, July 1, (850) 981-READ or 7323 is the only number residents will need to reach any of the five Santa Rosa County libraries or library administration office.

The Voice over Internet Protocol phone system allows residents to request renewals, account information, and library service information by dialing one number. The new system not only provides enhanced customer service for library customers, but also provides a savings of almost 40 percent per year.

Consolidating the six separate systems into one allows staff to transfer calls throughout the system and simplifies the process of changing recorded service messages like holiday closures and special announcements. To help in the transition, the current phone numbers will have a recorded message of the phone number change as well as announcements posted in each library and provided on bookmarks to take home.