Lee County Tax Collector adds libraries to waiting areas

Waiting areas at Lee County Tax Collector’s Offices just got a lot more pleasant. The Tax Collector has partnered with the Lee County Library System to create mini-libraries at six Tax Collector locations. Customers who come to renew driver’s licenses, apply for concealed weapons permits, take care of vehicle registration and more can peruse a broad selection of books and magazines while they wait.

“Your time is valuable, and we understand that,” Lee County Tax Collector Larry Hart said. “We’re going to do everything we can to make your time with us enjoyable.”

The library system has placed about 30 titles each at Tax Collector offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, south Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers. Books for adults, teens and children are there, and library workers are arranging for Spanish-language books to soon be on the shelves.

The Tax Collector’s Office will promote library card signup April 8-12 during National Library Week.

But customers don’t need a library card to access the books at the Tax Collector’s locations, and they don’t need to check them out. They can take any item home with them and bring it back later, or drop it off at any Lee County library.

The program stems from the Tax Collector’s partnership with the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. Melissa Baker, manager of programming and community outreach for the Fort Myers Library, presented the idea to the Tax Collector’s Office and began working with Deputy Tax Collector Noelle Branning and Communications Manager Chris Bright to bring it to fruition.

“This is a win-win for everyone involved,” Hart said. “It’s a way to promote literacy and education as well as give our customers something extra. I’m so grateful to Melissa and everyone at the library system for helping us make this happen.”

See all of what the Tax Collector is doing to make life easier for customers at leetc.com.