Heartland Library Cooperative

The mission of the Heartland Library Cooperative is to provide to the citizens of the member-county service area with enhanced access to library materials and library services which would otherwise be unavailable under current and anticipated funding. HLC provides materials and resources to the community that fulfill needs for information, entertainment, intellectual and career development, and enrichment.

This cooperative venture will expand the quality and quantity of library materials to local residents by providing greater access to regional collections through shared technology, shared resources and cooperative collection development.

The Heartland Library Cooperative currently consists of five independent member county library systems: DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties. These libraries share geographic, economic, and social bonds. The region is largely rural-agricultural and has little in common with contiguous urban counties. Member residents are required to travel considerable distance for access to major population and urban areas. All of the member libraries have found it difficult under the current independent system to provide all of their patrons’ needs, hence the need for this cooperative.