Florida Secretary of State Designated the Citrus County Library System as a "Library of Promise". 

The "Libraries of Promise" program is an outreach of "Florida's Promise for Youth," the state's response to the national initiative led by General Colin Powell, "America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth."   Florida's Promise for Youth is dedicated to mobilizing Floridians to ensure that all of the state's children and young adults have access to the fundamental resources they need to become successful adults.  The five fundamental resources needed by children and youth (mentor, protect, nurture, teach, and serve) include: ongoing relationships with caring adults (mentor); safe places and structured activities during non-school hours (protect); healthy minds and bodies (nurture); marketable skills through effective education (teach); and opportunities to give back through volunteer or community service (serve).

"The Citrus County Library System is proud to be known as a "Library of Promise" and will continue to make a commitment to providing the fundamental resources that are essential for Citrus County's youth to develop into successful adults by providing a welcoming environment where young people from all walks of life can freely gather and utilize an array of our services and resources," said Flossie Benton Rogers, Library Director of the Citrus County Library System.

The Library System actively provides structured youth programs; outreach to the youth community; variety of resource formats including books, online and CD-ROM information, videos, and audiocassettes; and professional assistance in finding needed information.  Currently the Library System with the public schools is working toward having students spend their community service hours at their public library.  This provides the students with opportunities of library training, working with the public, and mentoring from professional library staff.  Rogers stated, "Partnerships with organizations like the public school system help ensure that the needs of youth in our community are identified and the resources within the community work together to meet them."

The Citrus County Library System continues to encourage children and residents of Citrus County to read and use library resources to meet their learning and recreational needs.