and fire protection. Other services benefit both those in municipalities and in unincorporated Polk County, such as those that provide recreational and cultural opportunities. The current Sheriff of Polk County is Grady Judd. Party registration As of March 31, 2022. Education Polk County Public Schools serves the county. Universities and colleges State University System of Florida (Public) Florida Polytechnic University Florida College System (Public) Polk State College (Previously known as Polk Community College) Private institutions Southeastern University (Affiliated with the Assemblies of God) Florida Southern College Warner University (Affiliated with the Church of God) Webber International University Keiser University, Lakeland Campus (Not-For-Profit) Southern Technical College, Auburndale Campus Library Cooperative The Polk County Library Cooperative was formed October 1, 1997 through an Interlocal Agreement between the 13 municipalities with public libraries and the Board of County Commissioners. The Cooperative enables the city-owned and -operated public libraries to open their doors to all residents of the county, including those in the unincorporated area. Interlibrary Loan Interlibrary Loan (ILL) offers library patrons the opportunity to request and receive books that are not owned by the Winter Haven Public Library. Through ILL, not only do patrons have access to the circulating book collections of all the library systems in Polk County but also all of the library systems in Florida, as well as universities and public library systems throughout the United States. Cooperative member libraries Services Polk County Historical & Genealogical Library History The Polk County Historical & Genealogical Library was established in 1937. It opened to the public in January 1940. The library was first located in the office of the County Attorney and its holdings were all housed in a metal bookcase. Since then the library has been housed in several different locations within the old Polk County Courthouse. In 1968 the library hired its first full-time employee. By 1974 the library added a second employee and was moved to a new location on Hendry Street. In 1987 the library relocated back to the 1908 Courthouse. It was renovated during a ten-year process that included expansion to take over and adapt all three floors of the eastern wing of the Courthouse. As of 2013, the library is located in the east wing of the historical courthouse in Bartow. It is governed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and administered by the Neighborhood Services Department and the Leisure of Services