The roadshow took place in the new, spacious community room, where the Friends of the Library catered with refreshments and a delicious cake adorned with the library's centennial logo. People enjoyed the unique Burgert Brothers' photographic display of historic images of the region and displays brought awareness of the importance of local history and heritage preservation. Information provided allowed attendees to leave with a better understanding of how to begin preserving their family treasures and digitize their collections.
We were so thrilled to see the newly renovated and expanded library--it looked stunning!
Enjoy a brief slide show from our visit:
During the roadshow, the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library donated their collection of newspaper clippings, newsletters, and photographs, which kept our scanning station very busy for the duration of the event. Video library memories were also recorded in one of the library’s quiet study rooms. All of these digitized memories and memorabilia are being added to the Bloomingdale Regional Library's history collection!
Frequent library patrons Thomas and Tenetia Faircloth dropped by to check out the roadshow exhibits and have some cake. They took a moment to share why they like coming to the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library:
Since the library's opening, the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library have been instrumental in augmenting so many of the library's community programs. Chapter president Carol Jones shared with us some of the many ways that the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library help support library programs and get the community involved.
Patricia Boody has been a member of the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library since its beginning. She recalls the group forming and attending meetings before the library was built. Her daughter, Adriana Boyd, has been coming to the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library with her mother since it opened, and has memories of participating in many unforgettable youth programs.
We were so glad that Candice Martin came by the roadshow and recorded her library memory. The library holds very personal importance to her because the library was built on land that her family, the McLeans, settled in the 1880s. Candice is grateful for the Friends of the Library's contributions to making the library an integral part of her community, and she participates in the library's Life Story Writing Workshop they sponsor. As a result, she is working on putting her family's genealogy and history in Valrico on paper to share. We look forward to learning more about her pioneer ancestors and including information she provides in our local history and genealogy collection when it is completed!
Valerie Perry works closely with Bloomingdale Writers Connection and has been teaching the Life Story Writing Workshop since 2007. She shared with us about how the award-winning program began, and how it has evolved into a more comprehensive program that helps people write about their lives, as well as preserving family memories.
You can learn more about the Bloomingdale Writers Connection book, I Have a Story to Tell ...: An Anthology LISTEN Project, that Valerie references here. Check it out from the library!
Monique Groulx is also an active Friend of the Bloomingdale Regional Library. She tells us about moving from Montreal to Riverview when she was a teenager in 1959. She explains why the bookmobile was so important to her until the Riverview Branch Library opened in 1978.
The roadshow team thanks all who took the time to have their library memories recorded. Special thanks to the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library, who were so generous in sharing their memorabilia, photos, newsletters and time, as well as their ongoing contributions to their community library. We also want to thank the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library staff for their hard work to make the event a success! See you at the next Library History Roadshow at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library on May 17!
