National Bookmobile Day 2013

The National Bookmobile Day 2013 was April 17th. To help celebrate the occasion, the Library History Roadshow team followed both the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library Bookmobile and Cybermobile along their routes for the day. It was a beautiful day filled with great customer interactions! Check out some photos of the all-day event:

The Bookmobile Roadshow made stops at Acorn Trace Apartments, Rose Lake Estates, and Horizon Bay, while the Cybermobile Roadshow made a single stop at the Cordelia Hunt Community Center. At each location, video and audio recordings of Bookmobile and Cybermobile patrons were captured as they recalled their past experiences on-board the buses and with the mobile library staff, as well as spoke about the reasons that they keep coming back. Some of the people who took part in the Roadshow were newer to the mobile branches but were enthusiastic to share what they already enjoy about the service.

Because the mobile libraries visit several different stops throughout Hillsborough County, future ‘Roadshows’ are being planned at other stops. We encourage you to visit our mobile libraries and see what the buzz is all about!

Link to their schedules: Bookmobile | Cybermobile.

Video and audio memories will be available online starting January 1st, 2014 -- the kick-off of the Centennial Celebration of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system.

A Brief History of Mobile Library Services in Hillsborough County

During the Depression, Works Projects Administration funds made the first bookmobile service possible.  In 1930, the Tampa Public Library began a "bookcar" service, delivering books to the community as a Traveling Branch. Soon after, it would become known as the Bookmobile.

In the 1950s, the bookmobile was known as the "Traveling Branch" and very popular among its users in neighborhoods like Sulphur Springs, Wellswood, Forest Hills, Ballast Point.

During the 1960s, the bookmobile served as a mobile neighborhood branch while library locations were being built or remodeled while also providing an extension of services to rural areas such as Wimauma, Riverview, Gibsonton, Thonotosassa, Odessa and Town N' Country.

The Cybermobile, a Spanish-language mobile library branch providing free library resources, services, computer classes, and programming throughout Hillsborough County was dedicated on May 11, 2006.  Its purpose is to bridge language and library usage gaps and to develop lifelong library users. Learn more about the Cybermobile.

Save the Date to Celebrate: January 1, 2014

Public libraries have been changing lives and transforming communities in Hillsborough County for nearly a century...

Tampa-Hillsborough Public Libraries'
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

January 1st, 2014
at the

West Tampa Branch Library
2312 W. Union St.
Tampa, FL 33607

The historic West Tampa Branch Library, located at 2312 W. Union St. in Tampa, opened on January 1, 1914. It is Hillsborough County’s first public library and one of 11 libraries in Florida funded by grants from the Carnegie Corporation. 100 years later, the Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library system has grown to serve its community through its 27 locations. 

 

John F. Germany Public Library's Roadshow is a party!

On Sunday, January 13th, the history of the John F. Germany Public Library (formerly the Tampa Public Library's Central Branch) was celebrated, coinciding with the 90th birthday of its namesake, Mr. John Germany. 

We were honored by the presence of past library directors' families, as well as retired librarians and other notable citizens that were integral in the creation of public libraries in our city and county. They all had memories to share of the challenges and successes about the formation of this library branch and the evolution of the the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library system as it developed over the years. We collected a variety of library memories to share.

Check out the slideshow, which begins with an images from the 1965 groundbreaking and construction in 1967:



Director of Libraries, Mr. Joe Stines, kicked off the event by welcoming attendees and Mr. Germany had a few thoughts to share with a party crowd, who were eager to listen.  After everyone had a slice of birthday cake and folks had a chance to visit with one another, we encouraged attendees to record their library memories.  

With anticipation, we recorded Mr. Cecil Beach, Director of Libraries from 1965-1972, who has a life-time repertoire of experience in developing libraries and library services at the public, state and national level.

Architect James Jennewein, who designed the library was in attendance.  This is the original model of the Central Branch Library that he designed, courtesy of the City of Tampa Archives.

We were so glad that Leo Meirose, Jr., son of past library director, Leo Meirose, Sr. (1972-1982), came to share his memories of this father's work for the Tampa Public Library system. Leo describes well (below) the challenges his father dealt with during an era when public libraries collections were heatedly contested by censorship. Meirose Sr.'s legacy is known for standing strong for intellectual freedom and free speech, which he was for honored by the Florida Library Association.

 


Retired Librarian, Bunny Pearce, who also donated a video memory at the Hyde Park Branch roadshow, also had spent time working at the Central Branch library. 

Frank Lakus, creating in 1970.

The weaving today, on YA/1-west floor

Frank Lakus, shared with us his memory of working at the Central Library in the mid-1960s-1970s.   He was commissioned to create a multi-media sculptural-weaving for the young adult wing in 1970, that still hangs in the window to this day. For decades since, Frank has been active with  puppeteering with the Hillsborough Storytelling Festival, in addition to working as an artist. Frank tells us his story:

 

YA, Main Library on 7th Ave. ca. 1964

Thanks to retired librarian Priscilla Lakus for bringing her photo albums spanning the 1960s through the 2000s. These photos are just a sampling of more to come...

We were absolutely thrilled with the turnout of roadshow guests.  Many THANKS to the Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library for contributing the refreshments, flowers and balloons -- it really made the event more special for everyone who attended the roadshow festivities.

You can look forward to seeing more Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library history when we unveil the Tampa-Hillsborough County Treasures site for the Centennial Celebration of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system on January 1, 2014 at the West Tampa Public Library, Tampa's first library. Save the date!

Celebrating John F. Germany Public Library, January 13, 2013

Tampa Public Library, Central Library, circa 1999.

The next Library History Roadshow will be a special occasion as we celebrate John Germany's 90th birthday!

  

  John F. Germany Public Library

900 North Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL

Sunday, January 13, 2013

12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  



Charles J. Fendig speaking at the
TPL's Central Library dedication, April 21, 1968.



Groundbreaking for the construction of Tampa's main library took place on April 25th, 1965,  Three years later, the John F. Germany Public Library, originally named the "Tampa Public Library - Central Library", was dedicated on April 21st, 1968, becoming a hub for Tampa's community at 900 North Ashley Drive. This new main library replaced the Tampa Free Public Library (aka the 'Carnegie Library') which opened in 1917 on 7th Avenue. The library expanded in 1976 after the four-story annex was added.  Then, in 1999, the library was renamed in honor of local attorney, former judge, civic leader and long-time library supporter, John F. Germany. For more on the history of this library, click here.



In addition to gathering and digitizing your Tampa-Hillsborough library memories at this upcoming Library History Roadshow, we are enthusiastic about the debut of an exhibit in the main entrance foyer and a unique photographic exhibit that will relate the story of this library's beginnings and evolution. 




The Central Library opens following
the dedication ceremony, April 21, 1968.

  We are looking forward to celebrating Mr. Germany's 90th birthday!  At 1:00 p.m., Director of Libraries, Joe Stines, will welcome attendees in the Kotler Gallery area, followed by birthday wishes and cake for Mr. Germany.  Roadshow visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about Tampa's past library directors and their contributions to the development of the library system and also gain insight on the upcoming centennial celebration of our library system in 2014.



Do you have a distinct memory of coming to the library or want to share how the John F. Germany Public Library has impacted your life?  If so, we encourage you to come and to share your memories!

When the Library History Roadshow visits your local library, you have the opportunity to record an audio or video memory as well as digitize your library photos and memorabilia. 

Questions? Don't hesitate to call 813-273-3652. We look forward to seeing you on January 13th!

Lutz Branch Library: Pioneer memories

There was a great turnout to the Library History Roadshow at the Lutz Branch Library this last Saturday! Enjoy some photos from the event in this slide show:

Not only did we acquire the branch collection of documents and photos, which was donated from past librarians and library patrons for the Tampa-Hillsborough Library History Archive, but the Friends of the Lutz Branch Library came to have their library memories recorded.  They also provided lemonade and a delicious assortment of cookies.

Everyone was especially thrilled that our special guest, Dr. Susan McManus, PhD, who is a native of Lutz, came to share her extensive knowledge of the history of Lutz, as well as excerpts from her new book, Going, Going…Almost Gone: Lutz-Land O’Lakes Pioneers Share Their Precious Memories. We were so pleased that her book included a photo of the original Lutz Library (right) that we had been hoping to find.

Dr. McManus's presentation was very enlightening, personable, and entertaining, while the audience was a who's who of descendants of some notable Lutz pioneers.

In case you missed this event, we have the presentation recorded here. [video 57:44 min.] 



After the presentation, Mrs. Helen Swisshelm agreed to share her memories of the Lutz Branch Library.   Mrs. Swisshelm was a member of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library Board from 1990 to 2005 and was its Chairwoman from 1992-1993. She was also the Founder of the Friends of the Lutz Library and its President from 2000 to 2007. The Lutz Branch Library's reading room is named in her honor for her on-going dedicated support of this library. 

Friend of the Lutz Branch Library, Barbara Bryan, talks about the benefits of getting involved with the Lutz Branch Library and she shares some examples of the contributions and commitments that the Friends of the Library provide to enrich library services for the local community.




Thanks to everyone who came to this event despite the rain, to Dr. Susan McManus for the informative presentation on the pioneers of the Lutz/Land O'Lakes region, and especially to the Friends of the Lutz Branch Library for their refreshments and unwavering support. 

Meanwhile, back at the archive headquarters, we continue to digitize library history documents in preparation of the centennial online exhibit of the history of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries.

Next up... Brandon Regional Library -- September 15th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Next up, Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, June 23, 2012!

Get ready! The next Library History Roadshow will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 23, 2012 at the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library -- formerly the old Ybor City Branch Library -- located at 1505 Nebraska Ave in Tampa, Florida. 

The Ybor City Branch Library originally opened in a storefront location, donated by the local Italian American Club (L'Unione Italiana), at 1729 East Broadway (now E. 7th Ave) in 1933. Initially, the library's collection was aimed towards the Spanish-speaking community and was open on a part-time basis. The location is now La Creperie Cafe.View

Do you remember going to this the Ybor City Branch Library when it was located here or have any photographs of this location from 1933 through the 1960s?  If so, we encourage you to share with us at the up-coming roadshow!

Construction of a new building at 1505 North Nebraska Avenue was planned as part of the 1968 Model Cities Maryland Avenue Urban Renewal project. Cigar City Magazine recently published an insightful article about urban renewal projects in the Ybor City vicinity.

The new library was designed by Architect Russell Minardi and features a lovely stone mural along the entrance wall entitled "Symbols of Mankind." Local artist Joe Testa Secca created the mural to reflect the diversity of the community and the knowledge found within the walls of the building.

The new library was finished and dedicated in January of 1969.  The photo shown here is from a slide from that era. 

On November 5, 2003, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted to rename the Ybor City Branch Library to honor Robert W. Saunders, Sr., a civil rights activist and former NAACP Field Director.

Groundbreaking for a walkway to connect the Saunders library and Booker T. Washington Elementary School was held in May 2009 and opened in September of the same year.

Currently, plans are in the works for construction of a new library building that will better suit the community's growing needs. You may the most recent news about the new library building here.

For more information about Robert W. Saunders, Sr., read the St. Petersburg Times article, or visit the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Library Foundation, Inc. web site.  You may also listen to his oral history produced by the University of South Florida's Florida Civil Rights Oral History Project.

The Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library is supported by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System and the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries.

About the Event

Library History Roadshow staff will scan items residents bring and attendees will have an opportunity to record, as a video or audio, a brief story about their library experiences or photos or memorabilia.  In addition, the Library History Roadshow will include information on the preservation of historical items and an exhibit of Burgert Brothers photographs of the Ybor/Nebraska Avenue neighborhood.

The Library History Roadshow is a county-wide program of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library System in partnership with the Tampa Bay History Center. The program is free and open to the public.

Come and bring your library memories! We look forward to seeing you at the Saunders Library on June 23rd!

Seminole Heights Library History Roadshow a Success!

The Seminole Heights Branch Library Roadshow was a success! Many people from the neighborhood came out and shared their memories.  In case you missed it on May 6th, here is a quick photo summary of the event. 



Suzanne Prieur (of Seminole Heights Preservation), Gene Howes (documentary film writer and director of Seminole Heights: An Intimate Look) and Bernadette Storck, (former librarian when the library re-opened in 1965, former Florida Library Association President) served on this library history panel, discussing the history the Seminole Heights Branch Library in Tampa, FL.



Below, Evan St. Ives, Treasurer of the Friends of the Seminole Heights Library, explains how this library was named, as well as future plans for the new library building, slated to open in the fall of 2013.



Mary J. Barron, who grew up in Seminole Heights, recalls riding her bicycle to the library...



Mary talks about reading the fairytale books compiled by Andrew Lang, which are available through the library's catalog or online.

Pat Benjamin, President of the Friends of the Seminole Heights Library, describes the reasoning behind the creation of their Friends chapter.  (Note: The audio is quiet on this clip, so please turn your volume up. A louder version will be posted soon!)



In case you are unfamiliar with our Friends of the Library chapters, they are organizations of citizens who share a passionate commitment for a strong library system. They function like a booster club for the library, working to strengthen the library's collection and support an array programs for the citizens of our community. Membership is open to all!

We were fortunate to have Harriet Ellington come to the roadshow. Harriet was the first African-American library assistant to work at the main library in the 1960s. She describes what it was like to work for the Tampa Public Library during the civil rights era and how working with the Tampa Public Library changed her life.



Below, Beverly Morrow talks about coming to the library when it was located in Memorial Park. She also brought her son to the current library building, where he developed a love of reading.



David Harvey tells us what it is like working as a security guard at the Seminole Heights Branch Library.



The participation in these Library History Roadshows continues to show us that Hillsborough County is rich with a variety of experiences and a shared history that revolves around the neighborhood library.  At each event, there is always an unexpected memory or artifact that surprises and enlightens our perspective about how libraries function as cultural hubs within the community and enrich the lives of so many individuals.

For more on the Seminole Heights Branch Library Roadshow, check out the articles published by the Tampa Tribune and the Seminole Heights Patch.com.

Seminole Heights Branch Library History Roadshow: May 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Seminole Heights, connected by the city's trolley system, was the first suburb of downtown Tampa. Its first library opened in 1927, and although it relocated a few times during its early history, it settled on the corner of Central and E Osborne Avenues, across from Hillsborough High and Memorial Middle schools.  Below is a photo of the original library building in 1936. Do you or someone you know remember going to this library building?

The Seminole Heights Branch Library quickly outgrew the needs of the community and was replaced with a new red brick building, that had double the space and took advantage of natural lighting.  It opened in spring of 1965. This is a photo from the time it opened.

After 47 years, the community has out-grown the small facility.  Plans for a new library building, three times the size, are slated. By mid-summer, this library will close for demolition. 

Do you have a favorite memory or photo or memorabilia from a Seminole Heights Branch Library program from the past? If so we would love to record it for the Library History Archive!  

Join us on Sunday, May 6, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Seminole Heights Branch Library, located at 4711 Central Avenue -- at the corner of E Osborne Ave -- to share your memories. There will be a panel discussion that includes staff (some from the1960's!), long-time residents, as well as Gene Howes, the director of the documentary film, Seminole Heights: An Intimate Look at the Early Years, which will play twice during the event. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Seminole Heights Library. Check back for updates  regarding the event schedule.

In the meantime, please call 813-273-3652 if you have any questions about the Seminole Heights Branch Library History Roadshow.


Bring your library stories and memorabilia and be part of history! We are really looking forward to this important event!  

Ruskin Branch Library History Roadshow, 4/15/2012

The Ruskin Branch Library, one of Florida's first rural libraries, was founded by the Ruskin Woman's Club, whose membership and community initiatives continue to thrive. It is located at 26 Dickman Drive in Ruskin, Florida, nestled along a beautiful tributary where wildlife, including manatees, are frequently sighted.

On Sunday, April 15, 2012, the Hillsborough County Library History Roadshow crew visited the Ruskin Branch Library to gather their library memories.  Check out the photos from this event!



A variety of people from the Ruskin community came out to have their photos and memorabilia from library events scanned for the archives. We were able to record some interesting memories about the Ruskin Branch Library, past and recent.

Hear Donna Allmond's memory from 1956 about her grandmother bringing her to the library when it was located within the Ruskin Woman's Club.  Her grandmother, Martha Ekker, also had a role in the opening of the current library facility.




Listen as "Joni" Maschek shares her pivotal involvement with the library's history.



Mac Miller has lived in Ruskin his entire life. He remembers the Ruskin Branch Library's beginnings...




Ruskin Branch Library staff member, Cheryl Licata shares what it is like working at the library.



Hear why the Ruskin Branch Library helps Eugenio Ramirez improve his quality of life.



Gathering these memories helps us to understand the importance of public libraries in Hillsborough County.  Capturing the library's history creates a better sense of community.


Are you Interested in learning more about Ruskin's history? Go to http://www.ruskinhistory.org/!

Ruskin Branch Library History Roadshow

The Ruskin Woman's Club is celebrating its centennial this year and part of that celebration includes the library. Did you know that Ruskin's public library began inside the Ruskin Woman's Club building?



We were lucky enough to scan old library documents housed in Ruskin Woman's Club, including old library catalogs like this one.



The current Ruskin Branch Library opened in 1966. An image of the dedication program is below.



Join us on Sunday, 4/15, from 1pm-4pm at the Ruskin Branch Library to share your memories. A panel discussion with members from the Woman's Club and the community will take place at 2pm. Bring your library stories and memorabilia. It will be a great day!

Library History Roadshow @ Temple Terrace Public Library

Mark your calendar for Friday the 13th of April! The Library History Roadshow is coming to the Temple Terrace Public Library from 10:00am-3:00pm.







The Temple Terrace Woman's Club opened a library in a small golf caddy house in 1960.
The library collection grew quickly, and in 1962, the City of Temple Terrace took on the responsibility for it. The collection moved several times, settling at 202 Bullard Parkway in 1966. Rising from the ashes of a 1982 fire, and expanded in 1997, the Temple Terrace Public Library is now celebrating its 50th anniversary.


This Roadshow will also be held during National Library Week, which will be a perfect time to celebrate the history of the Temple Terrace Public Library.