Bring your memories of the Ybor Branch Library and Saunders Library this Saturday!
Listen to a message from Fred Hearns, President of the Saunders Library Foundation, for all current and former users of the Ybor City Branch Library, originally located at 1729 Broadway from 1933 to 1968, (later renamed in 2003 to the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library) and then 1505 Nebraska Avenue since 1969.
Last week, Fred Hearns visited the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library and recorded his memories. Now it is your turn! Take advantage of this opportunity and come to the Library History Roadshow!
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.
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!
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...
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.
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.
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!
It was a beautiful day at Temple Terrace Public Library with a good turn out -- former staff and folks from community came out to share their photos, news clippings and memories. In addition, the Library History Roadshow dove-tailed perfectly with the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Temple Terrace Public Library, so there was a buzz of enthusiasm surrounding these historical events. Enjoy a photo slide show of the day's happenings!
Eleanor Howland, former Director of the Temple Terrace Public Library, worked for the library for 31 years. She's has so much of the library's history to share...
Daniel Morton, President of the Friends of the Temple Terrace Public Library, provides insight to how the Woman's Club was the driving force in the creation of Temple Terrace Public Library.
Diana McCumber was a library employee in the late 1970s/early 1980's and remembers the impact devastating fire in February, 1982.
Madelynne Johnson, who is also a former employee, is now Chair of the Temple Terrace Library Board. She shares her unique perspective into what it takes to keep the library going.
Bruce McCullough moved to Temple Terrace when he was a boy and has lived there since. He holds a life time of memories of the community as it has grown, and especially of his fondness for the library.
Armand Ternak, Director of the Temple Terrace Public Library, also had some words to share!
This library has a very interesting past and it has grown from modest beginnings to an impressive, dynamic resource for its community. It speaks volumes that the people of Temple Terrace voted to raise taxes so that they could keep extended library hours during the week -- there is no doubt that they love their public library!
A special thanks to everyone who came out to support this event, and especially to the Temple Terrace Public Library staff who made our visit fun!
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.
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.
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!
