Next Stop: North Tampa Branch Library, 10/19

North Tampa Branch Library 

8916 North Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33604

October 19, 2013

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With special guest speaker Commissioner Ken Hagan at 11:30 a.m. 

Join us to hear Commissioner Ken Hagan speak about growing up in North Tampa being part of the legacy of Hillsborough County Public Libraries, from being a student to his current role as a County Commissioner. The event will be held in the community room and is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 

Overview of the library's history


Library service in North Tampa began with the bookmobile making stops in the neighborhoods of Sulphur Springs, Golfview and Forest Hills.  In 1960, the Chamberlain High School PTA spearheaded the drive for a permanent library in North Tampa, with their petition that included hundreds of signatures, submitted to the Mayor and the Tampa City Council.  After much deliberation between neighborhood civic groups, the City Council and the Planning Commission, it was decided that the location of the new North Tampa Branch Library would be built across the street from Chamberlain High.  The North Tampa Branch Library opened on January 13, 1964 in a 3,500 square-foot building. 

As Tampa's population exploded, this neighborhood library quickly outgrew its space.  The library building was expanded twice; to 7,000 square feet in 1967 and again to 10,500 square feet in 1977.   

Do you remember the previous library buildings? 

On August 14, 2008 a groundbreaking was held for the construction of a 24,000 square-foot modern library building, which opened on September 18, 2009 at the same location. 

This most recent building includes a large community room, children's room, teen room, quiet study room, computer lab, as well as additional meeting rooms. 


Do you have memories, photos or memorabilia of the North Tampa Branch? 

The Library History Roadshow team will be at the North Tampa Branch to digitize your library memories for our archive on October 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.   

Record a video or oral memory...Or bring in your photos or memorabilia and we will scan and return them to you while you wait.

Join us as we gather the library's history! 

Celebrating the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library...

On September 14th, the Library History Roadshow visited the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library.  With the help of the Friends of the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library and Jan Platt, who contributed her collection of the library's photos and newspaper clippings, we were successful in capturing some of the library's history. 

Some of the notable events rehashed were Jan Platt's legislation that created our modern library system (1984), the groundbreaking (11/30/1999) and dedication (12/11/2000) ceremonies of the library, the opening of the Bookends Cafe (2004), and Jan's personal background on much of the art decorating the library.

Enjoy some images from the day...

As patrons recalled their experiences using the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library's services and materials, we recorded their memories.  Some included anecdotes about some of the older libraries (like the Peninsular Branch, the West Tampa Branch, and the Hyde Park Branch) while others gave personal insight in the Hillsborough County library experience. 

Bonnie Nicotra shares how important the neighborhood library is and how the community benefits from library's programming. 

Emilio Toro earnestly expresses how much his local public library has enhanced his quality of life since moving to Tampa. [1:45]

 

Fran Pasetti is passionate about her local regional library [ :49]

.

Ricky Rodriguez remembers when he was young, visiting his brother who worked for at the West Tampa Library. [1:11]

Lillie Deans, a self-proclaimed 'sci-fi nerd', talks about going to the Hyde Park Branch as a child and the kinds of books she loves to read. [1:46]

Cathy Teti talks about creation of the Friends of the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, why she became involved, and how the club augments the library's programming for the community. [4:19]

Thanks to everyone who came out and shared their library memories. Join us for the next roadshow at the North Tampa Branch on October 19!