Selby Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Selby Public Library |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Main entrance to Selby Public Library | |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1907 1998 (current building) |
| Location | 1331 1st Street Sarasota, Florida 34236 |
| Coordinates | 27°20′14″N 82°32′36″W / 27.337259°N 82.543416°W |
| Branch of | Sarasota County Public Library System |
| Collection | |
| Size | 810,609 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 2,905,809 (2014) |
| Population served | 367,867 |
The Selby Public Library was the first library in Sarasota County, Florida. It was started in 1907. The building you see today is the biggest public library in Sarasota County. It helps people in downtown Sarasota, Florida.
Contents
Library History: How It Started
The Selby Public Library was first called the Sarasota Public Library. It began in 1907 when a group called the Town Improvement Society opened a small library room. They started with $65 and some donated books.
In 1913, the Woman's Club took over the library. They moved it to their own building in 1915. Later, the Sarasota City Council helped by giving the library a free space in an old schoolhouse.
By 1940, the city took full control of the library. As more people moved to Sarasota, the library needed more space and books. In 1976, it moved to a new location. After a big donation from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, it was named Selby Library. The Selbys were important supporters of Sarasota.
Building Design and Features
The current Selby Library building was finished in 1998. It was designed by architect Eugene Aubry. He also designed other important buildings like the Wortham Theater Center. At 73,000 square feet, it is the largest library in Sarasota County.
The library has two floors. It has a large main area with a cool moving art piece. There's also a big meeting space and an auditorium that can seat 200 people. A group called the Friends of the Library runs a bookstore inside. The money from the bookstore helps the library.
The Children's Aquarium
The library's Youth Library is called The Calvin and Kathryn L. Bean Children's Room. It has a special salt water aquarium named the Dee and Charles Stottlemyer Children's Aquarium. This aquarium is shaped like an arch. It forms the entrance to the children's area.
The aquarium holds 3,200 gallons of water. It weighs 10,000 pounds when empty. It is 4 feet wide, 12 feet tall, and 16 feet long. It was designed by architects Gary Hoyt and Jeff Hole. Experts from Mote Aquarium helped too. The Stottlemyers paid for the aquarium. It was installed in 1999 and tropical fish were added soon after.
Bookstore Updates
The bookstore at the Selby Public Library was updated in 2017. This made it easier for people to get around and find books. A special event was held to celebrate its reopening.
Selby Library Today
The Selby Public Library is the biggest library in the Sarasota County Library system. It serves over 367,000 people. The Friends of the Selby Public Library is a group that helps the library a lot. They have given over $1 million to the library in the last 10 years.
Their donations help pay for many things, including:
- Over 100 free programs and events for kids.
- More than 60 free special events for adults.
- Support for library volunteers.
Their biggest event each year is the Crystal Ball: The People's Gala. This is a fundraiser to help the library.
Sarasota Music Archive
The Sarasota Music Archive is a special part of the Selby Public Library. It has hundreds of thousands of recordings, tapes, books, sheet music, and other music items. The archive started in 1980. It joined the Selby Public Library in 2000. It is located on the second floor of the library. They also sell vinyl records and CDs.
Creation Station Makerspace
Selby Library also has the largest "Creation Station" makerspace in Sarasota County. A makerspace is a place where you can create things. Here, you can use:
- 3D printers
- Sewing machines
- Cricut cutting machines
- Virtual Reality (VR) tools
This space helps people of all ages learn and share skills. For example, older people might teach kids how to sew. Kids might show older people how to use a 3D printer.
Art at the Library
The library has several art pieces:
- A mobile sculpture by artist Tim Prentice (sculptor) called 'Just Browsing'.
- A bronze sculpture called 'Sharing' by Bruno Lucchesi. It shows a family reading.
- Another bronze statue called 'Best Friends' by Chris Navarro. It shows a boy reading with his dog. This statue was given to the library in 2000.
Library Hours
The Selby Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays and all County holidays.
Images for kids
-
The amazing children's aquarium
-
Another view of the Selby Public Library building
-
People enjoying programs at Selby Public Library
