New Port Richey Public Library
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New Port Richey, Florida, United States
| New Port Richey Public Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | 5939 Main Street New Port Richey, Florida, United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1920 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
The New Port Richey Public Library is a public library in New Port Richey, Florida. The library is the only public library in Pasco County that is not a member of the Pasco County Library Cooperative[1]
The library was founded by Elroy M. Avery as the Avery Library and Historical Society.[2] The charters and papers of incorporation were created on December 22, 1919; the Avery Library and Historical Society formally opened within the Snell building with a collection of approximately 2,000 volumes on April 10, 1920.[3] The Scofield Bible (a personal copy of Avery's) was the first book cataloged in the library. In 1924, Avery also published a local history text, "The Genesis of New Port Richey," to be included in the library's collection.[4] Originally, the library charged patrons $1 a year for borrowing privileges. In the 1960s, the library was renamed to reflect the change of ownership to New Port Richey and the usage fee was dropped.[5]
The first Chasco Fiesta held on March 2–4, 1922, was an early source of funding and was provided by the Friends of the Library, previously The Library Associates. It was then in 1924 that the library moved to the Sims building "for increased protection from fire" followed by a move the next year to the Morey-Bowman building. In 1963, with a new library construction being built on Main and Jefferson, the library was voted to be named the New Port Richey Public Library. Finally, in 1987, an expansion for City Hall and the library were approved with the grand opening of its current location occurring in early 1991. During this phase of expansion, the old library building at Jefferson and Main was turned into City Hall, while the library moved into the lot next door, which was previously a school.[2]
In May 2013, the library opened a short lived second location, dubbed the Avery branch, in the newly renovated Elfers CARES Center. NJROTC students from Gulf High School assisted in the set up.[6] This branch is no longer in operation.
In October 2020, the library commemorated its hundred-year anniversary with a 1920s themed gala and a special edition library card with a black-and-white image of the library printed on the front of each card.[7] Following the centennial, the library undertook a more than $2 million renovation as a part of the facility improvements included in the library's 2017–2022 Long Range Plan.[8] This renovation was a complete remodeling of the building's interior, improving both floors of the library with the inclusion of private study rooms, programming and conference rooms, and a more open floor plan for the children's department on the second floor.[8][9] Solar panels were also installed on the libraries roof during the renovation, funded by EBSCO Industries with New Port Richey Public library being one of three recipients of the company's 2019 Solar Grant.[10] It took roughly nine months to complete the renovation, from March 2021 to January 2022, during which time the library pledged to stay open to patrons as much as possible, and was only closed for five days.[8][11] The rededication ceremony for the library's upgraded facilities took place in June 2022, featuring the dedication of a time capsule set to be opened in 2050, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.[11]
Friends of the library
History
On October 19, 1964, the New Port Richey Public Library held a meeting to discuss the organization of the Friends of the Library group. An active member of the Tarpon Springs Friends of the Library named Mrs. Henry Rolfe attended to explain the mission and the function of the group to potential participants.[12] She said, "We try to meet the needs of the library which cannot be provided by the budget." Here, the group appointed a nominating committee consisting of Mrs. William Froelig, Mrs. Richard Cooper, and librarian Mrs. Barbara Clark. Clark stated that some services which could be accomplished through the efforts of the Friends of the Library were a story-telling group, puppet shows, book discussion groups, posters and publicity, and typing assistance. About forty people attended this meeting. [13]
One week later on October 26, 1964, officers were elected to serve the new organization. Richard Williams was elected president, Robert Kolean as vice president, Estelle Garner as secretary, and Louise Geiger as treasurer. The fledgling Friends of the New Port Richey Public Library group was assembled.[14]
One of their first fundraisers was the Poinsettia Tea gala held on December 13, 1964 at the New Port Richey Public Library.[15] It was "pronounced a success" by the St. Petersburg Times.[16] The first program the Friends presented was a talk titled The Public Library – Matrix of the Fine Arts featuring Robert Spencer Carr, an author, writing professor from the University of South Florida, and former director of research at Walt Disney Studios.[17]