New Tampa Regional Library
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| New Tampa Regional Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the New Tampa Regional Library area | |
| General information | |
| Location | Tampa, Florida, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., United States |
| Coordinates | 28°08′28″N 82°19′41″W / 28.141130°N 82.328071°W, |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Website | |
| http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/ntr/ | |
The New Tampa Regional Library is a 25,000 square foot public library located in the Hunter's Green area in north central Hillsborough County, Florida. It is a single-story building and the 19th facility in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.[1] New Tampa Regional Library is located directly between Hunter's Green Elementary School and Benito Middle School.[2][3]
The New Tampa Regional Library was dedicated on May 4, 1997. It was built in response to growing population in the area that had put strain on the smaller nearby Thonotosassa and Lutz branches of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library System and serves the communities of Pebble Creek, Tampa Palms, and New Tampa. With a budget of $4.4 million, the New Tampa Regional Library was designed by Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe Architects, funded by a .10-mill property tax levy, and built on 3.6 acres donated by Markborough Florida Inc. It opened with 100,000 volumes, five meeting rooms, and two hundred parking spaces.[4]
Services
In addition to books, DVDs, and audio CDs, the New Tampa Regional Library also offers meeting rooms, a large community room, public use internet computers, access to electronic databases and eBooks, an all-ages maker space called "The Hive," literacy tutors, and a used book store.[5] As with all libraries in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system, the New Tampa Regional Library also offers printers, photocopiers, scanners, public fax service, free wi-fi, and assistive technology.[6] In 2017, New Tampa Regional Library improved their circulation area and renovated their children's area to better serve their patrons. The Neighborhood News December 11, 2017 announced the construction of the current glass wall enclosing the children's area, which was designed to provide a safe learning environment where, according to principal librarian Wendy Prasad, kids can "be kids a little more."[7] The announcement also indicated that the enclosed children's area would bring in “Grandma Claire’s Early Learning Hive”—a dedicated kid's early learning hive promoting a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concept for early literacy utilizing LEGOs, word matching, letters, sensory toys and manipulatives. The Neighborhood News announcement also noted that the kid's early learning hive would be named for New Tampa resident Claire Unnasch who gave a $25,000 donation to enrich the children's area before her death in 2016.[7] In 2019 the library became one of four branches that accepts U.S. Passport applications. Customers may make an appointment by calling the library. Links to the U.S. Department of State and pertinent information regarding applications can be found on the HCPLC website.