FRIENDS OF THE UPPER TAMPA BAY REGIONAL LIBRARY CHAPTER

  APRIL  NEWSLETTER 

By Maureen Gauzza, President                                                     

We are happy to report that the Board of County Commissioners on March 19th, unanimously (vote of 7-0) approved the additional 5,000 sq. Ft. To the Upper Tampa Bay Library to be built in December 2004.   This will bring the UTB Library to a total of 15,000 sq. Ft. 

As many of you know, we spoke at the BOCC Meeting in December 2002 asking if a 5,000 sq. ft. addition could be considered for the UTB Library.  It was also noted that the  population in this area has grown from 56,000  to 66,000 plus in just a few short years!   Commissioner Hagan put this item on the Agenda for discussion.   Actually this was the very  first item that he listed as a new Commissioner. We know that  The Friends of the UTB Library Chapter will always remember that!   At the December BOCC Meeting when this came up for discussion, the Commissioners unanimously also  voted to have a complete Comprehensive Library Plan for Library services which would include the possible additional space for the UTB/Brandon Libraries come back to them at the   March 19th BOCC  Meeting for further discussion.   

For the complete Comprehensive Plan a Consultant was hired by Library Services.   We attended many meetings in the beginning of the year,  and at the at the Library Planning Committee Meeting of February 21st, a presentation was made by the Consulting Firm.   The  Consultant concurred that  based on the population used just  from Census  2000 that both the UTB/Brandon  Library would be too small the day it opened it’s doors  to serve the area population.  After the Consultant’s presentation, the Library Planning Committee recommended the additional 5,000 sq. ft. to the Library Board for consideration. 

On February 28th the Consultant attended the Library Board Meeting and after the Library Planning Committee recommendation was made, the Library Board voted unanimously to recommend the 5,000 sq. Ft. Expansion to the BOCC for their March 19th Meeting for discussion and a vote.

Mark your Calendars and we hope you can attend!!  On April 25th there will be a special event called Viva Italia at Aston Gardens at 12951 West Linebaugh Ave.  Aston Gardens and the  Grapevine are sponsoring this event with all proceeds going to the Friends of the UTB Regional Library Chapter.  This will be a fun event with Entertainment & Raffles, Wine Tasting, and Hors d’Ouvres and Pasta Bar  and entertainment all for the reasonable price of $10.00 a ticket!  Kindly call by April 21st for tickets to  The Grapevine at 813-818-9463.   We hope you can attend and look forward to seeing you there!