Bloomingdale Regional Public Library

Coordinates: 27°53′40″N 82°15′09″W / 27.8944°N 82.2524°W / 27.8944; -82.2524

Bloomingdale Regional Public Library
Front view
Established February 10, 2005
Location 1906 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico, FL 33596
Website http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/bdl/

The Bloomingdale Regional Library was originally designed to lessen patron usage at the Brandon Regional Library, which was the busiest library in the Hillsborough County System, at the beginning of the 21st century. In the early stages of development, the Bloomingdale Library was often referred to as the South Brandon Library because it was expected to serve people in the FishHawk, Bloomingdale, Valrico, and Lithia areas. Though there were several discussed sites for the creation of the library, the Hillsborough County Commissioners narrowed down their selection to two locations. One of the locations was across the street from Lithia Springs Elementary School on Lithia Pinecrest Road, while the other locality was next to Bloomingdale High School on Bloomingdale Avenue.[1] Though there were concerns regarding possible traffic congestion on Bloomingdale Avenue, the Commissioners ultimately decided to accept the latter option.[2] This site was attractive for cost-saving reasons, as a member of the McLean family, offered to discount the acreage with an additional free acre.[3]

Proposed blue prints for the library allowed for 15,000 square-feet with the possibility of adding an additional 10,000 at a later date. The space included a 3,770 square-foot reading room, a 1,150 square-foot children's room, and a 940 square-foot community collaboration room. Additional space was dedicated to meeting rooms and reading areas. With a holding of 53,000 books upon its day of opening, as well as the purchasing of thirty-five internet-accessible computers and the inclusion of free WI-fi, the Bloomingdale Library totaled in cost of 4.5 million dollars.[4] The library had a soft opening on February 7, 2005 and it officially started service on February 10.[5]

Within a few months of opening, the Bloomingdale Library became a new home for the Greater Brandon Genealogy Society. The library specifically dedicated a genealogical research room with five computers that were directly linked to the John F. Germany's genealogical websites. In return for the genealogical center, the Greater Brandon Genealogy society offered to provide free tutoring for anyone interested in uncovering his or her family background. The genealogical center at Bloomingdale was the second in the county, with the John F. Germany acting as the only other center at the time of the former's creation.[6]

The Bloomingdale Library was expanded by an additional 10,000 square-feet in 2013, thereby making it a regional library. This additional space was geared towards creating a larger children's room, community rooms, seating for studying, a larger Friends of the Library Book Store, and more area for technology and teen activities.[7] A new vending cafe for patrons was also part of the 2.1 million dollar expansion.[8][9] In the year before the expansion, the library circulated over 660,000 books and other multimedia.[10] The library also took advantage of federal funding to purchase an electric charging station for electric cars.[11]

Friends of the Library

The Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library group is made up of citizens who support the library by raising money for special events and programs. One such event is the Friend’s annual Book Sale. One such special program is the award-winning Life Story Writing Workshop. The Friends operate their Book Ends Bookstore, located in the library's lobby. [12]

Accessibility Information

Bloomingdale Regional Library offers the following Assistive Technology for patrons who need assistance:

JAWS is screen reader and navigation software compatible with Microsoft Office and web browsers.

Dragon Speak reads aloud what is on the computer.

ZoomText enlarges print on the computer screen.

Keys-U-See keyboards have large print for the visually impaired.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Hathaway, Ivan J. (2001, March 31). Crowd debates best location for new library. Community Focus: Brandon, p. 1. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15391coll2/id/5452/rec/52
  2. ↑ Hathaway, Ivan J. (2001, July 22). Library site ideas focus of meeting. The Tampa Tribune, p. 1 and 3. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15391coll2/id/2697/rec/12
  3. ↑ White, D'Ann, (2003, May 7). Plans for new public library under way. The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15391coll2/id/2795/rec/14).
  4. ↑ Frazier, Laura. (2005, February 2). Bloomingdale library gets stocked, wired, ready to open, The Tampa Tribune, p. 3A. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15391coll2/id/2792/rec/7
  5. ↑ White, D'Ann. (2005, February 16). Check it out: New library opens. The Brandon News, p. 1A, 26A-27A. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15391coll2/id/2708/rec/6
  6. ↑ White, D'Ann. (2005, May 4). Greater Brandon Genealogy Society finds new home. The Brandon News and Brandon Shopper, p. 6B and 9B. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15391coll2/id/2749/rec/9
  7. ↑ Hillsborough County Communications. Press release for the Bloomingdale Public Library's expansion project, 2013. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15391coll2/id/5323/rec/53.
  8. ↑ Hammett, Yvette C. (2012, December 12). Local libraries get more space to read, park. The Tampa Tribune. p. 10 and 12. Retrieved from http://cdm16054.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15391coll2/id/5423/rec/41
  9. ↑ "Roof matches library expansion plot". Metal Architecture. Modern Trade Communications Inc. June 2, 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Bennett, Monica (May 16, 2013), "Busy Bloomingdale Library begins expansion", Tampa Bay Times, retrieved 5 July 2015
  11. ↑ White, D'Ann (September 28, 2011), "Electric Cars Can Charge at the Bloomingdale Library", Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch, retrieved 5 July 2015
  12. ↑ Bloomingdale Regional Library. Retrieved November 21, 2016 from http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/bdl/
  13. ↑ "Accessibility Information: Services: Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative". www.hcplc.org. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
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