Manatee County Public Library

The Manatee County Public Library is a division of the Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department in Manatee County, Florida with six branches. The public library system provides patrons with books, genealogy resources, online resources, and outreach services. Patrons have access to e-Books, e-audio, music, movies, and five databases through the Manatee County Public Library system. Library cards are free to those who reside, own property, go to school, or work in Manatee County.

Branches

• Downtown Central Library, Bradenton, Florida
• Braden River Library, Bradenton, FL
• Island Library, Holmes Beach
• Palmetto Library, Palmetto, Florida
• Rocky Bluff Library, Ellenton, Florida
• South Manatee Library, Bradenton, FL

History

In 1898 Mrs. Julia Fuller carried book rentals in her store, which later moved to Miss American Sudbury’s store. A library committee was formed in 1904 by the Village Improvement Association. Dr. J.C. Pelot donated a lot at 12th St. West and Avenue West for the library to be built on. Three years later in 1904, Mrs. T. J. Bachman loaned five $500 to aid in the construction of a small library. ^[1] In 1914, $10,000 was given by the Carnegie Foundation to establish the first library in the area. The library that was built using this funding was named Palmetto Carnegie Library. A few years later in 1918 the County Library System was established by the Bradenton Carnegie Library opening where the first bookmobile was started in 1956. The same year, some addtions were added to the Bradenton Carnegie Library increasing the overall square footage by one third. ^[2] In 1963 a plan was approved for a countywide system which allowed the cities of Bradenton and Palmetto to join together with Manatee County. Between the years of 1966 to 1969, the South Manatee Branch Library and the Island Branch Library were built. In the early 1970s the idea of a large central library was being proposed by the county. Finally, on April 24, 1978 the Central Library is opened to the county citizens. In 1990, the library system decided to use OCLC to catalogue books and other items. A text-only computer was added to the libraries that was connected to the Bradenton Herald newspaper and access to the index software in 1992. Two years later, one public computer was added for the use of word processing and educational software. In 1996, the first online catalog computers were added for the staff, which replaced the old large wooden card catalogs. Soon after, there were a few added for the patrons to use as well. A few years later in 2000, the Central Library gained twelve window-based PCs in the 2nd Floor Computer Lab. This was thanks to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2001 Bookmobiles were updated but their services ended in 2010. Throughout the 2010s, other technology was brought to the library such as iPads, PCs, Laptops, eReaders, and Wifi systems to enhance the patron's experience. In 2017, due to requests from patrons, the Manatee County System is launching a new cooking series by Chef Warren Caterson. The first one was on October 25th and the series will continue until December 9th. There will be five sessions in all, mostly at the Central Library location, but some at other county libraries as well. It is all free and samples will be provided at each session for those that come. ^[3]

Elizabeth Eaton Florida History Reading Room

Elizabeth M. Eaton was a local philanthropist of Manatee County who created a trust provision in her will for the Manatee County Library System. The room is located at the Downtown Central Library. In this room is a special collection of Manatee County’s historical materials which came from local library collections and from the Manatee Historical Society. The materials that are in the collection are yearbooks, telephone books, directories, oral interviews, and archival negatives. The yearbooks are from local private and high schools dating back to 1916 and the telephone directories back to 1897. Also, federal census for Florida is on microfilm starting in 1830. Another collection on microfilm is the local Manatee County newspapers that are weekly and daily as well as older magazines. Patrons can access historical maps and aerial photos of different time periods of the county.

Genealogy Collection

In the Manatee County Public Libraries, there is a genealogy collection for patrons to use to learn about their family history. Most of the materials are for in-house use only but there are some that may be checked out. The materials collection focuses on areas east of the Mississippi River and the colonial states. Patrons are able to search through census indexes as well as marriage, birth, death, and other vital records. The library systems provides manuals to inform patrons on how to search through the vast amounts of records to aid them in their process. Other materials that are provided are ones that show how to identify name changes, nation migration trails, genealogical periodicals, military rosters, and church records. Furthermore, patrons have access to foreign ancestry materials to show immigrations and passenger lists, guides to research foreign countries, and migration and settlements in the United States. Online Genealogy Resources are available for use such as Heritage Quest Online and America’s Genealogy Bank.

Awards

• 2017 Librarian of the Year (Florida Library Association) - Ava Ehde, Library Services Manager^[4]
• 2017 Friends, Foundation & Board Award (Florida Library Association) - Friends of the Rocky Bluff Library's Biannual Newsletter^[5]
• 2016 Library of the Year- Florida Library Association in recognition of the Manatee County Public Library System for the outstanding service it provides to the community^[6]
• 2016 Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award- Florida Library Association in recognition of Teen Recycled Fashion Show
• 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award- Florida Library Association in recognition of Kevin Beach, for a long-standing, distinguished record of professional achievements and accomplishments.
• 2016 Outstanding Friends Member- Florida Library Association in recognition of the outstanding service of Doris Pope, president of the Friends of the Rocky Bluff Library
• 2015 Keep Manatee Beautiful Recycling Award- Government Category in recognition of the Recycled Dreams Teen Fashion Show of Recycled Materials
• 2014 Libraries Change People's Lives Award- Florida Library Association in recognition of expanded Hispanic Services
• 2013 Library Innovation Award- Florida Library Association in recognition of expanded services, programs, and activities focusing on community needs
• 2013 Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award- Florida Library Association in recognition of Mana-Con Comics Convention

References

External links

• https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/neighborhood-services/library.html
• http://www.manateecountyhistoricalsociety.com/

Coordinates: 27°29′44″N 82°34′23″W / 27.495644°N 82.573172°W / 27.495644; -82.573172