The Selby Public Library was the first
library
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...
in
Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County is a county located in Southwest Florida. At the 2020 US census, the population was 434,006. Its county seat is Sarasota and its largest city is North Port. Sarasota County is part of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton, FL ...
and was established in 1907. The current building is the largest
public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants.
There are ...
in Sarasota County and serves the downtown district of
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...
.
History
The Selby Public Library (originally known as the Sarasota Public Library) originated when the Town Improvement Society established a library room at Five Points with a fund of $65, . It first began with a contribution of books and 51 subscribers. In 1913, the
Woman's Club
The woman's club movement was a social movement that took place throughout the United States that established the idea that women had a moral duty and responsibility to transform public policy. While women's organizations had always been a part ...
took over the library then eventually in 1915 it was relocated to the east wing of the Women's Club. The Sarasota City Council soon appropriated $150 a year to locate the library in the old schoolhouse on Main Street rent free for five years. In 1940 the Women's Club requested that the city take absolute control of the library so the city moved it to
Chidsey Library
The Chidsey Library or Chidsey Building is a historic building located in Sarasota, Florida at 701 North Tamiami Trail. The building was home to the city's first public library from 1941 to 1976.
History
The library's design was done by Martin ...
. As more individuals relocated into the county by the mid 1970s, the increasing need for additional books and materials was evident. The library soon progressed to the Boulevard of the Arts site on June 24, 1976, and Sarasota County Historical Resources took over its operation. After a large contribution of $500,000 from th
William G. and Marie Selby Foundationit was named Selby Library.
The Selby Foundation provided the largest single contribution to building the Selby Public Library. Other funds came from city, county, and federal governments and private donations. William and Marie Selby had been boosters of Sarasota, beginning around 1910 when they first came and visited the city for winter. With money from the Selby Oil and Gas Company, the Selby's were able to invest much wealth into Sarasota, including the donation provided to the library by their trust.
Architects and construction
The current Selby Library building was designed by
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
Eugene Aubry
Eugene Edwards Aubry (born November 15, 1935) is an American architect, based primarily in Houston, Texas and later in Orlando, Florida.Stephen Fox and Eugene Aubry''Born on the Island: The Galveston We Remember'' Texas A&M University Press, 201 ...
who also designed the
Wortham Theater Center
The Wortham Theater Center is a performing arts center located in downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The Wortham Theater Center, designed by Eugene Aubry of Morris Architects, was built out of private funds totaling over $66 Million. The ...
and
Richland Library. Constructed in 1998 and at , Selby Library is the largest library facility in the County library system. Selby Library is a two-story building with a large central foyer enhanced by a mobile underwritten by the Art in Public Places program. Meeting space, including a 200-seat
auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances. For movie theatres, the number of auditoria (or auditoriums) is expressed as the number of screens. Auditoria can be found in entertainment venues, community ...
, is an important feature of the library. The Friends of the Library group operates a
bookstore
Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librari ...
, the proceeds from which contribute to library enhancements. Parking has been at a premium since the building opened and various approaches have been tried to address this issue. By 2005, a two-hour parking was established with library-use-only enforced during the busiest season.
The building's Youth Library, named The Calvin and Kathryn L. Bean Children's Room, features a
salt water aquarium called the Dee and Charles Stottlemyer Children's Aquarium. The aquarium is arch-shaped and forms the entrance to the youth library. It holds of water, weighs empty, and is , , and . Designed by architects Gary Hoyt and Jeff Hole with assistance from Kevin Curlee, Mote Aquarium Curator, the aquarium was funded by Dee and Charles Stottlemyer. It was installed on July 8, 1999, and tropical fish were added to the tank on August 16, 1999. The aquarium was dedicated on October 23, 1999.
The bookstore at the Selby Public Library was renovated in 2017 to expand accessibility and improve visibility. A grand reopening was hosted on October 20–21, 2017.
Today
The Selby Public Library is the largest in the Sarasota County Library system serving a population area of 367,867
Friends of the Selby Public Libraryis a 501(c)(3) that has donated over $1 million to the library over the past 10 years. Donations include $15,000 in support for over 100 free youth programs and events, $4,200 for the presentation of more than 60 free special events and programs for adults and over $22,000 for the coordination, organization, orientation and support of Selby Library Volunteers. Their highlight event every year is the Crystal Ball: The People's Gala fundraiser
The Sarasota Music Archive is a part of the "special collections" department of the Selby Public Library. The Sarasota Music Archive "contains several hundred thousand recordings, tapes, books, sheet music, and memorabilia". The Sarasota Music Archive merged with the Selby Public Library in 2000; although it was established in 1980. Mildred Petrie was the founder and the original location for the archive was in a strip mall.
The Sarasota Music Archive is located on the second floor of the Selby Public Library, and sells vinyl LP's, CD's and other musical items in its store.
Selby Library is also home to the largest "Creation Station"
makerspace
A hackerspace (also referred to as a hacklab, hackspace, or makerspace) is a community-operated, often "not for profit" (501(c)(3) in the United States), workspace where people with common interests, such as computers, machining, technology, sc ...
in Sarasota County with access to items like
3D printers
3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer co ...
, sewing machines,
Cricut
Cricut is an American brand of cutting plotters, or computer-controlled cutting machines, designed for home crafters. The machines are used for cutting paper, felt, vinyl, fabric and other materials such as leather, matboard, and wood. In March 2 ...
die cutting machines,
virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), educ ...
and more. “We see kids all the time sharing with seniors at the Creation Station. Seniors are showing kids how to sew and kids are showing seniors how to use a 3D printer. It’s decreasing isolation,” said former library director Sarabeth Kalajian.
Selby also hosts a number of art installations including a mobile by artist
Tim Prentice (sculptor)
Tim Prentice is a kinetic sculptor. He received a master's degree in architecture from the Yale School of Architecture in 1960 and founded the award-winning company of Prentice & Chan in 1965. He resides in Cornwall, Connecticut.
Ten years a ...
called 'Just Browsing' as part of the Sarasota Arts in Public Places project. The bronze sculpture 'Sharing' was created by artist
Bruno Lucchesi
Bruno Lucchesi (born 1926) is an Italian-American sculptor known for his figurative work.
Lucchesi was born in Fibbiano Montanino in Lucca, Italy. He studied at the Art Institute of Lucca, then moved to Florence, Italy, where he became Assistant ...
, installed in 2002 and depicts a family reading. Another bronze piece called 'Best Friends' depicts a young boy reading a book with his dog by his side and is by Chris Navarro. The statue was gifted to the library by Richard and Jean Ehlers and Family on December 14, 2000.
Hours of operation
Selby Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are closed Sunday and all County holidays.
Gallery
File:Dee and Charles Stottlemyer Children's Aquarium at Selby Public Library.jpg, 1
File:Selby Public Library - Alternate View.jpg, 2
File:Programs at Selby Public Library.jpg, 3
References
External links
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Sarasota Music Archive{{authority control
Public libraries in Florida
Buildings and structures in Sarasota, Florida
Aquaria in Florida
Library buildings completed in 1998