Manatee County Public Library

Manatee County Public Library
Type	Public library
Established	1918
Branch of	Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department
Branches	6
Map
	Wikimedia \| © OpenStreetMap

The Manatee County Public Library is a division of the Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department in Manatee County, Florida, United States. It has 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, attend school, or work in Manatee County.

Branches[]

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

History[]

In 1898, Julia Fuller carried book rentals in her store, which later moved to 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. In 1904, T. J. Bachman loaned $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, Palmetto Carnegie Library.

In 1918 the County Library System was established with the opening of the Bradenton Carnegie Library, where the first bookmobile was started in 1956. That same year, some additions 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. From 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 proposed by the county. On April 24, 1978 the Central Library was opened to county citizens.^{[citation needed]}

In 1990, the library system decided to use the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) to catalog books and other items. OCLC has become a vital part of the information infrastructure that supports research, scholarship, and learning around the world.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, a text-only computer was added to the libraries that was connected to the Bradenton Herald newspaper and had access to the index software.^{[clarification needed]} 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, a few were added for patrons to use. In 2000, the Central Library gained twelve Windows-based PCs in the second-floor computer lab, 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, e-readers, and Wifi systems to enhance patrons' experience.^{[citation needed]}

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. It contains a special collection of Manatee County's historical materials which came from local library collections and from the Manatee Historical Society. The materials include 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 date back to 1897. The federal census for Florida starting in 1830 is on microfilm. There are also microfilm copies of local Manatee County newspapers, weekly and daily, as well as older magazines. Patrons can access historical maps and aerial photos of different time periods of the county.^{[citation needed]}

Genealogy collection[]

The Manatee County Public Library has a genealogy collection for patrons to use to learn about their family history. Most materials are for in-house use only, but some may be checked out. The collection focuses on areas east of the Mississippi River and the colonial states. Patrons can search through census indexes, as well as marriage, birth, death, and other vital records. The library system provides manuals to inform patrons on how to search through the vast amounts of records. Other materials show how to identify name changes, nation migration trails, genealogical periodicals, military rosters, and church records. Patrons also have access to foreign ancestry materials to show immigration and passenger lists, guides to research foreign countries, and migration and settlements in the United States. Online genealogy resources are available, such as Heritage Quest Online and America's Genealogy Bank.^{[citation needed]}

Awards[]

2017: Librarian of the Year (Florida Library Association) - Ava Ehde, Library Services Manager^[1]
2017: Friends, Foundation & Board Award (Florida Library Association) - Friends of the Rocky Bluff Library's Biannual Newsletter^[1]
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^[3]
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[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "About the Manatee County Public Library". Manatee County Government. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
^ "Historic Markers Across Florida". Manatee County Government. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
^ "Manatee County Public Library System named Library of the Year by Florida Library Association". Manatee County Government. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

External links[]

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

[about1-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "About the Manatee County Public Library". Manatee County Government. Retrieved October 22, 2017.

[2] "Historic Markers Across Florida". Manatee County Government. Retrieved October 22, 2017.

[3] "Manatee County Public Library System named Library of the Year by Florida Library Association". Manatee County Government. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

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show v t Florida Public Libraries
County	Alachua Brevard Broward Duval (Jacksonville) Gadsden Hernando Hillsborough (Tampa–Hillsborough Co.) Indian River Lake Lee Leon (LeRoy Collins) Manatee Marion Miami-Dade Orange Palm Beach Pasco Sarasota St. Johns St. Lucie Seminole County Sumter Volusia
City	Clearwater Largo Madeira Beach West Palm Beach (Mandel)

show v t Bradenton, Florida
Areas	Braden Castle Park Historic District
Landmarks	Bishop Museum of Science and Nature Bradenton Bank and Trust Company Building Bradenton Carnegie Library Bradenton Riverwalk Iron Block Building Manatee County Courthouse Manatee Memorial Hospital Manatee Mineral Springs Park Manatee Village Historical Park Old Manatee County Courthouse Peninsular Telephone Company Building Richardson House Village of the Arts
Transportation	Manatee County Area Transit Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport Sarasota County Area Transit
Media	The Bradenton Herald The Bradenton Times ABC 7 Bay News 9 SNN
Organizations	Realize Bradenton
Government	Manatee County Government Public libraries School District Sheriff's Office Police Department
This list is incomplete. State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota Bradenton Campus and the State College of Florida Collegiate School Bradenton Campus are outside of the Bradenton city limits, in Bayshore Gardens.