Pasco County Library Cooperative

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative (PCLC) is the public library system that serves all residents of Pasco County, Florida, and is a member of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium.^[1] The Pasco County Library System, as it was originally known, was established by county ordinance in 1980. In 1999, the Pasco County Public Library Cooperative was established as a result of an Interlocal Agreement between the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners and the Zephyrhills City Council.^[2] It consists of seven branch libraries and one cooperative partner library, Zephyrhills Public Library. The Pasco County Libraries operate on a budget of $6,344,041 for fiscal year 2016. Pasco Libraries circulated 1,195,649 items for fiscal year 2016; up-to-date statistical information can be found on their website at: http://www.pascolibraries.org/stats/ The head of library services reports to the Assistant County Administrator for Public Services.

Marquee for the New River Library, a branch of the Pasco County Library Cooperative.

History[]

The Pasco County Library Cooperative was once known as the Pasco County Library System. It was established on July 22, 1980. There were municipal-owned and operated libraries in three different cities; Dade City, New Port Richey, and Zephyrhills.^[3] There were also three libraries being led by volunteers in the communities of Hudson, Holiday, and Land O’ Lakes that were incorporated into the system.^[3] In 1986, a $10 million bond referendum was passed by voters to improve the public libraries and build new parks countywide. After this referendum was passed, two facilities were replaced (Hudson and Land O’ Lakes) and two facilities were built in un-served areas (Regency Park and South Holiday).^[4] There was also a renovation and addition done to the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City. With additional funding secured through Federal programs, the Centennial Park Library and New River Library were also built.^[4] The system changed into a cooperative in 2000 when the City of Zephyrhills library joined it.^[3]

Branches[]

The Pasco County Public Library Cooperative consists of seven branches and one cooperative partner (Zephyrhills), with the administrative offices for the system located at the Hudson Regional Library.^[5]

Centennial Park Branch Library[]

The Centennial Park Branch Library is closed for remodeling until fall 2020. It offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and a large meeting space. It provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, family movies. Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers for job searching.

Hudson Regional Library/Administration and Support Services[]

The Hudson Regional Branch Library offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and a large meeting space. It also features a music recording studio. It provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, family movies. Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers for job searching.

Hugh Embry Branch Library[]

Hugh Embry Library was established in 1904 in Dade City, Florida when its namesake Hugh Embry (1879–1907), then 25, recovering from an illness had exhausted all the books he could read from his friends.  He raised to $50 start a library and called it the Shakespeare Club.  The library was run out of the Embry home until his death a few years later when the library became the property of the Pasco Library Association. The books were moved all around Dade City as there was no place to house them until The Women’s Club took them in.  At the time membership was free if you were a member or relative of the Women’s Club, otherwise it was 10 cents.  The Women’s Club began lending the books to the Grammar school and throughout the County for children to read. In 1927, the Women’s Club began letting the books out to the general population for free and the library was moved to a free room in the Herbert Massey building. The Women’s Club had no money to furnish the library or provide shelving.  The Club began to raise money for the Library by selling food to the workers of Dade City.  A month after the library was open there were 440 registered borrowers, and the unit was open three afternoons a week. By 1930 the project had grown too large for the Women’s club to handle.  The Library was incorporated August 24, 1930 and remained so for twenty-four years. ^[6]

In the 1930s the library began receiving funds from the City.  The mayor, Fred Touchton, gave the library $10 a month to purchase classical books for children.  However, the funds donated by the city only amounted to $37.50, enough to pay a librarian monthly.  There was no money for books or supplies so the Women’s Club jumped in and saved the library again through donations.^[6]

In the 1940s the Works Progress Administration completed a new City Hall and the Library found a room there.  The books were thrown out the window of the second floor Massey Building into trucks and transported to the new library. The library continued to grow and in 1952 the City gave property across the street from the City Hall for the library.  In 1953, the City assumed the assets of the library and on July 12, 1953 Dade City became financially responsible for Hugh Embry Library.^[6] In 1962, the Friends of the Library group raised $12,000 to build a building for the library.  The city donated $25,000 and the “Friends” raised another $12,000 and in November 1963 the library moved into its permanent home.^[6]

In 1981, Pasco County chartered its own library commission and began operating and maintaining the library under a no cost lease.  In 1988, the City Commission of Dade City sold the library to the county for $150,000. In 1991, the library was expanded by funds raised through a tax approved in 1986.^[7]

The Hugh Embry Branch Library offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and a large meeting space. It provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, family movies. Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers for job searching.^[8]

Land o' Lakes Branch Library[]

The Land o' Lakes Branch Library began as a small section of a county building located on U.S. Highway 41 but was later moved to a larger location as a result of its increasing growth. In 1980, it became an official part of the countywide library system, moving into a Land o' Lakes plaza storefront in 1988. A new Land o' Lakes Branch Library was built at the current location with bond money and opened to the public on December 12, 1991. The library underwent an expansion project beginning in 2005, and it was reopened to the public on April 22, 2007.^[9]

The Land o' Lakes Branch Library property covers a total area of 18,000 square feet. Following its renovation, the library housed several study rooms, a separate children's room, a teen room, and a computer lab. In 2015, the computer lab was moved next to the collections, and the space that had formerly housed the computer lab became a woodworking-based makerspace, The Foundry, which was opened to the public on December 17, 2015.^[10] The focus of The Foundry was decided by a committee that included both patrons of all ages who intended to use the space and library staff.

New River Branch Library[]

The New River Branch Library is closed for remodeling until fall 2020. It offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and a large meeting space. It also features a community garden. It provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, family movies. Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers for job searching.

Regency Park Branch Library[]

The Regency Park Branch Library opened its doors to the public on October 26, 1990 and was expanded in 2007.^[11] It offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and a large meeting space. It also features a test kitchen makerspace, Regency Fresh, which opened to the public on October 17, 2019.^[12] The Regency Park Library provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, family movies. Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers for job searching.

South Holiday Branch Library[]

The South Holiday Branch Library offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, a large meeting space. It also features a sewing makerspace. It provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, family movies. Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers for job searching.

The New River Branch in Zephyrhills, Fla.

Zephyrhills Public Library (Cooperative Partner)[]

The Zephyrhills Public Library is a City of Zephyrhills funded facility, founded in 1912. The library seeks to encourage reading and the use of technology for life-long learning and the enhancement of the community’s quality of life. The library provides open and equal access to the resources and services of the library. In 1999, the library, together with the Pasco County Library System, formed the Pasco County Library Cooperative in order to offer residents of Pasco County a broader base of services. The same library card is used at the Zephyrhills Library and the county libraries.

Makerspaces[]

The Foundry[]

The Foundry at the Land O' Lakes Branch Library is the first dedicated makerspace in Pasco Libraries. It was officially opened on December 17, 2015. The Foundry is equipped with two 3-D printers, as well as computer-aided-design (CAD) equipment, an Oculus Rift virtual reality system, and an audio recording studio. Other makerspace materials include various hand tools, power tools, and crafting equipment and supplies, like yarn and thread. The room serves as the primary meeting space for the Edgar Allan Ohms, the Land O' Lakes High School robotics team sponsored by the library.^[13][14] Library patrons must consent to the terms of the Pasco County Liability Waiver and Permission Form and the Maker Safety Playbook before they can use The Foundry, but it is otherwise open to all.

Studio H[]

Studio H is a makerspace located at the Hudson Regional Library that was opened in 2019.^[15] It is a multimedia recording studio that provides users with access to equipment, software, and musical instruments. A wide variety of musical instruments are available including electric and acoustic guitars, basses, drum kits, a keyboard, a virtual synthesizer, a banjo, and a mandolin.^[15] This makerspace can be used to create music, videos, podcasts, and photos. Users are required to attend an orientation before reserving studio time.^[16]

Regency Fresh[]

Regency Fresh is a makerspace located at the Regency Park Library that had its grand opening on October 17, 2019. It is a fully equipped kitchen with an induction cooktop, double convection oven, an Instant Pot, a sous-vide cooker, microwave, blender, large mixer, and a demonstration cart with an overhead mirror.^[17] This kitchen allows users to experience culinary demonstrations and presentations and, in some cases, can participate in these demonstrations.^[18] Users can attend a program or submit ideas for future demonstrations and presentations.

The Creation Station[]

The Creation Station is a kids' mini makerspace located at the Hugh Embry Library. It is a space that was designed with children in grades 2 through 5 in mind. It allows them it to explore, tinker, play, and create projects with many different materials.^[19] They are able to plan a project, complete it, put the supplies back, and clean up the area so that it is ready for the next child. There is an Idea Book available to help inspire them and the goal is to finish their project so that they have something to take home with them. There is also a dedicated space called Creation Station, Jr. for younger children.^[19]

Community Garden[]

The Community Garden is a makerspace at the New River Library, which is currently closed for remodeling. The Community Garden works closely with the County Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardeners to be a complete gardening resource.^[20]

The Seed Library[]

Through generous donors, the Pasco County Library Cooperative has created a seed library to share with the community. They have many different types of seeds available, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. The seeds are packaged in small bundles and there are growing instructions placed on the outside of the bundles so that patrons can have some information about the plants they have checked out.^[21] With these seeds, patrons have the opportunity to grow some of the healthiest food possible. The library asks that patrons only take what they need so that there is plenty of seeds to go around. In order to check out seeds, patrons fill out a request form on the Pasco County Library Cooperative website and then can pick up their bundles at their home branch.^[21]

Awards[]

2014[]

• Resolution by the Pasco County Board of Commissioners for the success of the 2014 LAMECon (Library Anime and Manga Enthusiast Convention).

1. Done and resolved on August 19, 2014

2013[]

• NACo (Florida Association of Counties) Achievement Award for Rockus Maximus Battle of the Bands

2010[]

• John Cotton Dana Award for excellence in public relations

• The Florida Library Association's Librarian of the Year award was given to Libraries Director Linda Allen. This honor is presented “in recognition of outstanding and ongoing contributions to Florida librarianship.” ^[22]

• Florida Library Association's award for best public library website. This prize promotes “awareness of the importance of good design and usability in web page development and to recognize outstanding examples of effective library pages.” ^[23]

2008[]

• Florida Library of the Year^[24] from the Florida Library Association
• "I Love my Librarian!" award given to director Linda Allen by The New York Times Company^[25]
• Future of the Region Certificate of Excellence and Commemorative program for Public Education in Catastrophe Readiness and Response: Proactive Roles for Public Libraries awarded by Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council^[26]

Pasco Libraries website[]

The Pasco Libraries website is an integrated website that allows patrons to search the library catalog, check out e-books, search fee-based databases, and access language-learning resources. It also allows patrons to post book reviews, access RSS feeds, create lists, and tag materials. The website has links to the library’s social media content, library videos, and e-government sources. It was recognized by the Florida Library Association as the best library website in 2010. Visits to the library's website increased by 28 percent within its first year of being redesigned.^[27]

Friends of the Pasco County Library System[]

Friends of the Pasco County Library System, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization that works closely with the libraries within the cooperative to enrich the library experience of patrons through fundraising, volunteering, and advocacy efforts.^[28] The organization acts as a link between the libraries and the citizens of Pasco County. Each branch has its own Friends group that operates independently, however, they also come together to contribute to the success and financial stability of the Countywide Friends Organization.^[28] The individual groups work together to ensure that the libraries within this cooperative have the resources they need to better serve the people of Pasco County. The Friends organization provides funding for many of the cultural, art, music, storytime, summer reading, and technology programs that are offered at the libraries.^[28]

References[]

External links[]

• Pasco County Library System