Help Seminole Heights Library Preserve Its History

The following report was submitted by Hillsborough County's Communications Office:

On Sunday, May 6, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., the Library History Roadshow will feature the at 4711 Central Ave. in Tampa. Library patrons are encouraged to bring their Seminole Heights Branch Library memories, photographs and memorabilia to share.

The Seminole Heights Branch Library was founded in 1927 as one of seven city libraries. It relocated several times until 1965, when it settled at 4711 Central Ave. This heavily used neighborhood library will soon be rebuilt in the same location, tripling in size to meet the needs of the community.

Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries will begin celebrating their 100th Anniversaries in 2014. To prepare, the libraries have partnered with the Tampa Bay History Center, the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, and other community partners to present the Library History Roadshow.

The Library History Roadshow will make stops at library branches throughout Hillsborough County through 2013 to gather and document the communities’ library memories, photographs and memorabilia. On this journey, the Library History Roadshow will feature four libraries that closed many years ago and each of the libraries in Hillsborough County, including the main library; 24 branch libraries; the Bookmobile; the Spanish‐language Cybermobile; the Talking Book Library; and two city-operated libraries.

Staff and volunteers work onsite at each Library History Roadshow to digitally scan photos and other printed items that residents bring, and immediately return the originals to their owners. Attendees delight in recording video and audio stories that share their historical knowledge of and experiences at the libraries.

The Library History Roadshow has already made stops to collect memories and historic treasures from the West Tampa Branch Library (April 16 and June 4, 2011); the Tampa Free Public Library, aka the Carnegie Library on 7th Avenue (Sept. 24, 2011); the Hyde Park Branch Library (Nov. 19, 2011); the Port Tampa City Library (Jan. 14, 2012); the Charles J. Fendig Public Library (March 25, 2012); the Temple Terrace Public Library (April 13, 2012); and the Ruskin Branch Library (April 15, 2012). 

For more information about the Library History Roadshow, and to see photos and videos of library memories and treasures, visit http://thplhistoryroadshow.blogspot.com. Or, contact the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System at 813-273-3652 for details.