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About the Library
Tarpon Springs Public Library
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About the Library Tarpon Springs Public Library |
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| Frequently Asked Questions |
Click on the question to find the answer:
All you need is photo identification and proof of Pinellas County residency. For many, a current driver's license will suffice. If your driver's license does not yet contain your current address, a document such as a utility bill or apartment lease can be used to verify your address. If you live in another county such as Pasco or Hillsborough, you must first obtain a library card from your home county library system and then register it with us.
How long can materials be checked out?
Extended loan periods are available for teachers or others with special needs. Please note that materials obtained by interlibrary loan often have different due dates because they are dictated by the lending libraries.
How many items can I check out?
There is no limit to the number of items you may check out except:
What if you don't have the item I want?
The library staff is ready to assist you in finding items at other libraries. We can request items from other public and academic libraries both locally and throughout the country. If the item is available in our local (SunCat) or regional (iBorrow) shared catalogs, it could take approximately several days to a week for the item to arrive here for checkout. Materials owned by libraries outside of these lending networks may also be requested; please ask the reference staff for assistance.
How can I find out what items are checked out on my card and when they are due?
Patrons may check their library card accounts online via SunCat, the library's catalog. Available information includes items currently checked out, reserves, and fines. Patrons may also call the library's circulation department for this information.
Do you provide Internet access?
Yes. The library provides free Internet access to adults and children. Adults do not need to posess a library card, however children do need one. The Adult Services section of the library currently has 14 computers with Internet access and Microsoft Office. Youth Services has 10 Internet terminals. Users may register to use a computer at the Adult or Youth Services reference desks on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons are limited to 30 minutes using the computers if others are waiting. Printouts cost 10 cents per page for black-and-white prints and 25 cents per page for color prints. When registering to use a computer, please let the staff know if you have special computing needs so that you may be placed on an appropriate computer.
The library is at 138 East Lemon Street in downtown Tarpon Springs. We are three-quarters of a mile from the Sponge Docks. Please see our map page for detailed directions.
Can I volunteer at the library?
Yes, the library gratefully accepts assistance from adult and youth (ages 13-17) volunteers. Please call us for further information.
Does the library accept donations?
The library also gratefully accepts both material and monetary donations. Material donations such as books or audio/visual items are first evaluated for possible addition to the collection. If we cannot add them to the collection, we place them in our used book sale area. Monetary donations may be applied toward the purchase of books in memory of loved ones or toward general operating expenses. Further, you may help the Tarpon Springs Library Foundation leave a legacy of continued learning for generations to come by donating cash gifts, real estate, securities, or by adding a codicil to your will.
Does the library have books for sale?
The Friends of the Library sell books, magazines, videos, and audio materials that were donated, or that were removed from the collection, on an ongoing basis. The book sale shelves are in the lobby just outside of the Youth Services area.
| History of the Tarpon Springs Library |
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The Tarpon Springs Library has been a vital part of the life of the community since its founding around 1916 by Mrs. George (Julia) Inness, wife of the well-known artist. She was also daughter of the owner of Century Publishing. From the first location in City Hall the library moved in 1921 to a small house on Orange Street. From there it moved to the Tarpon Enterprise Building on Pinellas Avenue and remained there until a building on Library Lane, behind the Greek Church, was completed in 1937. Then in 1964, when the population of Tarpon Springs was about 6,800, a building on beautiful Spring Bayou was constructed. It became a city supported library at that time. The subsequent expansion in 1986 enlarged the building from 3,000 to 9,000 square feet. Additional space was needed less than ten years later due to population growth and the development of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. The decision was made to construct a new building of 20,000 square feet in the middle of the downtown area a few blocks from the earlier building in the park. The new building was opened in January 1997. At the entrance to the building two life-size tarpon models spring from a fountain 20 feet in diameter which is surrounded by a brick walkway. The bricks have been donated and inscribed to commemorate various members of the community. The building reflects the town's Greek and old Florida heritage and features a high vaulted ceiling with clerestory windows. The lobby floor is green Mediterranean marble. The same marble is used on the circulation and reference desks which are faced with copper. A combination of red oak and light oak, as well as custom designed and upholstered furniture, enhances the library. Several outstanding works of art add another special dimension to the building. Behind the checkout desk, one can see internationally acclaimed artist Christopher Still's Changing Tides, which serves as the focal point. The painting's colors of blue, green, and purple are used throughout the building. The Youth Services room is surrounded by six foot high panels of carved glass by artists Karen and Julian Mesa. The design is a playful and magical depiction of underwater marine life and "merchildren." A large lighthouse and shell chairs decorate the storytelling area.
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