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Redington Beach tables library funding
By BOB MACPHERSON
| Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 |
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REDINGTON BEACH – The Redington Beach Commission seemed prepared to provide the town’s share of $26,624 to Gulf Beaches Library for fiscal year 2008-09, but instead tabled an enabling resolution during an Aug. 21 meeting.
The library, located at 200 Municipal Drive in Madeira Beach, depends on funding from a consortium of municipal participants including Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Shores and Treasure Island. It also serves communities of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, the county’s unincorporated area and visitors.
The amount of funding is based on the population of each participating town. With the current economic downturn and the need of communities to tighten their fiscal belts, funding is in question.
Mayor Nick Simons told commissioners that Treasure Island withdrew its membership from the library Aug. 20 and will terminate its funding share for the next fiscal year. According to the library’s Web site, Treasure Island citizens will no longer have free access to the library after Oct. 1. Treasure Island residents may still use the library but it will cost them $100 annually for a library card.
Since one of the five participating municipalities has withdrawn from the library consortium, it is unclear at this time what action the remaining four will take.
According to the library Web site, the Gulf Beaches Library was founded in 1949 by a group of barrier island women. Under the leadership of its first president, Polly Van Dyke, a group of six women began collecting books and meeting at a women’s’ club.
A permanent home was established in 1952 and housed in a one room building on 140th Avenue, Madeira Beach. Edyth Mariani, one of the six original book collectors, became head librarian, and held that position until Dec. 31, 1979 when she retired. The current library director is Jan Horah.
The library expanded in size in 1988 when a 3,600-square-foot area was added to the existing building increasing its total size to 10,000 square feet.
In 1989 the library became a member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. Funds received from the cooperative and the participating municipalities have helped the library to computerize its operations, offer audio and video cassettes, DVDs and Internet access to library patrons.
The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.
Correction: Removed subhead.
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Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
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