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Seminole Heights Group Seeks Friends Of Library, Bookstore

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By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2009

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - A replacement library for the Seminole Heights Public Branch Library is slated for future construction. In the final design, residents are hoping there will be room for a special addition — a bookstore.

To qualify for a bookstore, library officials say the Seminole Heights library, 4711 N. Central Ave., must have a Friends of the Library group. The Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association is spearheading an effort to form a Friends group within the next few months.

"We're just in the initial stages," said association president Sherry Genovar-Simons, who spoke at a recent general membership meeting.

Library officials want to replace the existing 6,000-square-foot library with a two-story building and parking deck. Negotiations are under way with the Hillsborough County school district for use of a parking lot adjacent to the library.

School officials have said they don't want to sell the parking lot but would consider sharing it. Library officials said a construction date will be determined after approval of the county's 2010 fiscal budget.

For the past 15 years, an annual book sale named in memory of library booster and historian Steve Gluckman has been the primary funding source for several summer youth library programs. Gluckman died two years ago from a heart attack at age 70.

A March book sale collected more than $1,600. The hope is that a bookstore, selling used items, would be another revenue source.

Association member Pat Benjamin is heading up the friends of the library effort. The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association and South Seminole Heights Civic Association are being asked to join the project.

The first step is forming a steering committee, said Margaret Rials, friends of the library coordinator. Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County Inc., a nonprofit group, oversees 14 friends of the library groups in the county.

The groups support 16 of 25 county libraries. "It's their grass-roots support group," Rials said. "It means a lot to the community and the library."

The steering committee needs to meet, write bylaws and elect officers. Information is then submitted to the umbrella organization for approval. Rials estimates it would take six months or less.

"Then they are ready to go," she said. "It's really a simple process."

For information, call Benjamin at (813) 234-2449.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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