Boca Raton Public Library

The Boca Raton Public Library consist of two library facilities serving the residents of the incorporated area of Boca Raton, Florida. The City of Boca Raton, incorporated in 1925, is one of the largest and the southern most city in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Boca Raton Public Library
CountryUnited States
TypePublic Library
Coordinates26°21′15″N 80°05′21″W
Collection
Size233,727
Access and use
Population served96,114[1]
Other information
Budget$4,944,300
Staff72
Websitewww.myboca.us/957/Library
Map
Downtown Location
EstablishedDowntown Location built in 1962 with additions in 1972 and 1982. Renovated in 1992. New library constructed one block north of the original library and opened in June 2013.
Location400 NW 2nd Ave. Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Coordinates26°21′10″N 80°05′23″W
Websitewww.myboca.us/957/Library
Map
Spanish River Library and Community Center Location
EstablishedJanuary 26, 2008
Location1501 NW Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33431
Coordinates26°23′15″N 80°07′04″W
Websitewww.bocalibrary.org
Map

History

The Woman’s Club of Boca Raton started the community library in January, 1923.[2] The library was managed by a group of volunteers and the collection was developed from donations. It closed in 1926 and the collection was donated to a local elementary school.

In January, 1946, the community library reopened and its collection was housed in a building located on the Boca Raton Army Air Field. Severe damage from a hurricane forced the library to close again in 1947.

Another community library opened inside the city's town hall in 1948. With the help of funding from the city, the library moved to the administration building of the Garden Apartments on West Palmetto Road in 1957. A new library building was completed in 1961 on NW 2nd Avenue, the location of the current Downtown Library. In 1966 this building was dedicated to the city and named the Boca Raton Public Library. The building subsequently underwent several renovations.

In 2003 Boca Raton voters approved a $19.8 million bond issue for the building of two new library buildings. The first building, located at 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, opened on January 26, 2008 and is known as the Spanish River Library and Community Center. The second building was constructed on Boca Raton Boulevard, a block north of the original Boca Raton Downtown Library, and opened in June 2013.

Facilities

The Boca Raton Library has two locations to serve the residents of incorporated Boca Raton. The New Boca Raton Downtown Library (41,932 square feet) is at 400 N.W. Boca Raton Boulevard. The Spanish River Library and Community Center (40,940 square feet) is located at 1501 N.W. Spanish River Boulevard. The Spanish River Library, built in the Addison Mizner (1872-1933) style, additionally provides public space for meetings, gatherings, and events. The hours of the library are posted on the library web site.[3] The Old Downtown Library (21,400 square feet) was located at 200 N.W. Boca Raton Boulevard.

Groundbreaking for the new 41,932 square foot Boca Raton Downtown Library took place on April 24, 2012. The new library was designed by PGAL of Boca Raton in the Mediterranean architectural style of Addison Mizner (1872-1933). The library is built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification requirements.[4] The new Boca Raton Downtown Library was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration on June 22, 2013. The 42,000 square foot building features 70 public access computers, study rooms, and events space.[5]

The Boca Raton Public Library opened the Discover Studio within the Downtown location in September 2015. The Studio was funded by the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library. The Discover Studio utilizes a pop-up space model to teach emerging technologies, including 3D printing, photo and film editing, music production and audio podcasting. Classes are taught by qualified librarian instructors and outside expert instructors. The Discover Studio is a part of the library's involvement in community education. All classes are free with a valid library card.

Library advisors
  • The Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library, a 501(c) charity, is a volunteer and fundraising group dedicated to supporting community cultural programs. The Friends operate a used bookstore at the Boca Raton Public Library's Downtown location, with proceeds benefiting the library.[6][7]
  • The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation, Inc., is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization. The Foundations supports the library activities.
  • The Boca Raton Public Library Advisory Board advises the City Council on the management and operation of the Boca Raton Public Library. Board members are appointed for three-year terms and meet monthly.
Spanish River Library and Community Center Lakeside Patio and Rooftop Terrace

Further reading
  • Haycock, Ken; Sheldon, Brooke E (eds.). The portable MLIS: Insights from the experts. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
  • Pesantes, Erika; Wallman, Brittany (September 20, 2010). "Libraries struggle with changing role technology may have the last work". South Florida Sun-Sentinel (A.1).
  • Rubin, Richard (2010). Foundations of library and information science (3rd ed.). New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.
  • For a more extensive history of the Boca Raton Public Library, see: The Spanish River Papers.
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References
  1. "Boca Raton (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  2. "A Chronicle of the Boca Raton Public Library 1923-2007" (PDF). The Spanish River Papers. Boca Raton Public Library. 20. December 2007.
  3. "BRPL: About the Library". Bocalibrary.org. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  4. "Library Construction Update: New and Renovated Buildings, 06/15/12". 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  5. Marci Shatzman (19 June 2013). "Reading ready: Downtown Library to open Saturday". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  6. http://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/services-for-libraries/florida-libraries-as/gallery/spanish-river
  7. http://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/the-social-library-volume-twentythree.html
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