Lakeland Public Library

The Lakeland Public Library is a public library located in Lakeland, Florida, within Polk County, Florida. It is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative (PCLC). The library has three branch locations. The main library is located at 100 Lake Morton Dr. Lakeland, Florida, 33801.[1]

History[2]

The history of the Lakeland Public Library can be traced to 1912 when The Women's Club of Lakeland organized and maintained the only library accessible to the local community.[3] In 1923 the Women's Club successfully lobbied Lakeland to purchase land from Herbert Munn on Lake Morton between Massachusetts Avenue and Iowa Avenue.[3] The site had previously been a campground for Spanish–American War soldiers and was later a park.[3] Lakeland purchased the land with a bond issue of $25,000.[3] By a vote of 461–122, Lakeland citizens, in 1924, approved a bond issue of $75,000 to build and equip the library.[3] The building, the work of architect Franklin Adams Jr., was in the Mediterranean Revival style, had a steel circular staircase, and the lobby was decorated with a twelve-inch frieze.[3] On January 6, 1927, the library opened.[3] It was Lakeland's first public library and it was in what is now the Park Trammell Building on the north shore Lake Morton.[3] There were 5,000 volumes.[3] The library also served as a depository for government documents.[3] By 1938 the Library had a story hour for children, a nature club, and a fifteen-minute broadcast once a week on WLAK radio.[3] In 1940 Mrs. Park Trammell gifted the library papers belonging to her deceased husband former Lakeland mayor and Florida governor Park Trammell.[3] In 1954 a bookmobile began serving the city making 16 stops.[3] A children's department opened in the basement in 1961.[3] That summer a Smokey the Bear Summer Vacation Reading Program began.[3] On May 15, 1962 the first Friends of the Library meeting was held.[3] On April 5, 1965 plans for a new library building were approved, through a contract bid of $317, 716, to meet the increasing needs of citizens.[3] In 1966 the new facility was built on the east shore of Lake Morton and the library moved into its current location.[3] By 1970 more than 73,000 books were available to citizens.[3] In 1983 construction began to expand the library building and it was completed in July 1986.[3] That same year the library was awarded a LSCA Title II grant if $7, 268 to join the SOLINET/OCLC interlibrary loan system.[3] A year later in 1987 The Lakeland Room for special collections was opened.[3] In 1988 the library joined others in Polk County to form a Reciprocal Borrowing program allowing patrons to borrow materials from any participating library.[3] The photography collection of local photographer Dan Sanborn, was given to the library in 1990.[3] His collection contained many photographs of local places and events.[3] In November 1990 Polk County voters selected to establish county-wide library system.[3] In September 1992 the card catalog was replaced by a BiblioFile Intelligent Catalog which was a C.D. ROM system.[3] In September 1996 Lakeland City Commissioners voted to join the new Polk County Library Cooperative.[3] On October 23, 2018 the Lakeland Public Library 's first coffee shop opened to its patrons. The coffee shop, Black & Brew Lake Morton,[4] is a smaller version of the downtown flagship cafe, Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro, owned by Chris McArthur.[5]

Main Library and Branches[6]

    Lakeland Public Library

    100 Lake Morton Drive Lakeland, FL 33801

    The oldest Lakeland library location has been in its current address since April 20, 1966.[7] This location also houses the Lakeland History Room, which features a number of original artifacts from Lakeland's history.[8]

    Larry R. Jackson Branch Library

    1700 N. Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33805

    The Larry R. Jackson Branch Library was originally opened in 1995, as the Lakeland Branch Library.[9] It was renamed in 1998 after Larry R. Jackson, a lawyer who worked with city officials to establish a library in North Lakeland.[9]

    eLibrary South Lakeland

    4740 S. Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33813

    The "e" stands for express. The small collection features recent fiction, non-fiction, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, bestsellers, and HotSpots. Additionally, they offer ten public access computers, free Wi-Fi, and pick-up or drop-off of items from any Polk County public library.[10]

    Services[11]

    At all three library locations patrons can:

    • Apply for a library card
    • Check out / return / renew / reserve materials
    • Pay fines
    • Check your library account
    • Receive a guest pass for computer use
    • Get help with research questions
    • Ask about online databases & eBooks
    • Access FREE Wi-Fi (password required)
    • Fax or copy an item (with fee)
    • Schedule one-on-one technology tutoring
    • Rent a mobile hotspot[12]

    Digital Content[13]

    Lakeland Public Library card holders have access to digital content including:

    • eBooks
    • eAudiobooks
    • eMusic
    • eMagazines
    • eLearning/Resources
    • eMovies/TV

    References
    1. "Lakeland Public Library". Lakeland Public Library. City of Lakeland. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
    2. "Library Special Collections > Special Collections Home > Lakeland Timeline". www.lakelandgov.net. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
    3. "Lakeland Public Library". USF Libraries Digital Collection. University of South Florida, Library History Project. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
    4. https://blackandbrew.com/lake-morton/
    5. https://www.theledger.com/news/20181019/black-amp-brew-to-debut-at-lakeland-library. Library Changes. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    6. "Library > help > Contact Us". www.lakelandgov.net. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
    7. https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/library/about-the-library/
    8. https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/library/lakeland-history-room/
    9. https://lakelandpubliclibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15809coll33/id/55
    10. "LakelandGov.net". lakelandgov.net/library. City of Lakeland. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
    11. "Services". www.lakelandgov.net. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
    12. Mobile Hotspot.https://www.theledger.com/news/20181015/who-knew-you-can-rent-mobile-hot-spot-from-library. Retrieved 2018-10-20
    13. "Library > Digital Content". www.lakelandgov.net. Retrieved 2016-03-19.

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