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Library's Doors Closing, Another's To Open

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

SEFFNER - Seffner and Mango residents will have to travel a few miles to borrow reading materials for the next two months.

However, the inconvenience will be worth their while.

The Seffner-Mango Branch Library at 11724 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in the Wal-Mart shopping center, will close Saturday in preparation for the long-awaited opening of the community's permanent library at 410 Kingsway Road.

The new 15,000-square-foot library north of Lopez Elementary School is expected to open in January, said Jackie Zebos, manager of administration and reference services for the county library system.

"I know it seems like the community is going to be without a library for a long time. But, when you think about it, that's only two months away," Zebos said. "It takes a while to have all the materials packed and tagged, and we have the holidays in between. Plus we're opening another county library in Town 'N Country) at the same time."

Hillsborough County has been leasing 6,540 square feet at the Wal-Mart shopping center, where patrons have access to nearly 41,500 books, 11 computers, photocopiers, a public fax machine, free wireless service and a public meeting room.

Until the new library opens, Seffner and Mango residents are encouraged to use the Thonotosassa Branch Library at 10715 Main St., Thonotosassa, or the Brandon Regional Library, 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon.

Construction of the new library began in February after residents persuaded county officials to build it on the 10-acre parcel between Old Hillsborough Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The county previously had planned to use that land for a water plant or traffic complex.
County Commission chairman Ken Hagan, who represents the Seffner-Mango area, helped secure $5 million in Community Investment Tax funds, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1996, to help fund the library. The estimated total cost is $6.4 million. The remainder of the 25-acre, county-owned library parcel may be turned into a park.
Zebos said the library will open for business before an official grand opening celebration.

"We'll have a soft opening, and then a dedication with the entire community to celebrate," Zebos said. "I know the community is excited. This is a community that really values its library, and this one has been a long time coming."

For information, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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