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Boca Raton Public Library

Boca Raton Public Library
Location	United States
Type	Public Library
Collection
Size	270,164
Access and use
Population served	86,604
Other information
Budget	$3,812,400
Employees	72
Website	http://www.bocalibrary.org

Downtown Location
Location	200 NW Boca Raton Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Established	Downtown Location built in 1962 with additions in 1972 and 1982. Renovated in 1992.
Collection
Size	156,241
Other information
Website	http://www.bocalibrary.org

Spanish River Library and Community Center Location
Location	1501 NW Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33431
Established	January 26, 2008
Collection
Size	113,923
Other information
Website	http://www.bocalibrary.org

The City of Boca Raton, incorporated in 1925, is the third largest and the southern most city in Palm Beach County, Florida. The City of Boca Raton provides a range of municipal services including two public libraries serving the residents of the incorporated area of Boca Raton. Residents and individuals owning property in their own name within the corporate limits of the city are entitled to the issuance of a library card. Non-residents may purchase a library card.

History

The Woman’s Club of Boca Raton started the first community library in January, 1923. The library was managed by a group of volunteers and the collection was developed from donations. The community library was closed in 1926 and the collection was donated to a local elementary school. In January, 1946, the community library was reopened and the collection housed in a building located on the Boca Raton Army Air Field. In 1947 this library was closed because of damage from a severe hurricane.

In 1948 another community library was opened in Town Hall supported by donations from Hildegarde Schine, the wife of the owner of the Boca Raton Club. In 1957 the library was moved to the administration building of the Garden Apartments on West Palmetto Road supported in part by funding from the City. In 1961 a new library building was completed 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 a $19.8 million bond issue was approved by the taxpayers of the City for the building of two new library buildings. The first, located at 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, opened on January 26, 2008 and is known as the Spanish River Library and Community Center. The second new library building will be located on Boca Raton Boulevard, a block north of the existing Boca Raton Downtown Library. It is currently under construction and it is expected to be completed in spring 2013.

For a more extensive history of the Boca Raton Public Library, see “A Chronicle of the Boca Raton Public Library 1923-2007,” The Spanish River Papers, Vol. 20 (December, 2007).

Facilities

The Boca Raton Library has two locations to serve the residents of incorporated Boca Raton. The Downtown Library (21,400 square feet) is located at 200 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 hours of the library are posted on the library web site.

Groundbreaking for a new 41,932 square foot Boca Raton Downtown Library took place on April 24, 2012. The new library is designed by PGAL of Boca Raton in the Mediterranean architectural style of Addison Mizner (1872-1933). The library is being built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification requirements.

The Boca Raton Public Library subscribes to a basic public library philosophy that public libraries serve to inspire lifelong learning, advance reading and knowledge, and strengthen the community’s education system. Library services and resources are provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all people of the community.

Events and Activities

Libraries are evolving from the large book depositories of the past. The expanding wealth of information available electronically has driven libraries to create ways of retrieving information and sharing the information with the public. In recessionary times, patrons often visit public libraries for free or low cost entertainment, books, DVDs, CDs and internet access. Recognizing the challenges of remaining relevant during changing times, the Boca Raton Public library offers a wide variety of educational and recreational opportunities to the public. Technology is changing the roles of libraries. Along with public computers, adult programming such as Socrates Cafe draws patrons into the library for socialization as well as education.

Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library

The Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library, a volunteer 501(c) charity, is a volunteer and fundraising group dedicated to making the library an important part of the cultural core of Boca Raton.

The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation, Inc.

The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation, Inc. was formed to support the Boca Raton Public Library. Contributions to the Foundation are gifts that help ensure quality library services in Boca Raton. The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation Inc. is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization.

The Boca Raton Public Library Advisory Board

The Library Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Council concerning the management and operation of the Boca Raton Public Library. The seven members are appointed for three-year terms and meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm at the Library. Further information regarding the Advisory Board is outlined in the City Ordinance.

Further Reading

A Chronicle of the Boca Raton Public Library 1923-2007, The Spanish River Papers, Vol. 20 (December, 2007)

Haycock, Ken, & Sheldon, Brooke E. (Eds.). The portable MLIS: Insights from the experts. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

Pesantes, Erika & Wallman, Brittany. (2010). Libraries struggle with changing role technology may have the last work. South Florida Sun-Sentinel September 20, 2010 (A.1).

Rubin, Richard. (2010). Foundations of library and information science. 3rd ed. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2010.

Wikipedia Links

Public Library: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_library

Socrates Cafe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates_cafe