Where You Can Find Little Free Libraries in Sarasota

A Little Free Library (LFL) is a box of books available for anyone to use on the "take a book, return a book" honor system. Anyone can access the books for free. You are just asked to replace the book you take with one in good condition from your collection at home. Where can I find a Little Free Library in Sarasota County?

Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Road, Englewood FL 34223

Longwood Park, 6050 Longwood Run Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34243

Colonial Oaks Park, 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34232

Urfer Family Park, 4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota, FL 34233

Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34241

Culverhouse Nature Park, 7301 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34293

Shamrock Park, 3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice, FL 34293

George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way, North Port, FL 34286

More on Little Free Libraries here.

How to add a Little Free Library to your front yard. BHG.

How an Author Overcame the Perils of Starting a Little Free Library

I first saw little free libraries several years ago when I was walking through a Washington, D.C., neighborhood with my daughter, writes Hawaii author and journalist Denby Fawcett.

Neighbors had set up their own personal book exchanges in front of their homes, offering books for free with the expectation that book takers would donate books they wanted to pass on. The concept was take one, exchange one. After I returned home, I was so enthusiastic about little free libraries that I wrote a piece about the idea for Honolulu Civil Beat. I also started my own neighborhood book exchange on our Diamond Head street. That’s when the trouble started. My box full of books was soon hauled away by thieves. Reluctant to give up, I started another free library, which also was stolen. Just days after I set up the third book exchange, it also disappeared.

Where to donate books to readers who will appreciate them. Best Products.

LIBRARIES

Venice Library Hosts Meet the Author. Deadline Oct. 30.

The Venice Public Library is gathering local authors to show off their work. “We'll have a cozy meet and greet with local authors who will sign and sell their books. Hope to see you there!” If you are a local author that would like to participate, please stop by the front desk for an application. In order to be considered for the event, an application must be submitted by October 30. Information here.

•Participating individuals must be authors of published book(s)–including self-published works. Works in a variety of genres, writing styles and for all audiences are welcome.

•Participation by authors in this event is by application only.

•The library does not endorse, promote, or spotlight any one author to the exclusion of others.

•Participation in the event does not guarantee that the author’s work(s) will be added to the library's collection.

•The library is not responsible for travel expenses, honorarium or other participation fees incurred by the authors participating in the event.

•The library will not act as a sales agent, nor should the author expect the library to purchase books in bulk to sell for the author.

William H. Jervey Jr. Venice Library

Community Room

300 Nokomis Avenue South

Venice, FL 34285

(941) 861-1330

Katie Dow

Email: kdow@scgov.net

(941) 861-1350

Sarasota Library Foundation Marks 10 Years, $8 Million Raised

In 2011, a dedicated group of library lovers came together to form a new organization they called the Library Foundation for Sarasota County. Ten years later, thanks to a lot of hard work and an amazingly generous community, more than $8 million has been raised in support of the libraries and the Foundation. “This year we’re celebrating all the library lovers who have made this success possible, starting with our very first Board of Directors. Left to right: Mike Pender, Alice Rau, Robert Vedder, Karen Eastmoore, Shannon Staub, Charlie Huisking, Helen McBean, Cord Mellor, Ina Schnell, Linda Getzen. Not pictured: Kelley Lavin, Patricia Gussin. Robert Gussin, Director Emeritus John Jakes,” said a spokesman.

Patti Lanier, a Foundation Legacy Member on Why She Loves Sarasota Libraries

“One of the first things I did upon resettling in Sarasota in 1968 was to acquire a library card. Friday was our family's favorite day at the Chidsey Library where Mrs. Gerkin enchanted my two young children for an hour, says Patti Lanier, a Foundation Legacy Member since 2012.  “I was fascinated that she could read upside down so the children could follow the pictures. I think there were only four county libraries in those years. After I retired, I volunteered for a committee to research potential locations for a branch library in the Newtown area. I’ve been a member of the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library Friends group ever since, I also served for twelve years on Sarasota Country's Library Advisory Board and am now thrilled to be a member of the Library Foundation’s Community Advocacy Team. Libraries are so important to me and I’ve worked to support them for years with my time.  But I also wanted to make a financial gift to help secure their future,” she says. 

For more information about how you can make a planned gift to help secure the future of our libraries, please contact Alisa Mitchell, Executive Director, at Alisa.Mitchell@SarasotaLibraryFoundation.org or 941-404-4985. 

The Story of the New $20M Lakewood Ranch Library, Approved 6-1

An effective representative’s No. 1 goal will be to ensure that their residents are not forgotten when working, wheeling and dealing with their colleagues, which is vital in a jurisdiction as large and diverse as Manatee County, writes Marc Massferrer, editor of the Bradenton Journal.

Just look at what Commissioner Vanessa Baugh brought home for her district this week.

Baugh on Tuesday made a strong and, based on the 6-1 vote in favor, convincing case to spend almost $20 million on a long-promised library and related infrastructure at Premier Park in Lakewood Ranch.

Sarasota Library Foundation Hosts Dr. Henry Louis Gates Feb. 3

Join the Sarasota Library Foundation Love Our Libraries 2022 Author Luncheon featuring Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. “Help to celebrate the 10th Anniversary and everything our wonderful library system does to support our community. Our event will feature a conversation with Dr. Gates, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, cultural critic, journalist, author or co-author of twenty-five books and twenty-three documentary films,” says a spokesman. This sellout event will be held at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium on February 3, 2022. This celebration is made possible by our presenting sponsor, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and by the generosity of all of our community partners. Tickets range from $150 to $10,000 for a sponsor.

The Skies Were Filled With Planes, History of Venice Air Base Nov. 3 at Library

Explore the history of the former Venice Army Air Base, created here during World War II. How did the installation come to Venice? What were its effects on the struggling, small city of Venice? What has been the lasting impact of this base? Our speaker, Clarke Pressly, is a retired information technology (IT) program manager, who provided technical services to defense contractors and federal government agencies in Colorado and, later, the Washington, DC area. He previously served as an officer in the U. S. Air Force, working with military defense systems.

Nov. 3, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Library Branch: Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library

Room: Meeting Room - Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library

Age Group: Teens (13 to 18 years), Adults, Seniors

Registration required.

Following retirement, Clarke and his wife relocated permanently in 2006 to Venice to enjoy the benefits of the Florida Gulf Coast lifestyle. He later became a volunteer with the Venice Museum and Archives, which also led to his membership in the Venice Area Historical Society. Clarke has served on the Society Board, including roles as Vice President, President for three terms, and is currently the Chairman of the Society’s Speakers Bureau and the Plaque Committee.

Indie Author Day Is Nov. 12-13. How You Can Participate

Each year, libraries and organizations around the world bring local indie authors, writers, and their communities together for a day of education, networking, writing, open mics, live panels, and so much more! Whether you currently have a similar event planned or would like to start one, registering with Indie Author Day is free and you gain access to all of our resources, workshop videos, promotional graphics, and support. Are you an indie author interested? We will not be actively matching authors with their local library events, but we will pass along information to participating libraries when requested. Make sure to inquire below to get your name on a list and be a part of our author + events newsletter to stay informed with everything #indieauthor. FAQs for authors and libraries.

Ringling College Hosts Storytellers of Tomorrow Contest for High School Writers

Ringling College of Art and Design’s premier Creative Writing program announces the 7thannual Storytellers of Tomorrow writing contest for high school students. High school students are invited to send unpublished short stories, scripts, comics, graphic texts, or essays—up to 2,000 words—to the 7th annual Storytellers of Tomorrow contest, which runs October 15, 2021, to January 15, 2022. Find full submission details at the contest website. Students may enter one piece of writing in each of the three contest categories. In past years, some students have earned more than one prize. Others have won prizes across multiple years.

University Press of Florida Merits Grant to Publish Diverse Voices in America

The University Press of Florida in Gainesville has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to expand the Press’s publications in African American Studies (AAS) and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. The grant will support the Press’s project “Exploring Diverse Stories of America through Humanities Publishing,” enabling the Press to increase its capacity for publishing new titles in these two subject areas through the retention of staff and the rehiring of positions lost during the pandemic. Through the project, the Press will also convert backlist titles in these disciplines into digital and paperback formats; create an event series to discuss topics at the intersection of AAS, LACS, and publishing in the humanities; and establish paid internships for students interested in publishing.

Sarasota Library Foundation Buys Early Learning Stations for Kids

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Koski Family Foundation, the Library Foundation for Sarasota County has purchased two additional AWE Early Learning Stations for Sarasota libraries. These special computers contain dozens of educational computer programs suitable for children ages 2-10, helping them explore colors, letters, numbers while becoming familiar with the technology they’ll use once they start school. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Library Foundation for Sarasota County has raised more than $8 million in private funds for the benefit of Sarasota County public libraries since its founding in 2011.

How Manatee County OK’d Larger Lakewood Ranch Library for $14.9M

The center of Manatee County quickly is becoming the Lakewood Ranch area. When the East County Library was a $10 million project, it was scheduled to be 24,000 square feet as compared to the Central Library in Bradenton which was 51,700 square feet. The East County Library was not intended to be a satellite. Growth had exploded and a Central-like library made sense. Logically, the plan expanded to almost 50,000 square feet with the addition of a second floor. It wasn't just about the library, either. It was about adding public meeting space that was needed. Everything seemed to be on point. How Manatee County just approved $14.9 million for the Lakewood Ranch Library.

Manatee Library, School District Create All Access eBook Pass for Students

Taylor Ciraolo, the media specialist at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, always wanted to have a school-wide book battle, but she didn’t have enough copies of the same book or the resources to provide it to every student, writes Liz Ramos in the East County Observer. Now, with the new All Access Pass through the Manatee County Public Library System, Ciraolo has the ability to assign an eBook to each student in the school to read if they want to participate in the book battle. The All Access Pass was created through a partnership between the School District of Manatee County and the Manatee County Public Library System. The All Access Pass allows K-12 students to use their student IDs to access downloadable eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, music and magazines. Students also can access numerous digital resources including one-on-one tutoring and multiple databases. Other programs students can access are Mango, an online language learning software, and LinkedIn Learning, which will help students develop computer, career and literacy skills. Parents also can check out items for their students from the Library of Things including telescopes, musical instruments, literacy kits and museum passes.

Do Bookless Libraries Signal the End of the Printed Word?

Our public libraries are being asked to do more with tighter budgets. Libraries are becoming community centers often providing a wide-range of programs to its patrons. My neighborhood library offers art programs, sewing lessons, computer classes, and a myriad of children activities, writes Dorothy St. James in Crime Reads. They also have ebooks, audiobooks, and music available for download, DVDs, audiobooks CDs, music CDs, as well as a large selection of books. This collection must continually be updated with new releases and purging older materials that are no longer being checked out. New materials can be costly, especially if they need to be purchased in multiple formats (hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.) New technology equipment must be purchased from time to time too. Many libraries don’t have the budgets to cover the cost of doing, well, everything. Hard decisions must be made.

Ringling College Library Hosts Lisa Genova, Annie Liebovitz in November

Ringling College Library Association (RCLA) has announced plans to resume its Town Hall Lecture series with speakers previously postponed due to Covid-19.  Presenting on Monday, Nov. 1, is renowned neuroscientist Lisa Genova, On Monday, Nov. 15, renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz will give a talk on her long career in journalism and the arts. All Town Hall lectures take place at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall; morning lectures begin at 10:30 am and evening lectures begin at 7:30 pm. All proceeds from the Town Hall series support the Alfred R. Goldstein Library on the campus of Ringling College of Art and Design and the RCLA scholarship fund. Since launching the Town Hall series in 1981, RCLA has made more than $11 million in gifts and commitments to the College.

Women Are Voracious Readers. Book Clubs 

& Entrepreneurs Have Apps for That.

Since the start of the pandemic, Americans have reportedly read more than ever before, and print book sales are at their highest levels in more than a decade, writes Lily Herman in Marie Claire. In an era when people are hungry for connection, book clubs—especially of the virtual variety—have exploded. There's also demand not just for places to talk about books with fellow readers but ways to chat with authors and publishers too. These four female founders believe that both our reading habits and our book clubs are ready for a change, and they’re making it happen one app at a time.

American Library Association: Top Ten Most Challenged Books for Banning in 2020

When the American Library Association released its list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2020 in April, the books that received the most challenges to libraries and schools dealt with "racism, Black American history and diversity in the United States," says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. The theme of this year's Banned Books Week is "Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us." Public events include a Dear Banned Author Letter-Writing Campaign and Stand For The Banned Read-out, an opportunity for people to submit videos of themselves reading books from the list. Story from NPR.

Shapiro Foundation Helps Library Foundation with 'MakeDo Kits'

The Library Foundation of Sarasota County recently received a $10,000 grant from the Harry Shapiro Charitable Foundation to purchase 400 “MakeDo To-Go” kits, which were distributed free of charge this summer to young library users.  The kits encourage young people to imagine, design and create with a basic cardboard box, promoting hands-on learning opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. They are part of the Sarasota County library system’s Creation Stations.

Naples Library Author Lectures from Yalta to China, Baseball to AI in 2022

Nonfiction Author Series benefitting the Collier County Public Library will be in-person for 2022

In-person lectures return next winter in the 2022 Nonfiction Author Series, sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of the Library of Collier County, which raises money for library programs and resources. Author Erik Larson brings Churchill, history to vivid life in next Nick Linn virtual lecture.

‘Dutch House’ author talks Tom Hanks reading her audiobook ahead of first Nick Linn lecture

The four morning programs, on subjects ranging from World War II to cutting-edge computer technology, will include breakfast and are at a new venue, the Kensington Country Club in Naples. Seating is limited, and a portion of the ticket purchase can be tax-deductible. (See info box for details on dates, times and cost.) Naples Daily News story.

Hermitage Artist Retreat Names New Curatorial Council

The Hermitage Artist Retreat recently announced its 2021-2022 Curatorial Council, comprised of distinguished national arts leaders spanning the fields of theater, visual art, music, literature, and arts education. The newest additions to the Council include Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Nataki Garrett, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mitchell Jackson, and celebrated WQXR radio host Terrance McKnight. Fourteen members here. The Hermitage hosts artists on its Gulf Coast Manasota Key campus for multi-week residencies, where diverse artists from around the world and across multiple disciplines create and develop new works of visual art, theater, music, literature, and more.

Knight Foundation in Miami Invests $5 Million for Digital Public Library Programs

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation this week announced that it is investing $5 million in the Palace Project, a new strategic partnership between LYRASIS and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) chartered to "develop and scale a robust suite of content, services, and tools for the delivery of e-books, audiobooks, and other digital media to benefit public libraries and patrons." The announcement was made at this week's Knight Foundation’s 2021 Convening on Libraries meeting, which brought together library, civic, and philanthropic leaders.

In a release, Palace Project officials said the Knight Foundation’s funding would accelerate the development of a library-centered platform to deliver digital content—from publishers and major content providers as well as from local authors and open sources—in a way that supports "equitable access to digital knowledge," bolsters "the direct relationship between libraries and patrons," and respects and protects patron privacy. Publishers Weekly article here.

Hermitage Artist Retreat Honors Patricia Caswell. Plus, New Theater Award

The Hermitage Artist Retreat is pleased to announce that the organization has raised more than $367,000 in honor of Hermitage co-founder Patricia Caswell, who recently retired from her longtime position as program director. $300,000 of these funds – comprised of $100,000 gifts from Steve and Dale Adler, son and daughter-in-law of Hermitage co-founder Syd Adler; Nelda Thompson, a longtime and early supporter of the Hermitage; and a third anonymous friend of the Hermitage – will establish an endowed fund in Caswell’s honor to support the Hermitage’s core artist residency program. Story here.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has established the Hermitage Theater Award, a new annual prize that will recognize a playwright or theater artist with a commission of $35,000 to create an original piece of theater.

In addition to the commission, the recipient of this annual award will receive a residency at the Hermitage to develop the new work and will also receive a reading or workshop in a leading arts and cultural center such as New York, London, Chicago or Los Angeles, the Hermitage said in a news release.

This initiative is made possible by a multi-year gift from Flora Major and the Kutya Major Foundation to the Hermitage, starting with a commitment of $800,000.

Oyster Bar, FPL Host Dive Into Reading for Manatee, Desoto Kids

Summer has officially started for local students and many are working to address summer learning loss before returning to school in the fall. Florida Power and Light has teamed up with Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s Dive Into Reading program to help hundreds of local students prevent the "Summer Slide.” The annual literacy program, which kicked off this week, works with students from the local Title One schools to increase children’s literacy levels during summer break while enjoying a hot breakfast. FPL helped fund more than 2,500 books to be distributed to more than 550 rising second-grade and third-grade students from all 15 Title One schools in Manatee and Desoto counties, The Bradenton Times reports.

Samantha Malcolm, Patrice Cohen Join Manatee Literacy Council

The Manatee Literacy Council has announced two new board members as of June 2021. They are Samantha Malcolm, a high-school honors student at The Out-of-Door Academy, who joins the board through the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota’s Star Leadership Training Program as a voting member, and Patrice Cohen, a former senior executive for corporations including Kenneth Cole Productions, Nine West Group, Woolworth Corp., and Atlantic Medicine & Wellness.

How the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Helps Self-Published Authors in La. with Biblioboard

Are you a self-published author? Do you have a finished novel languishing away all alone in a file on your hard drive? Are you looking for something to do with the story that won National Novel Writing Month this year? With the Indie Author Project and Biblioboard, you can introduce your precious brainchild to the world. The Indie Author Project submits your work to Library Journal for review, where it may be chosen as a Select Read and added to lists all over the country. It will then show up on your library's Biblioboard front page, drawing in all library readers who like e-books and are always looking for the next big thing. More here. 

Hermitage Artist Retreat Hosts 2021 Artful Lobster Nov. 13, Manasota Key

Tickets are now on sale for the Hermitage Artist Retreat’s signature fall fundraising event, The Artful Lobster: An Outdoor Celebration! The 13th Annual Artful Lobster raises valuable funds for the Hermitage’s nationally and internationally renowned artist residency program. The event, which takes place outdoors beneath a large, open-air tent on the Hermitage’s environmentally pristine beachfront campus, is scheduled for Saturday, November 13, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; entrance at 6660 Manasota Key Road, in Englewood (Sarasota County). Guests will enjoy a luscious lobster feast by Michael’s On East and a performance by a celebrated Hermitage Fellow (to be announced). The 2021 Artful Lobster co-chairs are Sarasota arts champion Charlie Huisking and Hermitage trustee Charlotte Perret.

Venice Author Carol McCloud Helps 8,200 Young Students Read in Sarasota, Manatee

The “Bucket Fillers” series of books, written by the nationally acclaimed author and Venice resident, Carol McCloud, teach children the value of kindness. More than 8,200 students read McCloud’s books in 455 pre-kindergarten to third grade classes in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

On Tuesday, November 16, through a partnership with Sarasota County Schools, the School District of Manatee County and the Early Learning Coalitions of Sarasota County and Manatee County with generous support from the Manatee Education Foundation, Embracing Our Differences coordinated virtual read-along programs of “Bucket Fillers” books with 8,200 students in 455 pre-kindergartens through third grade classes. Story here.

This year, the initiative was offered via interactive, pre-recorded webisodes featuring read-alongs with the Asolo Rep, CreArte Latino Cultural Center, Venice Theatre, and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and activities with author Carol McCloud. Each participating student and teacher received their own copy of one of McCloud’s books.

Since her first book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids,” was published in 2006, Carol McCloud, a nationally acclaimed author and Venice, FL., resident, has inspired millions of people of all ages to become daily “bucket fillers” through her books, seminars, and other publications. Her nine children’s books have sold three million copies worldwide and are used in schools around the world as their primary character development program. As an author, speaker, and early childhood specialist, McCloud says her goal is to help all ages and occupations grow in kindness, self-control, resilience, and forgiveness.

The family of Layon F. Robinson II underneath the new Layon F. Robinson II Law Library sign.

Manatee Law Library Honors First African American Attorney in Manatee

Friends, family, and colleagues gathered at the Manatee County Law Library to honor the life and legacy of the late Layon F. Robinson, II. The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners adopted resolution R-21-124, designating the Manatee County Law Library as the Layon F. Robinson, II Law Library. On Monday, November 29, a renaming and dedication ceremony revealed the library’s new name. The dedication ceremony was attended by many people whose lives were touched by Mr. Robinson’s generosity and service. Story here.

Sarasota African American Art Center to Include Author Talks

Sarasota’s Black history has long been neglected, and Vickie Oldham has been on a mission to change that. Largely due to her six-year effort, as the head of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, the City of Sarasota will have a physical space to tell the stories of Black history with the upcoming Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum. Located in Newtown, the historical Black community of Sarasota, the center will be the site of historical exhibits, talks from authors, cooking demonstrations and youth mentorship programs.