Library Closes Its Doors

Posted Mar 23, 2007 by Sherri Lonon

Updated Mar 23, 2007 at 02:14 PM

By SHERRI LONON
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The West Gate Regional Library opened its doors for the first time in 1974 to serve the people of Town ‘N Country. Those doors closed for good March 15, 2007.
While the library is now officially closed, plans remain to move it into a temporary location while a new facility is built on the 7606 Paula Drive site. The new, temporary home at 5455 W. Waters Ave., Suite 208, will open sometime in the near future.

According to library manager Suzy George, the County Commission approved the lease on March 7, paving the way for that building to be used while the new $10.8 million Town ‘N Country Commons is constructed on the library’s former site. The two-story commons will include a new library, a senior center and a Head Start. It is being paid for with proceeds from the half-cent Community Investment Tax that has also helped fund such projects as Raymond James Stadium.

Although the lease on the temporary site has been approved, there’s no date for the library to move into its interim home, George said.

“We’re going to try and reopen as soon as possible,” she said.

Right now, the library is awaiting a permit to do some minor renovations inside the temporary building. Once that is issued, a more firm time table will be likely, she said.

Once reopened at the temporary site, the library will offer all the services it presently does, plus have study rooms available for patrons’ use.

As the library wound down its last few hours last week, head librarian Elvia Vera said staff was keeping busy getting ready for the move. Staff will be reassigned to other libraries while work on the Waters Avenue location is completed. Once it’s done, the West Gate staff will reunite to open the facility.

“We’re nervous,” said Vera about the move. “There’s so much to do.”

Closing to make way for the new facility is bittersweet.

“We’re going to miss them and they’re going to miss them,” said Vera of the library’s patrons. “Most people are going to miss the circulation staff the most.”

While the library remains closed, patrons are being directed to other libraries, including the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd.

When the library’s doors reopen at the temporary location, staff is hoping patrons will follow, Vera said.

Kesia Woods and her daughter Chyniah were enjoying one of the library’s final days last week, taking advantage of the children’s area to read books and play games. Woods said she and her four children will use the temporary location, but she admits she’ll miss having the facility in the heart of Town ‘N Country.

“It’s going to be different,” she said. “We’ll miss it.”

Peter Duplin, a frequent visitor at the current site, said he would be unable to visit the new location. He is moving out of the area. Before he knew the old facility was closing, he’d already made up his mind he’d miss the library the most.

“I come here every day and read the newspaper,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed it.”

For more information on libraries in the area, visit http://www.hcplc.org.

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