The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System will hold a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the expansion of the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library on Wednesday, May 28 at 10 a.m. This event takes place at 11211 Countryway Blvd. in Tampa. Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees can enjoy a tour of the new library and light refreshments sponsored by the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library. County Commissioners are invited to attend.
The project adds a much-anticipated 11,000 square foot to the existing 15,000-square-foot library. Construction began in January 2013 and was completed in February 2014. The new facility features an enlarged children’s room that includes a storytime room, a second community room that seats 132 people for meetings and programs, a Tech Bar allowing more hands-on demonstrations, an Innovation Studio that includes collaborative technologies such as a Smart Board, an expanded Reading Room, a vending café, and a new Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library Gazebo Bookstore.
The new library expansion was designed by Long & Associates and constructed at a cost of $2.1 million by Williams Construction Co. The Hillsborough County Capital Improvement Project was funded with ad valorem tax dollars provided through the special library taxing district.
Source: Hillsborough County News
