162:
Camphor Tree located at the center of downtown where residents left donations. Serving as a "Christmas Giving Tree", residents left books, magazines, wood and other furnishings to help establish the first library of Largo. These donations were placed in the first library facility located in a downstairs room of the original, wood frame Town Hall building with a total of 560 books which officially opened to the community on April 7, 1916. Marie Allen, was paid $ 2 weekly to serve as Largo's first librarian. Jennie
Danforth Judkins, a strong Largo Library advocate, served as the library's second librarian. Such was her dedication to the library that a local legend developed that Mrs. Judkins read every book that was added to the library's collection before it was placed on the shelf.
175:
211:
557:
183:
2005. Also to help clearly define the overall goal of the institution within the community the official name of the facility was changed to Largo Public
Library. The 90,300 square foot library opened under the direction of Casey McPhee and more than doubled the size of the previous facility. Within the first year of opening the library hired 72 staff, had 200 volunteers, welcomed more than 558,000 visitors, circulated 683,000 items, had 28,000 workshop attendees, and answered 85,000 reference questions.
166:
facility. By 1968, the current facility on West Bay Drive expanded and contained around 14,000 books. However, the city thereafter determined the need for a new, larger facility and in 1974 local businessman John
Jenkins donated five acres of land for the new library. On May 15, 1977, the new $ 1 million library opened under the direction of Barbara Murphey with 30,000 books present. In 1989 the facility expanded in size and totaled 250,000 volumes, serving an average of 1,500 visitors daily.
61:
70:
190:(RFID) technology to check patron materials in and out. When the current library opened in 2005, patrons were able use RFID technology at four self check-out stations located on the first floor. This option is crucial to serving the huge influx of visitors that the library continues to assist each year.
201:
In 2013 the library upgraded its RFID system to comply with current standards and also added an automatic materials handler, which checks in and sorts materials. These additions have enabled Largo Public
Library staff to re-focus on customer service and programming for their community, despite budget
257:
Specialized collections and resource centers are also available for patron use in the form of the
English Language Learning Center, e-Government resources and Genealogy collection. The library offers services beyond the physical library through the library's eBranch link. This link is the gateway to
182:
In the middle of the 1990s concerns arose on how to deal with the issue of an awkward parking lot entrance, but quickly morphed into the suggestion of a new library facility. After collecting funding from sales-tax through the "Penny for
Pinellas" tax initiative, the new facility opened on July 31,
277:
records, numerous
Pinellas County cemetery records and obituaries and over 10,000 genealogy related books. In addition patrons have access through the library catalog to many genealogical research databases. Members of PGS also provide one-on-one instruction, research help and a variety of classes
165:
Due to the bustling population growth of the 1950s, Largo determined the need for a new library facility and town hall and began the project in 1960. December 15, 1961 the groundbreaking took place for the $ 36,000 new library and Ms. Helene Tilly served as the head librarian upon opening of the
139:
The first incarnation of the Largo Public
Library opened in 1916, as part of the Largo Town Hall building. An updated and expanded town hall and library facility was completed in 1968. In 1977, a new $ 1 million facility opened on five acres of land that previously housed a branch office of the
161:
In 1914, the Woman's Club of Largo began to create a small library for the community of 350 residents. This original
Library Committee consisted of Mrs. D.F. Judkins, Mrs. W.F. Belcher, Mrs. J.T. Jackson, Mrs. W.M. Ulmer, and Mrs. Ann McMullen. Efforts to begin the library started at the large
229:
The physical library has computers for use, as well as study rooms, reference services, Children's Wing and the Teen Room. An ideaLAB with a 3D printer has been added outside the Teen Room as a place to develop creative ideas and explore new technology. The ideaLAB has not only a
197:
for returning materials, picking up hold requests and other library related transactions. The Drive-Through enables the library to serve a diverse group including the elderly, parents of young children and the mobility challenged.
202:
cuts that reduced staffing levels during the recession. This shift in focus was rewarded in 2018 when Largo Public
Library was named The Florida Library Association Library of the Year.
141:
218:
The Largo Public Library offers a diverse collection of materials available for checkout including DVDs, CDs, books, audiobooks, e-books, and videos. Through collaboration with the
635:
772:
584:
254:. All of these services are free to use at the Largo Public Library. They also host gaming, entertainment, literary events and programs for adults, teens and children.
21:
285:
Service. The bookmobile can carry approximately 2,500 items, latest DVD releases, audiobooks, and current bestsellers. In summer 2020 during the height of the
751:
655:
577:
186:
Largo Public Library has a long history of "firsts" in technology; it was the first library in Pinellas County to use barcodes (1994) and then
705:
695:
777:
625:
289:
the Library put a halt to its route of stop locations and instead transitioned to a pilot program of home delivery of library materials.
665:
650:
262:
219:
640:
570:
731:
685:
680:
670:
700:
605:
690:
630:
187:
456:
265:
and partners with the Pinellas Genealogy Society (PGS) to provide a permanent home for maps, magazines, journals, CD-ROMs,
715:
660:
610:
710:
675:
174:
384:
210:
741:
620:
645:
444:
432:
420:
408:
148:
initiative and utilizes over twice the space as the previous facility, opened to the public on July 31, 2005.
222:, the library offers a variety of digital content for check out from an e-reader or computer device through
517:
615:
194:
746:
243:
504:
133:
480:
468:
364:
342:
318:
286:
258:
a wide variety of e-content including books, music, magazines, streaming video and databases.
492:
144:. This facility received an expansion in 1989. The current facility, which was funded by a
60:
531:
223:
556:
129:
89:
193:
Starting in January 2008, library patrons had the added convenience of a full service
766:
261:
Largo Public Library is designated as the center for genealogical research for the
69:
274:
239:
282:
266:
231:
36:
23:
270:
145:
562:
251:
550:
385:"Penny for Pinellas Largo, Belleair, Belleair Bluffs & vicinity"
247:
209:
173:
278:
and seminars to assist patrons with their genealogical research.
235:
113:
566:
281:
In January 2019 the library launched the Largo Public Library
305:
142:
Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
724:
598:
108:
100:
95:
83:
53:
136:, it serves a community of over 75,000 residents.
338:
336:
334:
74:The current Largo Public Library, opened in 2005
578:
8:
435:, February 13, 2013, accessed April 17, 2015
423:, November 23, 2008, accessed April 17, 2015
214:Public computers used for reference services
773:Buildings and structures in Largo, Florida
585:
571:
563:
555:
59:
50:
16:Public library in Pinellas County, Florida
481:"Largo Public Library ideaLAB Equipment"
447:, July 10, 2007, accessed April 17, 2015
411:, May 31, 1994, accessed April 17, 2015
298:
636:Hillsborough (Tampa–Hillsborough Co.)
459:, May 3, 2018, accessed June 14, 2018
7:
263:Pinellas Public Library Cooperative
220:Pinellas Public Library Cooperative
14:
132:, United States. Located next to
68:
507:, n.d., accessed April 17, 2015
345:, 2012, accessed April 19, 2013
308:, n.d., accessed April 19, 2013
128:is a public library located in
495:, n.d., accessed March 4, 2015
471:, n.d., accessed March 4, 2015
354:Murphey, "Largo Library", 1990
188:radio-frequency identification
1:
483:, access-date=August 30, 2016
747:St. Petersburg (Mirror Lake)
778:Public libraries in Florida
794:
518:"Welcome to Largo Library"
79:
67:
58:
37:27.9134884°N 82.7852675°W
752:West Palm Beach (Mandel)
593:Florida public libraries
365:"History of the library"
343:“History of the Library”
319:"History of the Library"
306:"City of Largo, Florida"
178:Library interior in 2006
390:. Pinellas County. 2016
206:Collection and services
42:27.9134884; -82.7852675
445:"St. Petersburg Times"
433:"St. Petersburg Times"
421:"St. Petersburg Times"
409:"St. Petersburg Times"
215:
179:
157:Origins of the library
87:120 Central Park Drive
213:
177:
656:Leon (LeRoy Collins)
621:Duval (Jacksonville)
195:drive-through window
126:Largo Public Library
54:Largo Public Library
246:, and a variety of
244:Lego Mindstorms EV3
226:'s Libby platform.
33: /
216:
180:
170:The modern library
134:Largo Central Park
114:largopubliclibrary
760:
759:
457:"Tampa Bay Times"
287:COVID-19 pandemic
122:
121:
96:Other information
785:
587:
580:
573:
564:
559:
554:
553:
551:Official website
536:
535:
528:
522:
521:
514:
508:
502:
496:
490:
484:
478:
472:
466:
460:
454:
448:
442:
436:
430:
424:
418:
412:
406:
400:
399:
397:
395:
389:
381:
375:
374:
372:
371:
361:
355:
352:
346:
340:
329:
328:
326:
325:
315:
309:
303:
118:
115:
72:
63:
51:
48:
47:
45:
44:
43:
38:
34:
31:
30:
29:
26:
793:
792:
788:
787:
786:
784:
783:
782:
763:
762:
761:
756:
720:
706:Seminole County
594:
591:
549:
548:
545:
540:
539:
530:
529:
525:
516:
515:
511:
503:
499:
491:
487:
479:
475:
467:
463:
455:
451:
443:
439:
431:
427:
419:
415:
407:
403:
393:
391:
387:
383:
382:
378:
369:
367:
363:
362:
358:
353:
349:
341:
332:
323:
321:
317:
316:
312:
304:
300:
295:
208:
172:
159:
154:
112:
88:
75:
41:
39:
35:
32:
27:
24:
22:
20:
19:
17:
12:
11:
5:
791:
789:
781:
780:
775:
765:
764:
758:
757:
755:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
728:
726:
722:
721:
719:
718:
713:
708:
703:
698:
693:
688:
683:
678:
673:
668:
663:
658:
653:
648:
643:
638:
633:
628:
623:
618:
613:
608:
602:
600:
596:
595:
592:
590:
589:
582:
575:
567:
561:
560:
544:
543:External links
541:
538:
537:
523:
509:
497:
485:
473:
461:
449:
437:
425:
413:
401:
376:
356:
347:
330:
310:
297:
296:
294:
291:
207:
204:
171:
168:
158:
155:
153:
150:
130:Largo, Florida
120:
119:
110:
106:
105:
102:
98:
97:
93:
92:
90:Largo, Florida
85:
81:
80:
77:
76:
73:
65:
64:
56:
55:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
790:
779:
776:
774:
771:
770:
768:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
742:Madeira Beach
740:
738:
735:
733:
730:
729:
727:
723:
717:
714:
712:
709:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
694:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
677:
674:
672:
669:
667:
664:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
639:
637:
634:
632:
629:
627:
624:
622:
619:
617:
614:
612:
609:
607:
604:
603:
601:
597:
588:
583:
581:
576:
574:
569:
568:
565:
558:
552:
547:
546:
542:
533:
527:
524:
519:
513:
510:
506:
501:
498:
494:
489:
486:
482:
477:
474:
470:
465:
462:
458:
453:
450:
446:
441:
438:
434:
429:
426:
422:
417:
414:
410:
405:
402:
386:
380:
377:
366:
360:
357:
351:
348:
344:
339:
337:
335:
331:
320:
314:
311:
307:
302:
299:
292:
290:
288:
284:
279:
276:
272:
268:
264:
259:
255:
253:
250:software and
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
227:
225:
221:
212:
205:
203:
199:
196:
191:
189:
184:
176:
169:
167:
163:
156:
151:
149:
147:
143:
137:
135:
131:
127:
117:
111:
107:
103:
99:
94:
91:
86:
82:
78:
71:
66:
62:
57:
52:
49:
46:
736:
641:Indian River
526:
512:
500:
488:
476:
464:
452:
440:
428:
416:
404:
392:. Retrieved
379:
368:. Retrieved
359:
350:
322:. Retrieved
313:
301:
280:
260:
256:
228:
217:
200:
192:
185:
181:
164:
160:
138:
125:
123:
104:Casey McPhee
18:
505:"Genealogy"
275:U.S. Census
240:MacBook Pro
234:, but also
40: /
767:Categories
732:Clearwater
681:Palm Beach
671:Miami-Dade
532:"Outreach"
370:2016-11-24
324:2016-11-24
293:References
283:Bookmobile
267:microfiche
232:3D printer
28:82°47′07″W
25:27°54′49″N
701:St. Lucie
696:St. Johns
493:"ebranch"
469:"ideaLAB"
271:microfilm
252:iPad apps
242:laptops,
224:OverDrive
146:sales tax
691:Sarasota
631:Hernando
101:Director
84:Location
716:Volusia
661:Manatee
626:Gadsden
616:Broward
611:Brevard
606:Alachua
394:Nov 23,
152:History
109:Website
711:Sumter
676:Orange
666:Marion
599:County
737:Largo
686:Pasco
388:(PDF)
236:iPads
725:City
646:Lake
396:2016
124:The
116:.org
651:Lee
248:Mac
769::
333:^
273:,
269:,
238:,
586:e
579:t
572:v
534:.
520:.
398:.
373:.
327:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
