When stepping inside of Bruton Memorial Library, it is evident that the building has made a transformation since its pre-COVID days.
The Plant City Library Foundation Inc. invited the community to come out and get a glimpse of its new interior look on April 7.
The timing was on point as the event took place during National Library Week. It was also an opportunity to formally introduce the new Library Services Director Paul Shaver.
Among those in attendance was the Plant City City Manager Bill McDaniel, who spoke about the fascination of the library.
“This is a magical place,” he said. “Where else can you go and from the comfort of a chair, from the pages of a book, travel across the country, go around the world, explore history, become informed, be challenged…explore the cosmos. All of that is out there in one form or another, and if you take the time to come here and avail yourself of a book, of the digital library, and all the other wonderful things that are offered here, you can enjoy that same magic.”
That charm is what led some in the community to form an organization to help preserve the library for years to come.
The Plant City Library Foundation officially launched on Oct. 10, 2019. However, it was in 2018 when the idea was motivated to come to fruition after a Plant City resident passed away, leaving a substantial amount of money toward the library.
“The idea of forming our own foundation was bounced around about 10 years ago,” said Chairman Marion Smith of the foundation’s board. “Our mission was to develop an organization where people could donate funds through charitable giving in order to ensure that our library had a long-term source of funding for the future.”
The board also consists of Vice-Chairman Marsha Passmore, Secretary-Treasurer Gwendolyn Thomas, Director Danny Coton, Director Tina Pike, and Director Ed Verner.
In 2020, efforts to maintain the library were momentarily stalled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing many libraries and establishments to close down, although, it was still able to offer some resources online.
And then there was the tragic passing of Library Services Director Tonda Morris in March of that same year.
After McDaniel and the library’s select committee went about seeking candidates to fill the position, they hired Paul Shaver that following August.
Shaver has much experience and credentials under his belt. He attended Farleigh Dickinson University where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Education, and went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science at Rutgers University.
Shaver started off with an extensive career in New Jersey. For 15 years, he worked in the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. At Englewood Public Library, he served as head of circulation and then the supervising librarian at Mahwah Public Library. He continued on becoming the director at both Northvale and Montvale public libraries, before landing his current position at Bruton.
Before coming to Plant City, Shaver was already well versed in programming, technology, collection development, human resource management, budgeting and fundraising.
And not to mention that he his multi-lingual, speaking Spanish, French, Russian, and Italian.
“Paul has really made himself a part of our Plant City family since his arrival here,” McDaniel said. “I am amazed by what he gets done. Do not put a challenge out to this man that you don’t want seen done.”
Upon arriving, one of his priorities was to remodel the building, giving it a fresh start, and the work began in 2021.
The flooring was replaced, and repainting was done on the walls as well as the window frames.
Bookshelves, panels, and signage were all replaced. Circulation desks were installed and electrical routing was rewired throughout the building with an addition of outlets. Also, improvements were made to both indoor and outdoor cameras, and a new production studio was put in place for the library’s 12 staff members.
And more books have been implemented that cater to Spanish-speaking patrons.
Refurbishing libraries is something he is quite familiar with.
“What they all require to come to fruition is a welcoming, safe environment that is accessible to all regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or the opinions of others,” Shaver said. “This building carries with it the promise that all are free to pursue their own happiness, wisdom, social engagement, and purpose.”
Not only were there modifications made to the building, but outside, just adjacent to the library, is found the newly designed Imagination Garden.
Past the entryway with a sign identifying its name, there is a path made up of pebbles.
At the sides of the trail, mulch, stones, and plants are orderly placed to help guide down the pathway as well as wooden foot bridges. Stones align to create a much smaller pathway that serves as a runoff gutter for heavy rain.
On the right, there is the Marcus Waller Memorial Fountain. It is a statue of the late Marcus Waller to commemorate him. The Plant City native was just 6-years-old when he tragically lost his life on a camping trip. He is depicted pumping water from a well into a bucket where a dog is leaning over the bucket and gazing inside. And with the use of a water wheel, the statue runs water down the small man-made path.
Further down on the left, there’s the Ring Around the Rosie statue, showing three girls holding hands. The statue was a gift from Art Kirt and Janine Unger who moved out of Plant City. Unger said she was inspired to give it to the Arts Council of Plant City after seeing the random statues around downtown.
In turn, the arts council gifted the library with it.
“You learn everything from books,” Unger said. “Places you want to go see, things to improve your mind. Books are the best and I feel so grateful that they accepted the three girls of Ring Around the Rosie.”
At the end of the trail is a wooden bench to sit on.
“The Imagination Garden, in particular, was the result of collaborative efforts with at least three other city departments: Parks and Recreation, Water Resource Management, and General Services, which serves as a fine display of the skills, passion, and shared sense of service of our city team,” Shaver said.
Inside at the event, Smith displayed and explained the logo for the Plant City Library Foundation. The book represents knowledge, and the tree trunk symbolizes a strong community. The leaves represent a flourishing community, and of course a strawberry to represent where the community is from.
It’s an accurate description of what Bruton Memorial Library and its patrons are, and will continue to be.