The Bruton Memorial Library has a rich heritage that dates back to 1927. This weekend, Plant City residents will get a chance to learn more about their library and even share some memories at the Library History Roadshow.
The show is part of an initiative to celebrate Hillsborough libraries’ 100th anniversary. Since April 2011, staff members from the Hillsborough County Library Services have been traveling to the county’s 27 library locations to collect historical information on the libraries.
“The Library History Roadshow offers residents the opportunity to contribute their library memories and preserve them in our digital archive for generations to come,” said Laura Doyle, senior librarian with the digital services department of Hillsborough County Library Services. “We have enjoyed hearing firsthand from residents how much they value their libraries and the ways in which libraries have enriched and impacted their lives.”
The information, pictures, stories and memorabilia will be archived into an online database Jan. 1, 2014.
In addition sharing stories about the Bruton Memorial Library on Dec. 7, visitors will be able to have their photo taken and printed as a keepsake from the event. Children will be able to make a craft, and historic photo displays and a library scrapbook will be set up for browsing.
The Plant City Woman’s Club opened in 1927 the Bruton Memorial Library. It continued as their volunteer project until 1959, when Plant City residents approved a tax to have public library service. A small library was built by the city, a staff was hired, and the library became a department of the city government. The library was enlarged and remodeled in 1994 and now is named Bruton Memorial Library, in honor and memory of some of its strongest advocates, Quintilla Geer Bruton and Judge James D. Bruton Jr.
Library Director Anne Haywood has many memories to share.
“I might share some of my initial impressions of the Quintilla Geer Bruton Memorial Library, which is what our library was called between 1989 and 1994,” Haywood said. “Even coming from much larger library systems, I found the collection and the services offered here to be top-notch. Treva Moore and her staff for the first 30 years of the library had done a very good job building quality collections for their patrons.
“My favorite stories of my early years here are about Judge Bruton and the times I spent with him planning and building the 1994 expansion,” Haywood said. “He was quite the character and told me so many stories of old Plant City and about Mrs. Bruton and her work for all the libraries in Hillsborough County.”
The West Tampa Branch Library was the first public library in Hillsborough County and opened Jan. 1, 1914. Exactly 100 years later, on Jan. 1, 2014, the libraries will host a kick-off event to begin a Library Centennial Celebration.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
Library History Roadshow
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7
WHERE: Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St.