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Boca Raton Public Library

The City of Boca Raton, incorporated in 1925, is the third largest and the southern most city in Palm Beach County, Florida. The City of Boca Raton provides a range of municipal services including two public libraries serving the residents of the incorporated area of Boca Raton. Residents and individuals owning property in their own name within the corporate limits of the city are entitled to the issuance of a library card. Non-residents may purchase a library card.

History
The Woman’s Club of Boca Raton started the first community library in January, 1923. The library was managed by a group of volunteers and the collection was developed from donations. The community library was closed in 1926 and the collection was donated to a local elementary school. In January, 1946, the community library was reopened and the collection housed in a building located on the Boca Raton Army Air Field. In 1947 this library was closed because of damage from a severe hurricane.

In 1948 another community library was opened in Town Hall supported by donations from Hildegarde Schine, the wife of the owner of the Boca Raton Club. In 1957 the library was moved to the administration building of the Garden Apartments on West Palmetto Road supported in part by funding from the City. In 1961 a new library building was completed on NW 2nd Avenue, the location of the current Downtown Library. In 1966 this building was dedicated to the City and named the Boca Raton Public Library. The building subsequently underwent several renovations.

In 2003 a $19.8 million bond issue was approved by the taxpayers of the City for the building of two new library buildings. The first, located at 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, opened on January 26, 2008 and is known as the Spanish River Library and Community Center. The second new library building will be located on Boca Raton Boulevard, a block north of the existing Boca Raton Downtown Library. It is currently under construction and it is expected to be completed in spring 2013.

For a more extensive history of the Boca Raton Public Library, see “A Chronicle of the Boca Raton Public Library 1923-2007,” The Spanish River Papers, Vol. 20 (December, 2007).

Facilities
The Boca Raton Library has two locations to serve the residents of incorporated Boca Raton. The Downtown Library (21,400 square feet) is located at 200 N.W. Boca Raton Boulevard. The Spanish River Library and Community Center (40,940 square feet) is located at 1501 N.W. Spanish River Boulevard. The hours of the library are posted on the library web site.

Groundbreaking for a new 41,932 square foot Boca Raton Downtown Library took place on April 24, 2012. The new library is designed by PGAL of Boca Raton in the Mediterranean architectural style of Addison Mizner (1872-1933). The library is being built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification requirements.

The Boca Raton Public Library subscribes to a basic public library philosophy that public libraries serve to inspire lifelong learning, advance reading and knowledge, and strengthen the community’s education system. Library services and resources are provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all people of the community.

Events and Activities
Libraries are evolving from the large book depositories of the past. The expanding wealth of information available electronically has driven libraries to create ways of retrieving information and sharing the information with the public. In recessionary times, patrons often visit public libraries for free or low cost entertainment, books, DVDs, CDs and internet access. Recognizing the challenges of remaining relevant during changing times, the Boca Raton Public library offers a wide variety of educational and recreational opportunities to the public. Technology is changing the roles of libraries. Along with public computers, adult programming such as Socrates Cafe draws patrons into the library for socialization as well as education.

Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library
The Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library, a volunteer 501(c) charity, is a volunteer and fundraising group dedicated to making the library an important part of the cultural core of Boca Raton.

The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation, Inc.
The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation, Inc. was formed to support the Boca Raton Public Library. Contributions to the Foundation are gifts that help ensure quality library services in Boca Raton. The Boca Raton Public Library Foundation Inc. is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization.

The Boca Raton Public Library Advisory Board
The Library Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Council concerning the management and operation of the Boca Raton Public Library. The seven members are appointed for three-year terms and meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm at the Library. Further information regarding the Advisory Board is outlined in the City Ordinance.

Wikipedia Links
Public Library: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_library

Socrates Cafe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates_cafe