[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 92 (Friday, June 10, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO TARPON SPRINGS LIBRARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID W. JOLLY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 10, 2016

  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Tarpon Springs 
Public Library for its 100 years of service to Pinellas County.
  In 1916, Julia Inness started the library in the original City Hall 
inviting Pinellas residents to explore the exciting world that books 
provide and engage in meaningful literary dialogue. The library became 
even more popular than Ms. Inness had predicted, and in 1920, it was 
moved for the first time to a private home that had more space. As the 
library expanded, it moved again to the Shaw Arcade and then again to 
the Tarpon Hotel. In 1964, the ``Friends of the Tarpon Springs Public 
Library'' organization, which continues to support the library today, 
was formed with the intention of helping fund special enhancements to 
the library. Finally in 1997, the Library's current location, a twenty-
thousand square foot building on East Lemon Street, was constructed.
  In 1989, the Library joined the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. 
The co-op helped equip the library with the necessary materials to 
serve the diverse population that used the library's services. While 
there are still local regulars who frequent the library, it has evolved 
into a very busy and multi-purpose space thanks to the help of the co-
op.
  The Library also hosts a variety of programs for Pinellas residents 
including the Public Arts Program and the Cultural and Civic Services 
program. Additionally, due to the contributions from the Friends of the 
Tarpon Springs Public Library organization, the Library has been 
updated with a new audio visual system, new computers, and resources 
for genealogy research. The Library has also been improving its digital 
correspondence, providing an online catalog allowing people out of 
county and state to access the Library.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Tarpon Springs Library on an 
impressive 100 years and thank them for continuing to provide a 
valuable service to our community. I am very excited to see what future 
the Library has in store for us in the next 100 years and ask this body 
to join me in recognizing the Tarpon Springs Library as a cornerstone 
of the Pinellas County community.

                          ____________________