The Public Library
When most of us want to borrow a book, we hit the library. When we want a book for keeps, though — something to love, cherish, fold, spindle and mutilate — we look elsewhere. Like, oh, a bookstore. But some libraries have their very own mercantile arms, staffed by local Friends of the Library or freelance volunteers who sell tomes donated by civic-minded bookworms. No, we´re not talking Amazon.com here and, yes, many libraries (like those in the St. Petersburg system) can fit their goods on a bookshelf or two. Some of these operations, though, are surprisingly big. How big? Think hours and hours of book-grubbing pleasure. Hours and hours. The new Clearwater Main Library, for example, has a bookstore to go along with that spectacular view. Call 727-562-4970, ext. 5234 to find out more. At the top of the heap is Grover´s Corners Bookstore in the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa. Run by the Friends of the Library there, Grover´s Corners is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Hours are noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, and 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. Call 813-273-3646 for more information. The branch library in Lutz has a bookstore (call 813-264-3800 for hours), as does the larger Jimmie B. Keel Regional (813-264-3831). Call your local library to find out what it has to offer you in the way of cheap reads, or (sometimes a great notion) what you can offer it in the way of selfless labor … and books.
For library locations and events or Hillsborough County libraries, call 813-273-3652 or visit www.thpl.org. For info on Pinellas County libraries, call 727-441-8408 or visit www.pplc.us.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.