Award Winning Manatee County Library System Is Much More Than A Warehouse For Books In 2016, nearly 850,000 customers made use of the resources at the public libraries in Manatee County over 3.9 million times. That is a record high. Why do people love their Manatee County Libraries? The folks at the library want you to see your library as more of a community center than a warehouse for books. To start, a book is not the only thing one can take home from the library. Here’s a quick quiz: Which of the following is available to check out from a Manatee County Public Library? A. Books, CDs and DVDs B. Pre-loaded iPlay Tablets for Kids and Adults C. Cake Pans D. Telescopes and Binoculars E. All the Above The answer is E. With a library card, one can borrow any of the above items (and more) from a local branch library. And there are also classes, workshops, contests, and celebrity visits, from literacy advocates like the Tampa Bay Rays’ Evan Longoria and authors like Stephen King. Our Award-Winning Libraries Our Manatee Library System was awarded FOUR major Florida Library Association Awards in 2016. Kevin Beach, Operations Manager, won a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rocky Bluff’s Friends of the Library President, Doris Pope, was selected to receive the Friends, Foundations, and Boards Outstanding Member Award. The Youth Services Award went to the Teen Recycled Fashion Show. And we should all be extremely proud of the fourth and ��nal award - our library system was named 2016 Florida Library of the Year. Here’s why. Staying relevant is never an easy task. Ava Ehde (pronounced Edy, like the ice cream brand) who is Library Services Manager for the Manatee County Library System, has taken the challenge s e r i o u s l y a n d approached it with an open mind. Through true collaboration with her staff, the county, volunteers, and multiple associated boards, the library system has made strides to bring much-needed programs to the public, and is set to help prepare us for the future. It is for this reason that the Florida Library Association recently announced Ava Ehde was chosen as the 2017 Librarian of the Year! At The Library This Summer and Beyond Looking for fun, free, air-conditioned things to do with the little ones this summer? The theme this year is “Build a Better World” and the summer programs are many, varied and always FREE. Examples include: building Pokémon catapults at the Island location, sewing lessons at the Palmetto branch, Tampa Taiko Drummers at Rocky Bluff, making volcanoes at South Manatee, Art Afternoon at Braden River, and so much more. (Visit: www. mymanatee.org/library) Got older kids? With a focus on S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) the library system is developing a place for kids and teens to learn new skills through hands-on activities in a safe environment. 19
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