For other Carnegie Libraries , see Carnegie library (disambiguation)
31-654: The Old Tampa Free Public Library (also known as the Exceptional Children Education Center ) is a historic building in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Florida . Located at 102 E. 7th Avenue, it was one of 10 Florida Carnegie libraries to receive grants awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1917. It was designed by Tampa architect Fred J. James and constructed from 1915 to 1917. It
62-605: A completely different owner, or that the paper would merge with the Tampa Bay Times . In October 2012, The Tampa Tribune and its associated print and digital products were acquired by Tampa Media Group, Inc., a new company formed by Revolution Capital Group. On May 3, 2016, the Tampa Bay Times announced that it had acquired the Tribune , and was combining the Times and Tribune ' s operations, ending publication of
93-415: A diverse and interesting clientele that was not always a welcome presence at the library and would sometimes be a source of mischief. At the "7th Avenue Library," as it was called by some patrons, children would enjoy storytelling, which would happen once or twice in the afternoon according to patron memories, and book selection in the children's library on west side of the basement level. Bernadette Storck,
124-758: A rusticated granite basement, and is topped by a barrel tile roof. The building was rehabilitated in 1999 by the City of Tampa for public offices. It has been occupied by the administrative staff of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System since November 2016 and also houses the Hillsborough Literacy Council , which is affiliated with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system. The library
155-602: A vice-president with the Chicago Tribune , purchased The Tampa Tribune for $ 900,000. The Tampa Tribune Publishing company grew to include the Tampa Tribune , the Tampa Times , TBO.com , TampaBayOnline.com , WFLA radio , and WFLA-TV . In 1966, the Tampa Tribune , along with sister properties WFLA-AM - FM - TV , was purchased by Richmond Newspapers , becoming Media General in 1969. Since 2000,
186-568: A worker of the library with the cataloging and processing department, details her memories of the library's floorplan and processes: The library had a circulation desk on the first floor, with reference on one side and popular materials on the other. In the downstairs area, the west side housed the children's department, where story time took place and children's material was kept. On the east side of that floor, cataloging and processing took place. This involved hand lettering along spines in order to determine branches and subjects. The bookmobile collection
217-511: Is credited with naming the area when he moved there calling it the "Highlands" and it was developed as Tampa's first suburb in the 1880s. Today the neighborhood is known for its diversity and historic status, but gentrification of the area is causing controversy. As of the census of 2010, there were 5,782 people residing in Tampa Heights. The racial makeup of Tampa Heights was 59.4% Black or African American , 32.4% White , 21.3% of
248-774: The Tampa Bay area. The newspaper also published a St. Petersburg Tribune edition, sold and distributed in Pinellas County . It published a Sunday magazine , Florida Accent , during the 1960s and 1970s. The Tampa Tribune also operated Highlands Today , a daily newspaper in Sebring . The Tribune stopped publishing the Hernando Today , which was located in Brooksville , on December 1, 2014, citing "a tough newspaper advertising climate." On May 3, 2016,
279-404: The Tampa Bay Times announced that it had acquired the Tribune , and was combining the Times and Tribune ' s operations, ending publication of the Tribune . Daily publication of the Tribune started in 1895 when Wallace Stovall upgraded printing from once a week. In 1927, newspaper mogul John Stewart Bryan , of Virginia , and his business partner Samuel Emory Thomason, previously
310-615: The Tribune could keep its exclusive use of the Tampa Times name, but only for five years. This exclusivity ended at the end of 2011, allowing the St. Petersburg Times to rename itself the Tampa Bay Times , effective January 1, 2012. The decision did not restrict the use of The Tampa Times name by the Tribune after the expiration of exclusivity. The Tampa Tribune won a Pulitzer Prize in 1966 for local investigative specialized reporting. The award went to John Anthony Frasca for his "investigation and reporting of two robberies that resulted in
341-637: The Tribune partnered with WFLA-TV and TBO.com in a converged arrangement, all connected with one another under owner Media General. The large media complex is located on Parker Street in Downtown Tampa . The Tribune was a flagship newspaper under the Media General banner until it was sold in 2012. Executive editor Janet Coats left the paper in December 2009 and was not replaced until May 17, 2012, when managing editor Richard "Duke" Maas
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#1732801618617372-543: The Tribune . The acquisition also includes Highlands Today , weekly newspaper The Suncoast News , and weekly Spanish-language newspaper Centro ; all of these will continue publishing under Times' ownership. The Tampa Tribune name will be repurposed as a neighborhood news section of the Times. In 1958, the Tribune acquired Tampa's struggling evening newspaper, the Tampa Daily Times. The Tribune published
403-604: The Heights Public Market. The building dates back to 1910. It was originally a warehouse that stored TECO streetcars. One way to access Armature Works is by walking along the Tampa Riverwalk . Tampa Tribune The Tampa Tribune was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida . Along with the competing Tampa Bay Times , the Tampa Tribune was one of two major newspapers published in
434-510: The Tampa Free Library building its new headquarters, but reconsidered due to the price tag of renovating the then 83-year-old-building. In 1999 the city agreed to foot the 2.2 million dollar renovation costs by entering a 25-year lease agreement with Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation, at the end of which, the city would purchase the building back for the $ 1 they sold it for in 1987. Beginning in 1999, three agencies would share
465-562: The Tampa Public Library's expanded its hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, increasing the library's open hours from 66 to 72 hours per week. This was done with the hope that it would be more convenient for people working downtown to visit the library. In 1961, the library was no longer seen as an adequate facility for the growing city of Tampa. As evidenced in an article by the Tampa Tribune in 1961,
496-498: The area aiming to restore it. Many new businesses have opened in the area such as art galleries and coffee shops. A new development called "The Heights of Tampa" has begun with some initial phases of construction. The project is mixed use for residential and commercial. It would be the northern end of the Tampa Riverwalk . New developments also include Armature Works. Armature Works is a 73,000-square-foot space that consists of event spaces, trendy restaurants and bars, workspaces and
527-459: The building and repay those costs over time. In 1995, the Tampa Free Library once again garnered notice after the roof had to be patched to stop an influx of water from destroying the interior. It was at this time that Tampa's Architectural Review Commission unanimously voted to recommend the building for local landmark designation. In 1998, the United Way of Hillsborough County considered making
558-433: The building was converted into a center for academically advanced students, the "Exceptional Children Education Center". This program ended in 1986 when the city stopped busing gifted students out of their local schools. In 1987, the city of Tampa sold the building to the nonprofit Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation for $ 1. The corporation would do the necessary renovations and improvements after finding someone to lease
589-539: The community and include an extension of Tampa Riverwalk and renovation of Water Works Park (Tampa, Florida) . Tampa Heights is bounded by the North Boulevard to the west, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north, Downtown Tampa to the south, and Ybor Heights, V.M. Ybor , and Ybor City to the east. The land area of the neighborhood is 3.5 square miles (9.1 km ). Thomas P. Kennedy
620-467: The county about repurposing the Tampa Free Library into an art museum. Tampa Heights Tampa Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods within the city limits of Tampa , situated in the central part of the city. As of the 2000 census, the neighborhood had a population of 16,393. Historic buildings in the area include the Tampa Free Library . Redevelopment efforts are underway in
651-418: The decades, the library was no longer able to adequately meet the needs of the growing population. Concerns over the small size of the library, lack of expansion, and inability to assist the growing population eventually led to a new building being constructed in downtown Tampa. The original building was constructed and designed to serve 50,000 people which was adequate at the time of its construction. However, by
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#1732801618617682-483: The early 1960s, Tampa maintained a population of 274,407 people. In addition, other old, historical libraries in Tampa were also unable to meet the needs of the public due to poor parking, small size, and cramped collections. This led to questions of whether newer, larger libraries should begin replacing the older, historical models. The Tampa Free library endeavored to cater to the population by expanding hours. In April 1960
713-407: The library designed to serve a community of 52,000 people was rightfully determined to be insufficient for a community of 274,407 people. A former worker of the library who'd been involved in cataloging and processing also recalled insufficient shelving space, stating that the huge collection of books, newspapers, and magazines was "falling off the shelves." Patrons also had to travel quite far to reach
744-572: The library, as it was being used by patrons who lived in Hyde Park and Palma Ceia. Eventually the need for space and change led to the creation of a new main library, and on April 21, 1968, The Tampa Public Library (renamed John F. Germany Public Library in 1999) opened on 900 N Ashley Drive. The John F. Germany Public Library still serves as the main library in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library system. In 1968,
775-571: The newly renovated space: The Division of Neighborhood Improvement, the Women & Minority Business Enterprise Program, and the Office of Human Rights and Community Services. In November 2016, the administrative offices for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library were relocated to the Tampa Free Library from the fourth floor of the John. F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa. In May 2024, USF approached
806-413: The paper as The Tampa Times until 1982. From then until the Tribune closed down, the Tribune displayed the logo for The Tampa Times in the masthead on the front section. This was part of an effort by the Tribune to keep its trademark on the Tampa Times name, and to avoid confusion with the then- St. Petersburg Times, which long published a Tampa edition. In 2006, it was decided in a lawsuit that
837-438: The population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, 3.7% from two or more races, 3.4% from other races , 0.6% Asian and Pacific Islander and 0.3% Native American . In Tampa Heights, the population was spread out, with 8% under 5 years; 8% 5 to 9 years; 14.7% 10 to 19 years; 29.7% 20 to 39 years; 24.7% 40 to 59 years; 11.6% 60 to 79 years; 3.3% 80 years and over. In recent years, Tampa Heights has seen new people flow into
868-560: Was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funding for more than 3,000 Carnegie libraries in the United States , Canada, and Europe. The library was built using a $ 50,000 grant from Carnegie. The library's first director was Helen V. Stelle . It was Tampa's main library until 1968. It includes a T-plan, masonry, brown and yellow brick atop
899-426: Was also housed there, as Tampa's first bookmobile was kept at the Tampa Free Library. Upon patron request, back issues of newspapers and magazines, kept behind smoked glass, would be sent upstairs. A dumbwaiter was used to put materials in and take them upstairs, as the building's current elevator had not been added yet. Built in 1915, the Tampa Free Library originally stood as Tampa's main public library. However, over
930-565: Was promoted to executive editor. On May 17, 2012, it was announced that investment company Berkshire Hathaway would be acquiring Media General's newspaper division; the purchase did not include the Tribune or its associated regional papers, which were being retained by Media General. No reason was given as to why Media General was retaining the Tribune , but there was speculation that the paper would be sold to another party, such as Halifax Media Group (which owns several papers in Florida) or
961-433: Was widely used by patrons across Tampa who had fewer branches to choose from at the time of its use as an active branch. University students would enjoy the ample collection in order to do the research and study required of them. High school students would also research at the branch, and some would enjoy going to the pool hall across the street from the library, which was notorious among patrons as well as librarians for having