- March 26, 2025
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With plans for a new library on Longboat Key in the works, community members have been reflecting on what valuable services libraries provide. More than providing affordable access to educational and entertaining material, they act as a core for social gatherings.
Volunteers at the current Longboat Library are working to do even more for community members this season.
The library has enough workers to extend its open hours to all five weekdays through April, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The schedule returns to Tuesdays and Fridays in May.
Volunteer Alice Edwards said that is not the only exciting news on the horizon. The library is also working to establish a "Friends of the Longboat Library" group.
These volunteer-run, nonprofit friends groups help organize funding and other support for museums, zoos and, of course, libraries.
"The aim is that will be there to help fill any gaps with fundraising, support the library staff themselves, and make the public aware of what is going on in the library," she said.
Edwards said their volunteers visited the William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Library for inspiration from its "friends of" group.
"They were extremely helpful," she said. "They have the most successful fundraising friends group within Sarasota County."
She said Venice staffers are now planning a visit to the Key to further assist the library in establishing its own group.
Much remains to be seen about the future of the Longboat Library, which is nearly 70 years old and run by about 50 volunteers.
A group of women first opened the library in a local storefront in 1957, and community members have celebrated its years of continuous service to Longboat Key ever since.
Edwards has personally been working at the library since 2021, inspired by her background as a preschool teacher who loved reading books to her students.
Sarasota County recently pledged to fund $11.1 million to construct a new public library of about 8,780 square feet on the Key. However, planners have an end-of-April deadline to raise $3.5 million for desired enhancements.
The envisioned expanded plan would include a larger meeting space and covered terrace. But the county said those additions would have to be covered by private donations.
"We don't know yet what space we will have within the new library," Edwards said.
While employees will staff the new library through the county, Edwards said she hopes current volunteers will run an onsite bookstore, like the Selby Friends Bookstore. She would be the organizer setting up the bookstore if it is included in the final blueprint.
She said the library's current book sales particularly appeal to vacationers seeking a good beach read, especially at its affordable price points.
"It's amazing how popular that section is," she said. "They don't want to go off island to find a book, and nowhere else resells books here."
She added, "We occasionally get very gracious people who buy a year's membership just because they're here for two weeks."
Until plans are finalized, Longboat Library will continue to serve as the island's premier library facility. Edwards noted the library supports its operations through its book sales and membership fees, but a friends group could help bolster support.
Edwards predicts many of the Longboat Library volunteers will also step up to help run the friends group, but they welcome any new volunteers as well.
Annual membership at the library is $25, and lifetime memberships are $350.
