Much to the joy of its patrons, the Sumter County Library System has opened a temporary library location to the public, for use while the Belvedere Library is undergoing renovations.
According to Library Single Administrative Head, Leslie Burch, the new venue, at 3201 Wedgewood Lane, will be open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wedgewood Lane runs parallel to County Road 466 in the Southern Trace Office Center.
“We are excited to be able to provide more convenient access for our Belvedere patrons,” Burch said, “and they can come here in their golf carts too.”
The Belvedere facility closed last Jan. 29 for expansion, and many patrons had to go quite a distance to use the Pinellas Library — until now.
“It was a lucky coincidence,” Burch continued, “that The Villages district government recently moved their offices to Lake Sumter Landing, and we are able to move in here. Of course, we will have a smaller collection of books, but members can pick up books they have reserved and drop materials off.”
The temporary Wedgewood Lane location will be open until the end of October, and the planned re-opening of the Belvedere Library, which will be twice the size it was before expansion, is November. Library Staff Lisa Taylor, Rickie Greene, Tricka Gibson and Tamara Hyder were busily arranging items at their desk while an IT man was setting up computer wiring. “We will also have a room set aside with computers for our patrons to use,” Greene said.
Village of Glenbrook resident, Sharon Gurgrau, was happily loading her arms with library books. “I’m so happy this opened,” Sharon said. “Pinellas Library is big, but it is far from where I live. This is great.” Sunset Pointe residents Sandy and Steve Webster, who had just finished playing pickleball, were also among the first customers at the new venue. “This is so much easier for us,” Steve said. “My wife borrows books all the time.”
Additionally, the Sumter County Library System is also announcing two new services.
• Kindle devices will be available to borrow, and can be pre-loaded with classic books, fiction or non-fiction, for patrons who prefer not to purchase their own electronic readers. Members can reserve the devices on a first-come/first-served basis after signing an Electrical Device Borrowing Agreement. Set-up assistance is available, and for those who might need more in-depth instruction, a Book-a-Librarian appointment can be scheduled. A library card and photo I.D. are, of course, required.
• For area residents who are homebound, the SCLS will offer books by mail, with delivery by the U.S. Postal Service. The information number for this service is (352) 689-4560.
