Temple Terrace Library Book Sale July 14-16

The ’s next book sale will take place July 14 to 16.

The special sales, which take place three times a year in March, July and November, allow the library to pay for its programs, new books, equipment, furnishings and other materials.

Hundreds of books, from novels to cookbooks to nonfiction about art, travel, nature, science, history and romance will be up for sale.

The Friends of the Temple Terrace Library sponsor the book sales, which have taken place since 1972.

Volunteers in the Book Nook, which opened in 1998, now help facilitate the sale.

Located off the library lobby, the Book Nook has 16 volunteers on staff. Hours of operation are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 2 p.m.

Friends volunteers sort and price gently-used books donated by residents. Paperback books range from 50 cents to $1 and hardback books are priced at $2, said manager Jane Hilton.

“The Friends’ Book Nook annually contributes $20,000 to $25,000 to the library,” said Library Director Armand Ternak. “This money is used to supplement the city’s library budget by purchasing books, CDs, copy machines, carpeting, to build the artists corner and fund special programs through the year.”

Friends President Daniel Morton said all books that aren’t sold are donated. Patient libraries at University Community Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center and James A. Haley Veterans Hospital receive paperbacks that patients can keep. The Hillsborough County correction system receives most of the unsold hardback books.

The city’s master plan calls for a new library to be built in the redevelopment area to serve its 1,500 daily patrons. City police and fire departments will use the existing building.

The new building will begin another chapter in the library’s history.

The Temple Terrace Woman’s Club opened the city’s first library in 1960 in a small 19th tee caddy shack. It quickly became apparent, however, that as the demands for service grew, more space would be needed.

The library was moved to what was then city hall, and the city took over operations in 1962. That same year, the Library Board was created, which enabled receipt of books from the Hillsborough County Library Service. The book collection grew rapidly.

Volunteers formed the Friends of the Temple Terrace Library in 1962. The group’s goal is to support the library financially by raising money through private efforts. The money is then used to buy books, equipment, furnishings and materials.

A grant provided money to build a 6,000-square-foot library at 202 Bullard Parkway in 1965. Within 13 years, growth dictated a 5,600-square-foot addition.

A fire in 1982 destroyed 11,666 books, 1,010 recordings and closed the library for six weeks until a temporary home was found at Lightfoot Recreation Center. The newly refurbished library building was dedicated one year later.

The last expansion and renovation occurred in 1998. It increased the library to 20,000 square feet.

New technology brought change with an online library catalog system and Internet computers for use by patrons. When the renovated library opened in 1998, it was equipped with computers, projectors, microfilm readers and furniture, all paid for by the Friends.

The book sale schedule is: