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Downtown library prepares latest chapter

The John F. Germany Library is in the beginning stages of an upgrade plan to accommodate growth and technology.

By JANET ZINK
Published July 1, 2005

DOWNTOWN - For years, Hillsborough County library officials have focused their efforts on building branches in fast-growing suburban areas.

Now they want to turn their attention toward the mother ship - the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa.

The library on Ashley Drive hasn't seen a major renovation in 30 years.

But with technology changing how people use libraries and a cultural arts district and residences planned for downtown, the building needs an upgrade, library officials say.

"We need to respond to all the changes going on around us," said David Wullschleger, operations manager for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.

A new consultant's report recommends a $45-million expansion. It would include demolishing the annex and auditorium behind the main library and expanding the library up and out.

The report, finished late last year, also suggests improving the library's exterior and landscaping and building a conference center overlooking the Hillsborough River.

The plans are in the "larval stage," emphasized Jackie Zebos, manager of administrative and reference services for the local library system. A feasibility study from a structural engineer is due by the end of the year.

The library opened in 1968 as what officials called a "Taj Mahal built to last forever." The annex, connected by an enclosed walkway to the main building, was added in 1976. County officials named the library after John Germany, a former judge and civic leader, in 1999.

The library boasts the system's largest collection and serves as a resource for more than 20 regional and neighborhood facilities. Its books are shipped to library users across the area.

Over the years, the county has replaced the carpeting, removed asbestos and fireproofed rooms but never completed a major update.

"What we have now is a very dysfunctional building," Zebos said.

The consultant's report was based in part on a survey of library users, focus groups and population projections for the region and downtown. More than 5,000 condominiums are on the drawing boards for downtown.

"We think that's going to have a big impact on our library," Zebos said. "Even if only half of the residential development comes to pass, we think it's going to greatly increase use of our circulating collection and programs. It will be more of a neighborhood library for the people downtown."

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said this week the library hasn't figured prominently into her plans for redeveloping downtown, but it is a key piece of the puzzle.

"The library is part of all the cultural amenities we have in that area," Iorio said. "It is one of the assets."

The consultant projected that the 140,000-square-foot library will need 190,000 square feet by 2015 and 230,000 square feet by 2025.

Two of the library's biggest needs are meeting space and computers.

"This building was never designed or planned for the huge number of computers we have in here," Zebos said. "Computers and computer tables take up a lot of room."

The downtown library has 40 computers with Internet access for doing everything from checking e-mail to filling out employment applications and taking online driver improvement courses.

This year the library added wireless access so visitors can easily use their laptops and PDAs from the building. Users at home can also get online reference help from a live librarian.

Although the Germany library has a 100-person auditorium, it needs a variety of meeting space, Zebos said, from small quiet places for studying to a large meeting room for hundreds of people.

The expansion will be costly, and funding will likely come in phases, starting in the next few years. Money for libraries comes from Hillsborough County property taxes. State construction grants also contribute.

"We've been fortunate to really enjoy a lot of support for funding of libraries, not only from citizens but also the elected officials," Zebos said. "But in the time that I've been here,we've never undertaken a project of this size. It will have to be a process of building support and informing people about it."

- Janet Zink can be reached at 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 30, 2005, 09:09:07]