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Early birds may get their wish at library

Bookworms say they'd applaud a 9 a.m. opening. The Largo library director likes the idea of opening 30 minutes earlier as well.

By JANE MADDEN WELCH
Published July 9, 2006

LARGO - One morning last week, Edna Pritt worked out at a fitness center, then stopped by the Largo Public Library at 9 to pick up a book she had reserved.

Except the library wasn't open.

"I assumed it would open at 9," said Pritt, who usually uses the library in Seminole, where she lives.

It doesn't. Monday through Saturday, the Largo Library - one of the most heavily used libraries in Pinellas County and one that draws a lot of patrons from outside Largo - opens at 9:30 a.m.

But that may change this fall.

Largo library director Casey McPhee said many patrons have suggested opening at 9 a.m. and she's listening.

"Opening at the top of the hour makes sense," she said, especially during the busy winter season.

"During tax season, there was one morning there were easily 40 people waiting to get in," said assistant director Steve Bumgarner.

Often the lobby doors are opened before 9:30 so that early patrons can at least get out of the heat or rain.

The 90,300-square-foot, $21-million facility in Central Park opened a year ago. It has an annual circulation of more than 700,000 items and sees an average of 1,500 people a day.

Patrick Carson of Clearwater checks out about a dozen books every two weeks. He uses several Pinellas County libraries, but said he prefers Largo and would prefer a 9 a.m. opening time.

"I really like this library," he said. "I just wish the hours were a little bit more convenient."

McPhee is considering an earlier opening beginning Oct. 1, the start of the city's fiscal year. She sent the proposal to the city manager this week.

McPhee said opening a half hour earlier would not affect the library's budget. The staff currently begins arriving at 7:30, she said.

On Thursday morning, Daryl Johnson sat in his SUV reading the newspaper, waiting for the library to open. He has lived in Largo for 10 years and often brings his two children to the library on weekends. Johnson also likes to come early on weekdays and do research on the Internet.

"If it was open at 9, I'd be in there," he said.

"There are people who would like us to be open 24 hours a day," McPhee said. "That's not really feasible. Opening at 9 feels like a workable plan."

[Last modified July 8, 2006, 23:07:07]