WOW Donation to Enhance Library Teen Programs
A special thank you goes to the World of Westchase, Inc. for their very generous donation.
WOW recently donated $19,600 to the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library for the Teen Program at the UTB Library. This donation will significantly enhance its teen programs. Through the generous WOW donation will purchase enhanced electronic and educational items for the teen room.
We appreciate WOW’s fantastic support of the Teen Program at the Upper Tampa Bay Library. Some of the items will be purchased this year and the remainder will be purchased in 2013 when the upcoming expansion of the library is completed.
We want to remind you that it is time to renew your Friends of UTB Regional Library Membership. The Friends Membership Renewal letters will be mailed out shortly to current members. Those who would like to join will find forms in the Friends Gazebo Book Store at the library. Your membership and the Gazebo Book Store help us to fund programs for all ages and purchase needed items currently unfunded by the library budget.
Your support makes a difference in library services. The Friends Membership starts for as little as $10 a year! If you would like to volunteer in the Friends Book Store, you can check that on the membership form and we will get in touch with you.
Remember to check http://hcplc.org selec,t locations and then Upper Tampa Bay Library for upcoming programs.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!
By Maureen Gauzza
National Friends of the Library Week Celebrated
On Oct. 21 we celebrated National Friends of the Library Week at Aston Gardens.
We would like to thank Aston Gardens for their great hospitality. We also thank the following merchants for helping us to make it a special event: Aston Gardens, Aubrey Organics, Bayscripts Pharmacy, Great Art and Frame, Laseresque, The Gallery of Westchase, Catch 23, Mellow Mushroom, Stone Chase and Solar Nails and Day Spa.
One of the highlights of the evening was viewing the new schematic drawing of the UTB Regional Library’s expansion. The drawing showed the future 11,000 square foot expansion, including additional space for a larger Children’s Room, Teen Room, meeting rooms and a larger Friends of the Library Book Store.
In December the beautiful Christmas tree art collages in the Children’s Room were from Westchase Elementary School.
We will soon be sending out letters to remind our members of the Friends of UTB Regional Library that it is time to renew their memberships. The Friends Memberships helps to support the library and its programs throughout the year. Through them we are also able to provide the UTB Library with unbudgeted items. Your support is greatly appreciated. We also hope that many of you who have been thinking of joining will pick up one of the membership forms at the reference desk or in the Friends Gazebo Book Store.
If you are interested in helping out in the bookstore for an hour or so during the week, please indicate that on the membership form and we will get in touch with you.
Happy New Year!
By Maureen Gauzza, UTB Friends President
UTB Library Features Artists’ Work in November
This month the artist welcomes artists, both young and accomplished.
The Children’s Art on display this month is from Citrus Park Elementary students. Stop by the Children’s Room to see their great art display. On Nov. 5, artist Peter Stilton, the first American to have a solo exhibition at the Sorbonne (University of Paris), will open an exhibit at the library that will run through Dec. 19.
The library will be closed on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and Nov. 24-25 in observance of Thanksgiving.
I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! Click here for this month’s programs at the library.
By Maureen Gauzza, UTB Friends President
UTB Library Welcomes New Manager
Patrons will encounter a new face among the library stacks in coming months.
The Friends of Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library welcome Ms. Janet Spearel, the library’s newly appointed manager, and they offer Ms. Ann Bush their best wishes in her new assignment.
October promises plenty of activities at the UTB Library. On Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 3:30 p.m. the library will host the Johnny Appleseed Puppet Show, funded by the Friends of the UTB Library. This entertaining show features storytelling, quilting, puppetry, whirligigs, music and lumberjacks in a heart-warming adaptation of the story of America's beloved folk hero.
October’s Teen Advisory Board Meetings are on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m. Teens can earn volunteer service hours for participating. The UTB Anime Club is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, at 4:30 p.m. for teens in Grades 6-12.
The library also hosts the Friends-sponsored Un-Believably Un-Scary Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 29. Come in costume and enjoy Halloween stories, songs, activities, crafts and treats.
By Maureen Gauzza, UTB Friends President