Wikipedia

Pasco County Library Cooperative

(Redirected from Land O' Lakes Branch Library)

The Pasco County Library Cooperative (PCLC) is the public library system that serves all residents of Pasco County, Florida, and is a member of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium.[1] The Pasco County Library System, as it was originally known, was established by county ordinance in 1980. It consists of eight branch libraries and Zephyrhills Public Library, a cooperative partner library.

Pasco County Library Cooperative
Picture of the Centennial Park Library, one of the PCLC branches
Map
28°21′13″N 82°40′53″W / 28.3535°N 82.6814°W / 28.3535; -82.6814
Location8012 Library Road, Hudson, Florida
EstablishedJuly 22, 1980; 45 years ago (July 22, 1980)
Branches8
Other information
DirectorSean McGarvey
Websitehttps://www.pascolibraries.org/

The Pasco County Libraries operated on a budget of $6,205,291 for fiscal year 2016–2017. Pasco Libraries circulated 2,623,024 items during that period.[2] The head of library services reports to the Assistant County Administrator for Public Services.[3]

History

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The Pasco County Library System, was established on July 22, 1980, 19 years before Pasco County Library Cooperative. There were municipal-owned and operated libraries in three different cities: Dade City, New Port Richey, and Zephyrhills. Three libraries operated by volunteers in the communities of Hudson, Holiday, and Land O' Lakes, were also incorporated into the system.[4]

In 1986, a $10 million bond referendum was passed by voters to improve the public libraries and build new parks countywide. After the referendum was passed, two facilities were replaced (Hudson and Land O' Lakes) and two facilities were built in un-served areas (Regency Park and South Holiday). The referendum renovated and expanded the Hugh Embry Library. With additional funding from Federal programs, the Centennial Park Library and New River Library were also built.[5]

In 1999, the Pasco County Public Library Cooperative was established as a result of an Interlocal Agreement between the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners and the Zephyrhills City Council.[6]

Branches

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The Pasco County Public Library Cooperative consists of eight branches and one cooperative partner, with a new branch under construction. The administrative offices for the system are located at the Hudson Regional Library.[7]

 
The Centennial Park Library in Holiday, Florida

Centennial Park Branch Library

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Main article: Centennial Park Branch Library

The Centennial Park Branch Library was closed for remodeling but reopened in late May 2021.[8]

Hudson Regional Library

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The Hudson Regional Library is the largest library in the Pasco County Library Cooperative, and serves as its headquarters. This ___location also allows the PCLS to include several support services such as catalog development, processing, delivery, among many others. The Hudson Regional Library opened originally on April 22, 1990.[9]

Hugh Embry Branch Library

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The Hugh Embry Library was established in 1904 in Dade City, Florida.[10] The library offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and large meeting spaces. It provides computers, study rooms, and programs for all ages such as book clubs, reading clubs, gaming, story time, and family movies.[11]

Patrons also have access to e-content such as databases, eBooks and audio books through Overdrive, Hoopla, Flipster Magazines, and The New York Times. It also provides eGovernment resources as well as computers.[11]

Land O' Lakes Branch Library

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Main article: Land O' Lakes Branch Library

The Land O' Lakes Branch Library opened on December 12, 1991.[12] The library has a drive-through, an expanded lobby, multiple study rooms, outdoor areas, and a makerspace for classes such as woodworking.[12][13]

New River Branch Library

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The New River Branch in Zephyrhills, Florida
Main article: New River Branch Library

New River Branch Library opened on October 31, 1991.[14] It offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and large meeting spaces. It also features a seed library, where residents can take seeds to grow food and plants.[15]

Regency Park Branch Library

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Main article: Regency Park Branch Library

The Regency Park Branch Library opened on October 26, 1990.[16] The library offers many standard library services including books, audio books, DVDs, and large meeting spaces. It also features a test kitchen makerspace, Regency Fresh, which opened to the public on October 17, 2019.[17]

 
The South Holiday Library in Holiday, Florida

South Holiday Branch Library

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Main article: South Holiday Branch Library

The South Holiday Branch Library opened on March 24, 1992. The library has over 54,000 volumes, and circulates over 146,000.[18]

Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center

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Main article: Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center opened in 2021.[19] The library's children's section used as the school library for Starkey Ranch K-8 school close by. The rest of the facility is open to the public during school hours.[20]

Zephyrhills Public Library (Cooperative Partner)

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The Zephyrhills Public Library was founded in 1912.[21] In 1999, the library, together with the Pasco County Library System, formed the Pasco County Library Cooperative.[22]

Wesley Chapel Library (Under construction)

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Set to be the ninth branch, the Wesley Chapel Library is set to be finished and opened to the public in Fall 2025.[23] The budget for the library is $10 million, budgeted by Pasco County.[24] to It will include a lawn space, reading porch, and a lot of scenery. The library will also include a multipurpose room instead of a makerspace, which will include the ability for multiple activities such as wood working, gardening, and cooking.[25]

Makerspaces

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The Foundry

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The Foundry at the Land O' Lakes Branch Library is the first dedicated makerspace in the Pasco County Library Cooperative. It officially opened on December 17, 2015. The Foundry is equipped with two 3-D printers, as well as computer-aided-design (CAD) equipment, an Oculus Rift virtual reality system, and an audio recording studio. Other makerspace materials include various hand tools, power tools, crafting equipment, and supplies, like yarn and thread. The room serves as the primary meeting space for the Edgar Allan Ohms, the Land O' Lakes High School robotics team sponsored by the library.[26][27]

Studio H

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Studio H is the makerspace located at the Hudson Regional Library that was opened in 2019.[28] It is a multimedia recording studio that provides users with access to equipment, software, and musical instruments.[29]

Regency Fresh

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Regency is the makerspace at the Regency Park Branch Library and includes a kitchen that includes spaces for cooking and dining.[30] Additionally, the library is setting up a garden with fruits and vegetables for cooking. Classes are held to learn to use the tools in the kitchen, nutrition, meal planning, and to cook.[31][32]

Awards

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2008

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  • Florida Library of the Year[33] from the Florida Library Association.
  • Future of the Region Certificate of Excellence and Commemorative program for Public Education in Catastrophe Readiness and Response: Proactive Roles for Public Libraries awarded by Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.[34]

2010

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  • John Cotton Dana Award for excellence in public relations
  • Florida Library Association's award for best public library website. This prize promotes "awareness of the importance of good design and usability in web page development and to recognize outstanding examples of effective library pages."[35]

2023

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  • Florida Library of the Year from the Florida Library Association.[36]

References

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  1. ^ "Pasco County Library Cooperative 2012-2015 Strategic Vision" (PDF). Pasco County. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "Strategic Plan 2018-2021". Pasco Libraries. October 30, 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "Municode Library". library.municode.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  4. ^ "Where it all began... | Pasco Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Florida Library History Project, "Pasco County Library System" (1990). Digital Collection - Florida Studies Center Publications. Paper 71.
  6. ^ "Pasco County Library Foundation". Pasco Library Foundation. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  7. ^ "Locations and Hours | Pasco Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  8. ^ "Overhaul coming to South Holiday Branch Library". May 25, 2021.
  9. ^ https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/fl_library_history/30/. Digitalcommons.usf.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-24
  10. ^ "History of the Hugh Embry Branch Library, Dade City, Florida". www.fivay.org. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Open to the Public!". Pasco County Libraries. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Beacon, MIKE CAMUNAS, Tampa (March 12, 2024). "Land O' Lakes branch library features a fully-functioning woodworking shop open to the public". TampaBeacon.com. Retrieved March 10, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ NatureCoaster™, Florida's Original (November 14, 2022). "Land O'Lakes Library reopens Nov. 14". NatureCoaster.com. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  14. ^ "About Us | Pasco County Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "Seed Library | Pasco County Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "Our History". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "Regency Park Library Launches "Regency Fresh" Test Kitchen". pascocountyfl.net. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "South Holiday Branch Library -- Pasco County Library System". librarytechnology.org. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  19. ^ "Pasco's Starkey Ranch Theater Library Cultural Center opens". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center | Pasco County Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "Zephyrhills Public Library | Zephyrhills, FL". www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  22. ^ "Collection Development Policy Full | Pasco County Libraries". pascolibraries.org. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "Wesley Chapel Library | Pasco County Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  24. ^ Nager, Gary (September 25, 2023). "Wesley Chapel Seven Oaks Library To Break Ground In Early 2024!". Neighborhood News. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  25. ^ Beacon, JOHN C. COTEY, Tampa (May 8, 2023). "New library in Wesley Chapel has a name, a new look and a fresh plan". TampaBeacon.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Land O' Lakes library opens makerspace". The Laker/Lutz News. December 16, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  27. ^ "Land O'Lakes Foundry | Pasco Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  28. ^ "Hudson Library to Open Recording Studio". March 1, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  29. ^ "Studio H" (PDF). Pasco Libraries. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  30. ^ "Wayback Machine". www.pascocountyfl.net. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  31. ^ Pat, Morris (April 1, 2024). "Regency Park branch library reopens". Suncoast News. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  32. ^ Morris, Pat (August 14, 2024). "Cook, paint, sing, build: It's fun and free at the library". Suncoast News. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  33. ^ "Florida Library Association 2008 Awards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016.
  34. ^ "16th Annual Future of the Region Awards" (PDF). Tbrpc.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  35. ^ "Pasco County Library System Wins Two FLA Awards". TBLC.org. April 16, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  36. ^ "Pasco County Libraries named 'Library of the Year' by Florida Library Association". Suncoast News. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
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