Library Improvements: Secure Children's Area, Laptop Conveniences

The renovation of the Gulfport Library will include a designated teen section, a secure children's area and more conveniences for laptop use.

Those are just some of the details to emerge about the updating and improvements planned for the city library. (

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that the improvements are designed to meet the modern needs of library users.

"Gulfport was largely comprised of retirees and snowbirds in the '90s," said David Mather, the library administrator. "The digital revolution was still rather young then, and the library had only one computer. Since, we have added nine more computers for the public, and four for catalog searches wherever we could find room. Now we're seeing more families and students using the facility, and a growing LGBT community means we need to expand our collection.

Here is a list of the changes planned, according to the Tampa Bay Times:

• Secure children's area
• Better-defined teen section, including dedicated space where students can come after school to do homework
• Electrical upgrades to increase wireless access
• A new study room for groups or for tutoring
• Reference desk that meets standards defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act

The details will be finalized when the City Council votes on its new budget in September. The money will come from the Pinellas County Library Cooperative $180,000) and the Gulfport library's special reserve fund ($69,000). But the city is being asked to approve $101,000 in spending for a total of $350,000.

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