Have You Visited the Safety Harbor Public Library Lately?

Have ever wanted to learn more about computers, watch a play, meet a famous author or rent a movie?

Do you have kids who love stories and games, or a teen that likes to download music?

Or perhaps you just enjoy sneaking away for a while to observe artwork or read a book in a relaxing outdoor setting shaded by an ancient oak tree? 

If any of these things are appealing to you, you might be surprised to learn you can do all of them and a lot more at the .

And the best part of everything we just listed? It’s all free. 

“The library is a community meeting place,” library director Lisa Kothe says. “We’re open seven days a week ... and we’ll always have the staples like WiFi, Internet access, copying, faxing, newspapers and story times.” 

“But we’re also so much more. This isn’t your grandma’s library anymore.”

Despite recent budget cuts that have sliced some of the funding for supplies and materials, Kothe says the library remains strong today, thanks in large part to a pair of important fundraising arms. 

The Safety Harbor Public Library Foundation uses large fundraising endeavors to ensure the library can make major purchases the city can’t cover, such as new computer technology, TV monitors, furniture, etc.

The Friends of the Library is also a nonprofit that raises money through book drives and an in-house bookstore, brings in guest speakers and helps with reading programs.

Each organization charges a nominal fee to become a member ($25 a year for the foundation, $10 a year for the Friends), but their contributions to the facility are priceless. 

“We’re not a nonprofit, but these two arms are,” Kothe says. “People always ask how they can help support us ... and the bottom line is to be an advocate for the library.” 

“We did get our budget cut. We didn’t cut staff, but we did lose $12,500 for materials on top of $5,000 in June,” she adds. “We just have to be smarter about our purchases. But our members won’t see a difference.”

Despite the cuts, the library still has a ton of new and fun features, like the recent addition of the and the ability to download three songs per month. 

Throw in plays by the POSH theater, art exhibits in the rotunda, a virtual library where you can reserve e-books, and even a class teaching how to make paper airplanes, and the library truly has something for everyone.

Again, it's all free.

“The state of the library is good,” Kothe says. “It’s a vibrant place, and there’s a lot going on here.” 

Safety Harbor Public Library

Address: 101 Second St. N.

Phone: 727-724-1525

Hours: Mon - Thu, 9:30am - 8pm; Fri, 9:30am - 6pm; Sat, 9:30am - 5pm; Sun, 1pm - 5pm