For over 20 years, Fruitville Library has been one of the busiest branches in the Sarasota County Library System. To better serve its growing community, Sarasota County is planning a major expansion and renovation of the library. When Fruitville Library reopens, visitors will be able to enjoy:

• A Creation Station makerspace for hands-on learning and creativity
• A newly redesigned children's area and a dedicated space for teens
• Modernized study, collaboration and meeting rooms
• Expanded community spaces for gatherings and events
• A tranquil green courtyard for reading and outdoor programs
• Convenient access to the new History Center, highlighting local history and stories

The Fruitville Library closed to the public on Thursday, Dec. 18, to begin construction on the new addition and interior renovations. A temporary library, located in the Fruitville Library parking lot, will open in early January to offer limited services.

The temporary library will provide the following services:

• Pickup for library holds.
• A small selection of high-demand books and materials.
• Basic account assistance from library staff.
• An exterior book drop for returns.

Due to space constraints, the temporary library will not offer:

• Seating or study areas
• Public computers or printing
• Meeting rooms or library programs
• Tech Navigator appointments

For these services, please visit one of our nearby libraries. These include:

Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library
2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota

Gulf Gate Library
7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota

Selby Library
1331 First St., Sarasota

 The temporary library will be open with the following hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Sarasota County History Center is a branch of the Sarasota County public library system focusing on local history, genealogy and historic preservation. The new 30,000-square-foot History Center building will provide ample space for exploring and celebrating the county’s fascinating local heritage. The new facility will include:

• Public meeting spaces, including a 180-person auditorium, a classroom and a conference room.
• A state-of-the-art digitization lab providing public access to technology for preserving and sharing personal and family records and media.
• Research facilities for accessing both print and digital resources relating to local history and genealogy.
• Exhibits throughout the building highlighting Sarasota County’s remarkable past.
• Secure, environmentally appropriate storage for the History Center’s extensive public collection of historical photographs, maps, artifacts, audio recordings and other materials.

During construction, the History Center remains open for business at its temporary location in the Osprey Library (337 N. Tamiami Trail in Osprey). Most services are still available during construction, such as:

• Access to the History Center’s extensive public archive. (Advance notice required to pull some materials from remote storage ahead of your visit.)
• The Memory Lab, a do-it-yourself space for digitizing and preserving family photos, film, sound recordings and other treasures.
• Public programs, including the Florida History Lecture Series.
• Historical exhibits at Osprey and elsewhere around the library system.
• Historic preservation programs, including historical markers, resource protection for historic buildings and archaeological sites and ad valorem tax exemptions for qualifying improvements to historic buildings.

Visit SarasotaCountyHistory.org to learn more.

For opening updates and more information, check this website and or Sarasota County Government on social media, #SRQCountyLibraries and #SRQCountyHistory, or contact InfoCentral at 941-861-1110.