Tampa Free Library

For other Carnegie Libraries, see Carnegie library (disambiguation)

Old Tampa Free Public Library
Location 102 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, Florida
Coordinates 27°57′37″N 82°27′38″W / 27.96028°N 82.46056°WCoordinates: 27°57′37″N 82°27′38″W / 27.96028°N 82.46056°W
Area less than one acre
Architect Fred J. James
Architectural style Classical Revival
Governing body Local
NRHP Reference # 91000618[1]
Added to NRHP May 16, 1991

The Old Tampa Free Public Library (also known as the Exceptional Children Education Center) is a historic library in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. Located at 102 E. 7th Avenue, it was one of 10 Florida Carnegie libraries to receive grants awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1917.[2] It was designed by Tampa architect Fred J. James and constructed from 1915-1917. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 1991.

Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funding for more than 3,000 Carnegie libraries in the United States, Canada, and Europe.[3] The library was built using a $50,000 grant from Carnegie.

It was Tampa's main library until 1968. It includes a T-plan, masonry, brown and yellow brick atop a rusticated granite basement, and is topped by a barrel tile roof. It has been known as the Old Tampa Free Public Library, the Exceptional Children Education Center is now being used for Tampa's Business and Community Services Department.[4]

The building was rehabilitated in 1999 by the City of Tampa for public offices.[5]

References and external links

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  2. ↑ Jones, Theodore (1997). Carnegie Libraries Across America. New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471144223.
  3. ↑ Bobinski, George (1969). Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development. American Library Association. ISBN 0-8389-0022-4.
  4. ↑ Revitalizing Neighborhoods: Tampa Heights; Metro Jacksonville explores Tampa's first prominent residential suburb and neighborhood - one eerily similar to Jacksonville's Springfield: Tampa Heights. July 14, 2011 Metro Jacksonville
  5. ↑ "Tampa Free Public Library". Retrieved 11 October 2013.