Lakeland is opening a new library branch at Kelly Recreation Complex to replace eLibrary

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
Updated ·2 min read
Lakeland's eLibrary at Lake Miriam Square opened in 2007. It will close Sept. 2 and the city will replace it with a small branch inside the Kelly Recreational Center.
Lakeland's eLibrary at Lake Miriam Square opened in 2007. It will close Sept. 2 and the city will replace it with a small branch inside the Kelly Recreational Center.

LAKELAND ― Lakeland will open a new small library branch inside Kelly Recreational Complex to replace its eLibrary South Lakeland, which is closing at the end of the month.

The eLibrary South Lakeland at Lake Miriam Square, 4740 S. Florida Ave., will close as of Sept. 2. The location has been open for about 16 years.

“We thank Publix Super Markets for supporting the eLibrary concept at Lake Miriam for the past 16 years, but as our lease expired, staff started exploring different locations and concepts,” Bob Donahay, the city's director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, said in a statement.

Dohahay said he was inspired by a conversation with a former NFL football player who asked what Lakeland was doing at its recreational centers for children who don't play sports. He realized the city would reach a large segment of its population by offering library services at these locations.

The city will open a new small library branch at the Kelly Recreational Complex, 404 Imperial Blvd., starting Sept. 18. Visitors will be able to browse a selection of popular library materials for children and adults, get a library card and pick up requested items in self-serve book lockers. Public Wi-Fi and services such as technology assistance, printing, scanning and faxing will be available.

The new branch will have Chromebooks available to be checked out for use on-site at the recreational complex.

"We are really excited to explore this new concept, and I owe it to staff for thinking outside the box," Donahay said. "I know Clearwater Beach has something similar, but as far as I know, we will be one of the first, if not the first public facility in the state of Florida with recreation, swimming and library services on one campus."

The new branch's hours will be Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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After Sept. 2, eLibrary users will be able to return borrowed materials to either the book return inside Kelly Recreational Center or the Main or Larry R. Jackson Library branches.

More information on Lakeland's library branches, services and hours can be found online at www.lakelandgov.net/departments/library.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland will replace eLibrary with new branch in Kelly Rec Center