More Information About . . .
the Bethune Park Electronic Library
|
|
Future of the Region Community Service Award
Honorable Mention Electronic Libraries - Hillsborough County
The electronic library concept was recognized by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council during their annual Future of the Region Awards (FOR) Program. The progam provides recognition for outstanding achievements and contributions that benefit the regional community.
|
The community of Wimauma has no easily accessible library services. Access to the Ruskin Branch Library or the Riverview Branch Library is difficult, at best. Economically disadvantaged and primarily rural/agriculturual, the community has limited vehicular access, and public transportation is not readily available. The establishment of this electronic library, with grant money provided through a FloriNet Basic Connectivity Grant, provides the community with access to many resources commonly found in a branch library within Hillsborough County. Residents can access THOR, the library catalog which allows the customer to search for material anywhere in the County, place holds and have books delivered to their homes. They can view their personal library record and much more.
|
The Bethune Park Electronic Library was designed to provide library access to a community without a nearby county library. As the third of five pilot projects using space in a County recreation center to enable local residents the ability to access the county library system and its services, the Bethune Park Electronic Library has become a recreational focal point for the children and adults in the community of Wimauma. The Network Services Department of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System in conjunction with library administration, library training staff, Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation & Conservation and the Keysville Recreation Center staff oversee the operation of this unique partnership.
|
|
|
|
This electronic library contains eight PCs, a laser printer and a small collection of reference books. All PCs are equipped with a full compliment of office productivity tools (Office XP). The eLibrary is connected via a 384Kbps frame-relay circuit which makes the electronic library "live" all the time as opposed to a modem, dial-up connection. Of the eight PCs, four are dedicated to the eLibrary project. The facility to house the equipment was completed via a joint effort between the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department and the library system.
|
|
Four of the eight PCs referenced above are devoted to open computing access. As a receipient of a Gates Learning Foundation Grant, these PCs are equipped with not only Internet access, but a full compliment of office productivity tools. Additional titles are included for children to interact and learn the computer.
|
|
|
|
Additionally, customers are able to access a wide variety of the library system's web subscription products including, but not limited to, resources such as America's Newspapers (full-text newspaper articles), Oxford Reference Online & PoemFinder.
|
|
The library's Network Services Department provides the set-up and initial training of the recreation center staff. An additional grant throught the State of Florida has enabled the library system to initiate regularly scheduled training and servicing of this eLibrary. Since the conclusion of the original training grant, on-going "special" programs and training have been provided through the cooperative efforts of library training staff and the recreation center staff.
|
|
|
|
A variety of information and resources are available to customers of the electonic library. These services include interactive comments form, access to the Calendar of Events and pathfinders explaining additional library services. Library card applications can be completed and submitted electronically. Once the application is processed, the library card is mailed to the customer's home address, in the community of Wimauma, so they can take advantage of other unique library services including a books-by-mail program.
|
Hours change depending on the time of year and in accordance with each recreation center's community needs. Typically, during the summer months recreation centers operate between 8am and 6pm as well as during school intermissions such as the winter holidays and spring break. Please call ahead whenever planning to visit the electronic library to confirm hours of operation and accessibility.
If you have further questions, please feel free to comment on the Bethune Park Electronic Library.
|
Catalog | Databases & Websites | Library Locations | Happenings & Events
