Manatee County Library System crowned Library of the Year

Based on its service to the community, the Manatee County Public Library System was given the top honor of Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association.

The library system is a division of Manatee County Neighborhood Services.

The criteria for winning included creativity and program innovation; expansion and enhancement of service; and leadership in implementing programs that serve as an example to other libraries.

“We are honored to be the recipient of each of these awards,” said Library Services Manager Ava Ehde in a press release. “We have worked very diligently to reinvent and reenergize our libraries to meet the needs of life-long learners by creating new roles in the community and bringing a wider range of services.”

The press release stated the system’s electronic resources, such as eBooks, eAudio and movies, increased in usage by 42% in the last year. Overall library users have increased 24% since 2010.

In addition to Library of the Year, the system also won the Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award for the Recycled Dreams Teen Fashion Show, the brain child of Braden River Branch youth librarian Chris Culp. The annual competition challenges local teens to create creative clothing designs out of recycled materials and wear them at a fashion show. This year’s show is set for Saturday, April 16 at the Central Library.