Longboat Library celebrates 60 years

The Longboat Library was anything but quiet on Feb. 24.

But, as co-president Mary Baker said, Longboat’s library isn’t one where people are told to be quiet anyway.

This chatter was different though. It was in honor of the library’s 60th anniversary. In 1957, a group of women opened a library in a local storefront, and the rest is history. Today, the library is run by 55 volunteers and has a collection of 6,000 books.

The little library was crowded for its anniversary event as guests poured near the bookshelves to celebrate the only place books are rented on the Key. The friends and volunteers of the library in attendance enjoyed light refreshments, including appetizers from The Lazy Lobster and wine from Bob and Pat Gussin's vineyards in New Zealand. 

Co-president Hazel Steskal also presented the Gussins, owners of Oceanview Publishing, with a lifetime membership to the library as a thank you for their book donations.