The Tarpon Springs Library has been a vital part of the life of the community since its founding around 1916 by Mrs. George (Julia) Inness, wife of the well-known artist. She was also daughter of the owner of Century Publishing.
From the first location in City Hall, the library moved in 1921 to a small house on Orange Street. From there it moved to the Tarpon Enterprise Building on Pinellas Avenue and remained there until a building on Library Lane, behind the Greek Orthodox Church, was completed in 1937.
Then in 1964, when the population of Tarpon Springs was about 6,800, a building on beautiful Spring Bayou was constructed. It became a city supported library at that time. The subsequent expansion in 1986 enlarged the building from 3,000 to 9,000 square feet.
Additional space was needed less than ten years later due to population growth and the development of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. The decision was made to construct a new building of 20,000 square feet in the middle of the downtown area a few blocks from the earlier building in the park. The new building was opened in January 1997.
At the entrance to the building, two life-size models of tarpon fish spring from a fountain 20 feet in diameter which is surrounded by a brick walkway. The bricks have been donated and inscribed to commemorate various members of the community.
The building reflects the town's Greek and old Florida heritage and features a high vaulted ceiling with clerestory windows. The lobby floor is green Mediterranean marble. The same marble is used on the circulation and reference desks which are faced with copper. A combination of red oak and light oak, as well as custom designed and upholstered furniture, enhances the library.
Several outstanding works of art add another special dimension to the building. Behind the checkout desk, one can see internationally acclaimed artist Christopher Still's Changing Tides, which serves as the focal point. The painting's colors of blue, green, and purple are used throughout the building.
The Youth Services room is surrounded by six-foot high panels of carved glass by artists Karen and Julian Mesa. The design is a playful and magical depiction of underwater marine life and "merchildren."
The City of Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs is a historic small city of 23,000 inhabitants with an unusual mix of Greek culture, and Victorian and Floridian architecture. Incorporated in 1887, it is the oldest city in Pinellas County, Florida. Located on the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast of Florida, Tarpon Springs is north and west of the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area.
The city is full of parks, public art, bayous and brick streets, and boasts two distinct downtowns: The original downtown area, which is a mix of antique shops, boutiques, galleries, and museums, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Second, the internationally renowned Sponge Docks is a traditional Greek sponge fishing enclave, settled in the 1800s, that has grown into a tourist mecca.
