Try our new language learning program!

Do you want to learn a new language, but don't want to pay the big bucks? Pronunciator is a FREE library resource available for Pinellas County library card holders.
Learn up to 80 different languages! Also, for ESL speakers, Pronunciator has 50 different non-English languages to choose from.

Click HERE, to learn a new language today!

 

Splish Splash

A grand opening celebration for the new Tarpon Springs Splash Park is set for Saturday, June 28th at 10:00 AM.

The park is located adjacent to the Live Oak Street municipal parking lot just northeast of the intersection of Safford Avenue and Live Oak Street. See you there!

Estuary-Friendly Sustainable Living

What is an Estuary?
An estuary is a body of water that forms where fresh water from rivers and streams flows into the ocean, mixing with the seawater. This is also called brackish water.

No matter where you live in the Tampa Bay Area, your actions can impact the valuable resources of Florida estuaries. There will be a free program at the Tarpon Springs Public Library on Wednesday, July 9, at 6:30 pm, where you can learn how estuaries work and what you can do at home to protect them.

Each participant that registers will receive a complimentary insulated tote bag and A Practical Guide to Estuary-Friendly Living booklet. Register at the Reference Desk at the library, or online at http://goo.gl/JLZrwZ

The program will be presented by UF/IFS Extension Pinellas County Sea Grant Agent, Libby Carnahan, and Florida-Friendly Landscaping Extension Agent, Brian Niermann.

Music on the Beach This Summer

The Tarpon Springs Recreation Department's popular Sunset Beach Concert Series continues this summer with free concerts on Thursday nights from 7-9 pm. You can park at the High School, catch the complimentary shuttle to the beach, enjoy the music, and take the shuttle back. Concessions are available for purchase, or you can bring your own. Alcohol and pets are not allowed, but you may bring your own food, beverages, and chairs.

• July 10: The Shakes Society
• Aug 7: Crystal Beach String band (bluegrass/folk)
•  Sept 11: The Little Big Show (rock/blues)
• Oct 9: Roadhouse Band (classic rock)
• Nov 6: Lil' Pearl and the Big Boys (rock/blues)

To get the latest info, check out the Facebook page for Friends of Music on the Beach.

Sponsored by Florida Hospital North Pinellas and Sun Toyota.

Where Did the Painting Go?

Local artist Christopher M. Still's 1994 painting Changing Tides is on loan from the Friends of the Tarpon Springs Library to the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art as part of the exhibit The Legacy Continues in conjunction with the George Inness, Jr exhibition An Arts Legacy: George Inness, Jr. in Tarpon Springs.

We are very pleased to be able to share this painting whenever asked. Our library patrons noticed right away that a digital copy was in place and asked where "their" original has gone. We invite everyone in the community to visit the Leepa Rattner Museum over the summer to see the exhibit. It runs from May 4 to August 31, 2014.

Did You Know....?

The city of Tarpon Springs is a finalist for the 2014 All-America City Award!

Every year, the National Civic League recognizes ten communities for outstanding civic accomplishments. To win, the community must demonstrate civic engagement, innovation, inclusiveness, and cross-sector collaboration by describing successful efforts to address pressing local challenges.

Several members of the Friends of the Tarpon Springs Library have been working hard on submitting the city's application for this award. Watch our progress to the finals competition in Denver, CO from June 13 - 15, 2014.

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

Have you seen our book display yet? Don't Judge a Book by its Cover encourages you to read something you normally wouldn't. All you do is pick a genre you like, check it out, unwrap the book and enjoy!

This display will be up for a limited time.

Friends 50th Anniversary Celebration

Join us for face painting, crafts, refreshments and fun for the whole family as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Friends of the Tarpon Springs Library.

Stop by the Friends Used Bookstore for 50% off of all items. This special will only be offered during the celebration.

Mardi Gras in Tarpon Springs

On Saturday, March 1st, Tarpon Springs will be celebrating Mardi Gras!

Festivities begin at the Union Academy Family Center with breakfast and mask decorating crafts.

At 11:00am, a parade led by New Orleans' own Hot 8 Brass Band will travel from Union Academy to the Tarpon Springs Public Library.

At the Library, the band will then play some more tunes outside, and our Youth Services Dept will host games, crafts, and refreshments.

At 7:00pm at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, there will be a Cajun food tasting by Zante Cafe and a Hot 8 Brass Band concert. Tickets are available through the Performing Arts Center box office or online at tarponarts.org

Recruiting New Readers

The Tarpon Springs Public Library is partnering with Florida Hospital North Pinellas to promote early literacy. A tote bag is given to each new mother containing information on the importance of reading to babies, a new book, and a coupon to redeem at the library for another new book. It's never too early to develop new reading habits!

It's Tax Time Again

AARP Tax Aide helps seniors and low-to-moderate income taxpayers to do their taxes at no cost. These trained volunteers will be providing tax preparation at the Tarpon Springs Library again this year every Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm until Tuesday, April 15.

Assistance is given on a first-come-first-served basis. The AARP volunteers have no affiliation with the library and cannot be contacted by phone.

CLICK HERE to search for other AARP Tax Aide locations.

Happy Australia Day

January 26 is Australia Day, the official national day of Australia. It marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of Britain's First Fleet at Sydney Cave, New South Wales, and the raising of the flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip. Throughout the years, the day has also been called Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, and Invasion Day. Today, Australia Day is celebrated with community and family events that recognize Australia's history and its diverse society and landscape.

The library's Youth Services Dept is celebrating Australia Day with a craft project for all ages. Come in anytime on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to decorate a boomerang. No registration required.

Photo: Australia Day, Sydney Harbour, 2004 by Phil Whitehouse, aka Phillie Casablanca on Flickr. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Australia_Day.jpg

In Remembrance

The Library will be closed on Monday, January 20, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Free Business Seminar

Keys To Running a Successful Small Business

Avoid common mistakes and reach your goals! Attend this free seminar designed for both current and prospective business owners on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 pm in the Library's Friends Room. Presented by Larry Hunt of the Pinellas Chapter of SCORE. Please sign up at the Reference Desk.

Epiphany is January 6th

The Tarpon Springs Library and the city government of Tarpon Springs will be closed on Monday, January 6, in honor of Epiphany (also called Theophany).

Epiphany is a Christian feast day that, in the Greek Orthodox church, commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. It has become a major celebration in Tarpon Springs that has garnered international recognition.

Check the schedule of events HERE.

Read the history of the Epiphany celebration and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral HERE.

On This Day In History...

On December 27, 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened its doors. Even though this was at the height of the Great Depression, thousands of people turned out to see this magnificent Art Deco theater. It was conceived by billionaire John D. Rockefeller, Jr as a place of beauty where ordinary people could see high-quality entertainment. Since then, over 300 million people have attended movies, concerts, and stage shows at Radio City Music Hall. The annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular debuted in 1933, and today the show draws over a million people from all over the world to see the famous Rockettes dance troupe.

50 Books That Define the Past Five Years in Literature

Flavorwire.com has compiled a list of fifty books that define the past five years in literature. The traditional book publishing industry has been challenged by the rise of indie presses, new literary magazines, internet self-publishing, and the explosive popularity of e-readers.

That said, it has been a fruitful time for book lovers. These 50 books reflect the injection of fresh voices and also gives a glimpse into what the future holds. The list is not ranked, nor is inclusion dependent on sales or awards. These are fifty books that "show what is great about literature here and now."

Beauty In The Deep

This 1961 film, courtesy of the State Library and Archives of Florida, showcases the famous Weeki Wachee mermaids. This Saturday, November 16, you can meet former mermaid Bonnie Georgiadis at 4:00 pm at the Tarpon Springs Historical Society (Train Depot). She will be signing copies of the book Weeki Wachee Mermaids : Thirty Years of Underwater Photography, which she co-authored with Lu Vickers.

Today in Literary History

Today's remembrance is from recent history. From history.com:

On this day in 2004, Swedish writer Stieg Larsson died suddenly of a heart attack at age 50, only months after turning in the manuscripts for three crime thrillers—The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest—which would later become international best-sellers. Known collectively as the Millennium trilogy, the novels feature the characters Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, a young pierced and tattooed computer hacker with a troubled past. Larsson, who never lived to see his books’ success, died without a will, setting off a protracted legal battle for the rights to his work.

November 6: On This Day In History

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. By the time of Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, 1861, seven states had seceded, and the Confederate States of America had been established under the leadership of Jefferson Davis. Only one month later, the American Civil War began when Confederate forces opened fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina. For preserving the Union and bringing an end to slavery, and for his unique character and powerful oratory, Lincoln is hailed as one of the greatest American presidents. [Source]

The Tarpon Springs Library has many books and DVDs for all ages to further explore the life of Abraham Lincoln.