Organizations & Institutions

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## Libraries

**History**-Manatee County's first public library was a privately owned rental library created by Julia Fuller at the Mrs. Bass Dry Goods store in 1898. The county's first independent library opened in Bradenton in 1907, followed a Carnegie Library in Palmetto in 1914 and another in Bradenton in 1918. For much of the 20th century, both cities' libraries were free to city residents while county residents had to pay a non-resident fee. In 1964, Bradenton's and Palmetto's library associations merged with the Manatee County government to create the Manatee County Public Library System. This was followed by the establishment of a bookmobile for rural areas in 1964 and a Talking Books program for the blind in 1966.

As demands on the bookmobile grew and the library collection outstripped the existing buildings in Bradenton and Palmetto, the first branch of the Manatee County Public Library system was built in Bayshore in 1967, followed by a new branch on East Ninth Street in 1969 and an Island branch in 1971, the last of which later moved into a new building in 1983. A new building for the Palmetto Library was built in 1969, followed by the modern Central Public Library in downtown Bradenton in 1978.

The 1990s saw a period of rapid growth in Manatee County, and the library system grew accordingly, with the Braden River, Rocky Bluff, and South Manatee branches opening in 1991, 1994, and 1998, respectively. The Braden River branch moved to a new building in 1997. The Rocky Bluff location would be moved to a larger location, featuring a built in café, in 2011. The new location is still physically within Ellenton. The additions as well as investment into various technologies such as modern computers, a 3D Printing Lab, as well as new loanable items, brings Manatee County Libraries to its modern services.[38]

Reciprocal borrowing began in 2000 between Manatee and Sarasota County Libraries, which would be followed by statewide reciprocal borrowing programs. Starting in 2017, the Manatee County library system began offering items including musical instruments, tools, telescopes, binoculars, cake pans, hotspots, and museum passes. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the library system began offering WiFi hotspots to patrons in order to provide internet service remotely to work safely and at home. This began in Spring of 2020.

### Bradenton

* **Manatee Downtown Central Library**- The land that library stands was originally owned by Joseph Addison Braden , which he acquired under the U.S Patent No. 508 that was issued on May 15 1852. Later acquired by the county an idea was proposed in the early 70s to implement a library for the county. It was completed and opened on April 28th 1978. Further development was aided by local philanthropist Elizabeth M. Eaton who created a trust provision in her will for the Manatee County Library System which is now known as the *Elizabeth Eaton Florida History Reading Room*.

* **Bradenton Carnegie Library**-In 1918 the County Library System was established with the opening of the Bradenton Carnegie Library, where the first bookmobile was started in 1956. That same year, some additions were added to the Bradenton Carnegie Library, increasing the overall square footage by one third.
* Braden River Branch Library
* South Manatee Branch Library
* Island Branch Library

### Palmetto

* Palmetto Branch Library
* **Palmetto Carnegie Library**-In 1914, $10,000 was given by the Carnegie Foundation to establish the first library in the area. Later in 2017 the Palmetto Carnegie Library undergoes extensive renovation funded by the State of Florida and City of Palmetto, including replacing the original large arched windows.
* Rocky Bluff Branch