Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library

Another nice location of the HCPLC. Nice staff. Pleasant library. Tons of stuff misfiled but that could be a result of a busy library as anything else.

I spent almost every Wednesday morning this summer at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library attending one of their back to back to back toddler time sessions.
One of the huge differences I noticed with this branch of the Hillsborough Library Cooperative is how large (and disassociated) the children’s area is. In a lot of the libraries I’ve been to, the children and adult sections of the library morph into each other. This is fine if you are an adult with kids and want to be able to browse books with your child in sight. But what about those people who use the library for work or pleasure reading and want to escape the sounds and annoyances of young kids that they are not related to (let’s face it, it is cute if you have some sort of blood connection, otherwise it isn’t)? At Jimmie B. Keel, there is a distinct separation of the children and adult sections of the library. I’m talking a kid’s area that is completely closed off from the rest of the library. This seems like the ideal way to do it. For adults who don’t have kids and don’t want to be bothered by their sounds, they have that option. For kid’s who want to be slightly louder and have fun, they also have that option. It is a win win.
The children’s area is chock full of kid size tables, age appropriate fiction and non-​fiction books, DVDs, circus animals, rolling furniture, lumpy furniture and computers. The different seating types prove to be very popular, especially in the moments leading up to toddler time, as I’ve seen kids rolling around, climbing, jumping and racing. The furniture takes that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song «the waiting is the hardest part» and turns it on its head. These kids have so much fun waiting.
As far as the toddler time here goes, I feel it is the best one I’ve been to. It is well organized and it includes phonics instruction, signing, vocabulary, literacy lessons, singing and bubbles. Lots and lots of bubbles. It is also very popular. That’s why they run three sessions back to back to back and cap the number of kids at 20. That might seem like a lot but I’ve seen people turned away because the maximum number has already been reached.
My motto for this branch of the HCPLC: It’s a circus in here.

Love this library and after the recent renovations — it looks better than ever! The library is well-​lit and welcoming and the staff has always been a huge help! With the renovations, the «friends of the library» bookstore is much larger and they’ve always had a great selection of super cheap books. Recently, I’ve had the chance to attend some the this location’s community education programs. The community spaces are really nice — very large and with projectors and screens that were used in some of the presentations. I am a HUGE bookworm so my five star rating is based on about four years of weekly use. Rock on, Jimmie B! Love ya guys!

The Jimmie B. Keel Library is one of my favorite libraries. They completed a $ 3 million expansion and renovation in February of 2014. Emphasis was put on collaborative study spaces and technology. Most of the tables double as dry erase boards for work on those tough math problems or a rousing game of tic-​tac-​toe. Media: scape work areas allow laptop users to share screen displays on flat-​screen monitors. There is a large bank of public-​use computers, as well as 3 copy machines/​printers. Copies/​prints are 20 cents a page and they only print in black and white. Make sure you bring small bills or coins because the library does not provide change. Courtesy faxing is also available to local (813) or toll free numbers.
The new Library Hours: Mon-​thurs 10am-​9pm, Friday-​sat 10am-​6pm, Sun 12:30pm-5pm
A librarian was very helpful in answering reference questions, finding a book for me, and setting up my e-​reader. Make sure to take advantage of the library’s digital collections– free magazines, e-​books, audio books, streaming movies, and music are available with a library card! Also a great place to rent free DVD’s! Private study rooms are available for two hours & there is plenty of parking available!

The Jimmie Keel Regional Library has become a second office for me, and I am often here enjoying some piece and quiet while typing away on my laptop, and researching information about my clients. The library can be found along Bearss Avenue, about a mile east of Dale Mabry Highway. It’s easy to turn into their parking lot if you’re headed west from Dale Mabry, but a bit of a challenge if you’re coming from the other direction.
The library is set back from the road, and there’s a large parking lot tucked back under the trees. The hours for the library differ by day, but they’re generally open 7 days a week from about 10am — 8pm with some exceptions. They also offer a drive-​up window which is open during normal library hours for book returns, or you can use the big return drop boxes near the front doors.
The library is a gift from the Winn-​Dixie Foundation. They opened February 14, 2001 to serve the Carrollwood and Northdale communities. Last year they added a 10,000 square foot expansion, bringing the total size of the library to 35,000 square feet.
The library provides a comprehensive collection of hardcover and paperback books, magazines, newspapers, maps, CDs, DVDs, and a variety of materials in electronic format. Along with their wide variety of community programs and services, the library also offers four meeting rooms for programs, meetings, quiet study and literacy tutoring. They’ve added new computer furniture and study tables to further facilitate collaborative work.
Now that they’ve completed the expansion, you’ll also find a small room with vending machines that serves as a kind of café. Nothing fancy, but it does the trick if you want sodas, coffee, water, and a junk food fix.
I like being able to plug in all of my electronic devices and recharge everything while searching through the library’s vast reference tools for financial and organizational information about prospective clients. I can generally find a quiet spot to work on reports and client deliverables, while still having access to all of the library’s resources.
This is a terrific place to escape the afternoon heat and thunderstorms, and still catch up on emails and work.

Haven’t been to this library in several years and it looks more like a Barnes and noble now with lots of booths and tables of computers. They even added vending machines and a self check out!
Looks like more computers and DVDs than books. Spacious children’s room and they also offer adult computer classes.
A nice quiet environment to bring your laptop or use the supplied computers and printers.
The friends of library not only sell used books and movies, but they will gladly take donations.

I really like this library and with the new remodel, there are plenty of more areas to sit and read a magazine or work on a computer. They’ve also moved the book store and enlarged it with more titles.
Today I stopped by and donated 20 of my MBA books that I no longer were using so someone else that may need them can use them in the future.

I’ve been using this library for a number of years, around 20.
Entrance: off of Bearss Ave. From the west, it is a direct turn in. From the east, there is a divider in the road to turn left. Leaving and turning west is a small irritation. You have to turn right, find a divider turn and make a u-​turn and head back west.
Parking: a lot of parking. I’ve never had a time that I couldn’t find a parking space.
Layout: Help desks are as you walk in directly in front of you. The children’s area is to the left. Computer for internet travel are circled around the help desk. Fiction and Non fiction are in the back. The LIbrary help have always been courteous and have answered my questions.
I’ve always been able to go in, find something I’m interested in and walk out with an armful of books.
Books: seemed a little empty this past go around, but they are renovating the one side of the library so things might not have been in the proper place. Usually, I’ve been able to find a copy of what I’m looking for or at least know that it is out and due to return shortly.
My wife (schoolteacher) and my granddaughter use the children’s section quite a bit. My granddaughter always comes out with 4 – 5 books in her arms and starts reading immediately in the car on the way home.

I love the library! I can understand why more people do not take advantage of these great resources in their communities. Along with books, you can rent videos, CDs, audiobooks and more. And if they don’t have it, it can be ordered from one of the many libraries around Hillsborough County! They have many computers to work on, although it can get get busy during the high volume times.
They have programs for little ones as well as adults, from book readings, to how to use and download library books to your Nook, Kindle or other devices.
Pick up tax forms, buy books in their book store or even take advantage of their drive through services!
One of my biggest thrills as a child was going to the library and getting my very own library card. Do the same for your kids… or maybe even the kid in you!

My son and I love this library! Mrs. Janet is the best! She always goes out of her way to help the patrons. She has impressed me with her friendliness and her desire to help people.

Stepping into this library is like stepping into the friendly, outer-​wordly, bubblegum that is an elementary school’s library… but with more adults.
Besides having a decent number of books (does ANY Tampa library place emphasis on the books? Maybe I’m old-​school) there’s a good number of computers and always a few people waiting to use them. I like this library because it had a pretty BIG section of DVDs (half of those titles are actually modern movies) and magazines. Feel free to lose your children in an area with lots of children’s choices.
Also, I know they make good use of their community rooms– I’ve been to several free events/​performances.
Plus, it’s one of the libraries in the Bay with a self-​checkout area. Really easy to use… especially when you see kids checking out their own books. But that’s not to say the staff isn’t attentive. They often look busy and are very business-​like when they speak… but nice nonetheless.
PYRA SAYS: This library is how I like my dinner– balanced with lots of goodies for all.