Public invited to Selby Library’s 20th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Aug. 4

Variety of activities to begin at 10:30 a.m.

Selby Public Library is in downtown Sarasota. File photo

Sarasota County staff is inviting the public to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Selby Library during an event starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4, the county has announced.

The celebration will feature a full day of activities, including live music, an art contest, karaoke and cake, a news release points out. Additionally, a ceremony in the Geldbart Auditorium at 11:45 a.m. will feature guest speakers, including library staff and elected officials.

“The Selby Library has such a rich and important history,” said Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Director Sarabeth Kalajian in the release. “For the two decades it has been at Five Points Park, the library has served as a beacon of knowledge, a community hub and a place of inspiration,” she added in the release.

The history of a public library serving the Sarasota area dates back more than 100 years, the release explains. “In 1907, the first library was located on the southwest corner of Main Street and Pineapple Avenue,” the release notes. The facility was relocated several times during the ensuing decades, the release says. In 1976, it was named the Selby Library in honor of a gift from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.

In 1988, the release adds, “the current building opened at the prominent downtown site at Five Points Park.

For more information, contact the county Contact Center at 861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net.