Festivities to begin at 10 a.m., with variety of activities planned
On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library in Venice will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an event featuring educational programming, live demonstrations, musical performances and other activities, the Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Department has announced.
The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. at the library, which stands at 4134 Woodmere Park Blvd. in Venice, a news release says. The festivities will conclude around 3:30 p.m., the release adds.
“Thirty-year anniversaries are often represented by pearls,” said Renée Di Pilato, director of the Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Department, in the release. “Like a pearl, which takes time to develop and grow, our library has progressed into a highly regarded institution with a knowledgeable staff committed to serving their community.”
The Jan. 27 event will have a sea theme and incorporate the following programming:
- 10:30 a.m. — Interactive and educational program presented by Mote Marine Laboratory of Sarasota.
- 11:30 a.m. — “Outdoor scavenger hunt, coloring station, sidewalk art supplies, popcorn snacks, chance drawing and more at the Pop-up Library.
- Noon — “Musical performance by an outdoor drum circle.
- 1 p.m. — “Pearl nitrogen ice cream demonstration by Delicious Science.
- 2:30 p.m. – “Ocean-themed crafts for young adults and children.”
“This event is about inviting the community to help us celebrate this special occasion,” said Di Pilato in the release. “After all, it was our supporters who originally requested a library be built here in Venice.”
Founded by literacy advocate Frances T. Bourne and funded by a voter-approved 1-cent surtax in 1994, the library was established in response to resident requests in the late 1980s, the release explains.
“As a testimony to community collaboration and dedication to literacy and education, the library was inaugurated on Jan. 15, 1994,” the release points out. It was named in Bourne’s honor on Dec. 10, 1995. “Today, the library is considered a cornerstone of the south Venice community,” the release notes.