With permanent closure of Porter Way facility, more time needed for relocation of services to Osprey Library
After announcing last week that the Sarasota County History Center’s services would not be available through April 30, because of their relocation to the Osprey Library, staff reported on April 13 that the services will not be available through May 7.
On April 12, the Sarasota County History Center permanently vacated its location at 6062 Porter Way in Sarasota, a county media advisory said. The Center will reopen at the Osprey Library, standing at 337 N. Tamiami Trail in Osprey, on Monday, May 8, the advisory pointed out.
“A new History Center building is planned to be constructed adjacent to the Fruitville Library on Apex Road,” the advisory explained; that facility is expected to open in 2026.
“The History Center’s range of public services will not be limited while operating from Osprey Library,” the advisory noted. However, “appointments and advance notice will be required for accessing some collection materials.”
“While some of the History Center’s most commonly used reference materials will be kept at its new Osprey Library location,” the advisory continued, “many historical photographs, films, oral histories, archival records, maps, and other resources will be stored in a more secure, environmentally appropriate facility approximately 10 miles away. Staff will have complete access to the collection,” the advisory said, “but will need advance notice to retrieve items requested by researchers.”
Additionally, the advisory pointed out, a portion of the History Center’s historical photographs and documents can be accessed online at scgov.pastperfectonline.com