Austin Davis Public Library

History

The Austin Davis Public Library has a proud history of growth and community involvement. The Hillsborough County Bookmobile provided library service to the community of Citrus Park-Keystone-Odessa until June 6, 1977, when the 800-square-foot "Citrus Park-Keystone Library" opened in a storefront at Fox's Corner Shopping Center. The library provided services and programs that the community responded to eagerly. By 1986 the use of this neighborhood library had grown to the point that the library doubled its size to 1,600 square feet and expanded into a second storefront.

In the fall of 1991, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners accepted a generous $1.1 million offer by Mr. Austin Davis and the Austin Davis Family/Winn-Dixie Charities, Inc. to construct a new library for this community. Mr. Davis selected the Keystone Park site because of its beauty and proximity to the county park, Keystone Recreational Center, thereby creating a service to benefit the community for generations to come.

The library also houses a unique collection of resources for the career minded called the Career Collection. This collection houses material related to finding a job or new career, college information and "how to write a resume" and cover letter books. The library is also the repository of community information from the Keystone Community Association and the Odessa Civic Club. The library also maintains back issues of the Keystone Community Newsletter.

The library has been the focal point for this community's informational, educational and recreational needs. Library programs include story times for pre-schoolers and toddlers and information programs for adults. Various community groups including the Friends of the Library meet in the library's meeting room. In addition, there are annual events at the library sponsored by or in part by the Friends of the Library. The Austin Davis Public Library has a very active Friends group that worked diligently with the county to bring library services to the community.