Editing Clearwater, Florida (section)

====Clearwater Public Library System====
In 1911, the city of Clearwater witnessed a vast population increase as well as acquiring telephones, electricity, paved streets and an ice factory. It is during this time that the Clearwater Library Association opened a subscription library on the second floor of the local People's Bank. Its popularity and support led to the request of $10,000 from the [[Carnegie Corporation of New York|Carnegie Foundation]] to build a [[public library]]. The building was designed by Tampa architect F.J. Kennard. In its first year, the library had over 1,277 visitors and 2,792 books borrowed. As a vacation town, the library provided free access to materials for all residents and winter visitors.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary>{{Cite web|url=http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/about/history/|title=Our History: A Century of Service: Checking Out the History of the Clearwater Library|publisher=City of Clearwater, Florida|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614191124/http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/about/history/|archive-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref>

During the Depression, the Clearwater Public Library faced many of the same threats seen at other libraries seen throughout the United States. This includes increased patron usage and dwindling budget. In the 1940s, the Clearwater library increased its staff from three assistants to five assistants. The library's collection also grew from 18,047 to over 100,000. To account for this increase, the Librarian and Board President Traver Bayly made an appeal to the City Commission for additional space.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/>

As a result of [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]], the Clearwater Public Library was for White patrons only from its founding in 1911 to the mid-twentieth century. In 1950, the City Commission agreed to the building of the North Greenwood library. Designed by Architect Eugene Beach, the new library allowed access for the city's African American population to many information sources. This library was renovated in 1984. The new Main library was rebuilt beginning in 2000. It opened in May 2004.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/>

As the population continued to increase throughout the late twentieth century, the library system continued to grow. The Clearwater Public Library System now includes five libraries: Clearwater Main, Countryside, North Greenwood, Beach, and East. In recent years, the Clearwater Public Library System has become increasingly digital, providing patrons with access to computers, online databases, and an online library catalog. This was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. which formed in 1984.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/> As a part of the library's Centennial Celebration, a project is commencing to add [[makerspaces]] to the libraries. The Main library's makerspace is the "Studios at Main" and targets creative arts making.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/flyers/2016-library-article.pdf |title=Library Launches MakerSpaces |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806151430/http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/flyers/2016-library-article.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2016  |page=9}}</ref>

The [[Clearwater Public Library System]] is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pinellasmemory.contentdm.oclc.org/|title=Pinellas Memory|website=pinellasmemory.contentdm.oclc.org|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> This system of libraries is part of the [[Pinellas Public Library Cooperative]] which seeks to provide patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pplc.us/about.shtml|title=About PPLC|website=www.pplc.us|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210082323/http://www.pplc.us/about.shtml|archive-date=February 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>