Sarasota County's new Longboat Key Library takes shape!

Located on the Town Center Green, the new 8,000 SF library will feature community meeting spaces, makerspaces, an outdoor space, and more. Along with County officials Howard Tipton and Renee Di Pilato, B+P led a second community meeting for Longboat Key community members on March 18.

During the meeting, Director of Libraries and Historical Resources Renee Di Pilato emphasized some of the library's core elements: the library as a community convener, lifelong learning, vibrant cultural life, active older adults and healthy living. Di Pilato touched on some of the most common suggestions from the last community meeting, as well as some from the county's online survey. Among the suggestions were more community meeting space, outdoor space and space available for a makerspace.

“This project is consistent and compatible with the types of things we want to have on the island to enhance the quality of life here in the next 20 years. I think this is a unique opportunity we have now to collaborate with Sarasota county.” - Planning and Zoning Board Chair David Green

Sarasota County's first community workshop for the Longboat Key Library.

Ideas board for the Longboat Key Library, where community members were given the opportunity to make suggestions for the future library.

B+P President Jorge A. Borrelli and Architect Sonny Fornoles walked the audience through the new floor plans and concept art, in which they implemented from the community's suggestions from the previous meeting. The enhancements to the building include a larger community meeting room as well as an exterior deck, which could be covered.

Architect Sonny Fornoles speaking with Sarasota County community members.

Entrance of Longboat Key Library rendering.

The County is anticipating the library will open its doors in 2026. Take a deeper look into the future library here.