New Tampa Regional Library

I love this library! Huge selection of books, cd’s, dvd’s friendly, helpful staff. As for the review dated 4÷27÷15 I don’t know what library they were talking about but certainly not New Tampa. I’ve spent plenty of time at this location to know her comments couldn’t be less true. No loud PA constantly announcing stuff, kids running around untrue, I bring my two boys there to do homework, play games on the kids computers and have NEVER encountered loud, running around kids. As for cell phone use I have NEVER overheard anyone’s conservation nor heard cell phones ringing. That review was totally off base, I’ve been going to this library for 10 years on a regular bases. Studying, relaxing with a book or magazine or checking out materials this is the library to go to!

Loudest library I have ever been to. Don’t come here if you need to study or concentrate… Or hear yourself think for that matter. People on cell phones, kids running and yelling and constant PA announcements, it’s really aggravating.

Man does this place have books. Walls and walls of books. Everything you can imagine from kids to juvenile to adult, from fiction to non fiction and all points in between. This library also offers shelves and shelves of movies. And magazines. And music. Whatever you need on the media side of things they have (or can get) from the expansive Hillsborough County System. If I want a new DVD I put it on hold and when my name comes up, it is delivered to this place and I can just go and pick it up.
The building is beautiful, it looks out on a large retention pond with animal life and trees galore. It is brightly lit and offers a number of meeting rooms, a copier and computers for internet access. This truly is the best library I have ever visited. I feel so lucky to have been able to live so close to it for the past eight years.
My motto for this branch of the HCPLC: Today the pond. Tomorrow the world!

I’ve been going to this library for a long time. I like it in general. It has free internet, and the staff has always seemed very friendly to me. The internet is fast as well. There’s also a pretty good book selection (kind of important for a library, don’t you think?)

Love that you can reserve materials online and just pick them up there!

I don’t spend a lot of time in the library — getting most of my books through online holds and coming into the library with a list of what I am looking for. The library itself is nice with lots of windows and plenty of natural light. I found the layout pretty easy to navigate. However, I can’t give more than 3 stars because of location. Cross Creek is a pain get to from Bruce B. Downs and it was common to sit through two lights to turn onto Cross Creek to get to the library and through three to get back on Bruce B. Downs on the way home. It just seems like this library is so far from most of the stores and main routes through New Tampa and it always felt like a trek going to the library.

It has been a long time since I’ve been to a non-​university library. Weird feeling!
Talking to people and reading other reviews, it seems like this library is just craziness when school lets out, but I wouldn’t know since I was there in the AM. It seemed, at 10:30am at least, to be a pretty peaceful place. As for the building itself, it is spacious yet I must admit that parts of the interior could probably use an update. The book collection seemed expansive, but then again it’s a public library not a university library so I’m not looking for much beyond children’s books and maybe a fiction novel or two.
It’s worth mentioning that they offer several free classes and programs for moms during the day, like «Baby Time,» craft classes, baby sign language etc. Most are listed on their online calendar, free to attend, and have a welcoming walk-​in policy. I attended Baby Time and definitely enjoyed it. It was a nice opportunity to meet other nannies (and moms) and have some fun while attempting to start some early literacy skills for the kids. The instructor/​leader was great.
If I lived closer, I would definitely come back on my own during off-​peak hours to do some studying in this peaceful environment. For now, I hope to continue to attend their baby classes with my rent-​a-​child and check out what else they have to offer.