Overpopulated library!

OSHNA has received the following information from Joe O’Sullivan, Senior Librarian at the Seminole Heights branch library.

“…The City of Tampa 's Fire Marshall's Office has informed the library that the total maximum occupancy load for the building is 49. Once we have that many people inside the library, we cannot let anyone else in as we would be in violation of the Fire Code. Besides that, there are safety issues for all involved if, God Forbid, a fire or other emergency happened at the branch.
So far, the only time that this is a problem is during the after-school hours of 2:30pm to 5:30pm, Monday thru Friday. As many of you already know, we have tons of kids… Simply put, the Fire Code is the Fire Code.

Please do not be surprised or shocked if you come to the library during the aforementioned hours and a HCSO Deputy is there and informs you that we are at capacity and we cannot let anyone in. Exceptions are people who are just picking up their holds, coming to pick up their kids, need to use our courtesy phone quickly, or use the restrooms quickly.

A question that I have been commonly asked the last few days is "What can we do to get a bigger library in the Seminole Heights community?” The best thing that people and neighborhood organization can do is to let their concerns be heard at Library Board meetings. You can go to www.thpl.org and click on the "Library Board" link to access all types of info on the Library Board. …The more that the Planning Committee of the Library Board hears that the community needs a new library, the faster it will act. The other thing that you can do is call Barbara Marquette at the John F. Germany (a.k.a. the "Main Library") at 273-3660 or 276-8172 and voice your concerns.”