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Citizens Lobby For Library

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

NEW TAMPA - Residents lobbying to expand the New Tampa Regional Library hope a citizen board that ranks unfunded capital improvements will push their pet project to the top of the priority list.

The planning committee of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library Board met Tuesday to update its capital projects request list from 2007. The last time around, the planners placed the New Tampa library expansion as the No. 3 priority, a substantial rise from its previous 10th-place ranking.

The library supporters' two main requests for this year's budget are to add 10,000 square feet on the east side of the building and enclose a 5,000-square-foot patio on the south side, overlooking a lake.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Said Iravani, who heads the New Tampa Friends of the Library committee pushing expansion, urged supporters to attend and let their voices be heard.

He said the project may stand a better chance of getting approved this year because governments tend to invest more in existing structures than new ones in tough economic times.

To read the results of Tuesday's

meeting, go to

northeast.tbo.com.

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