Friday, June 5, 2009

Island Prayers and the charmed Casey Key Community Library


Not a day goes by without discovering new reasons to absolutely adore Casey Key, Florida. The Blackburn Point swing bridge is undergoing repair for the month of June, but I took a visitor on a Casey Key joyride from the tip to the top of all eight-miles of luxuriant island the other day. As we prepared to turn the convertible around near the bridge, we impulsively pulled into the parking lot of the Casey Key Library. Located at 800 Blackburn Point Road just across from the Casey Key Fish House, this community-inspired gem of a library would have charmed our socks off, had we been wearing any. But we’d been enjoying the beach just moments before so…no socks.


We were greeted by volunteer librarian and Casey Key resident Connie Davis, whose warm smile and generous welcome made us feel like old friends. We learned that the Casey Key Library is an independent not-for-profit corporation, founded in 1984 by resident Marion Shaw in her spacious garage. This is a computer-free, low-tech, gracious operation complete with a card catalog and self check-out. The library is stocked with hardcover bestsellers and treasures, most of which are less than two years old, and its community room hosts meetings and neighbors. The library is open to residents of Casey Key who are members of the Casey Key Association, and has become quite the neighborhood gathering place.


The Casey Key Library not only provides an impressive collection of spellbinding reads, it also serves the greater good. Two or three neighbor-friendly fundraisers per year generate monies that support literacy programs and local schools. The day we stopped in, a book by a local resident lay open on the desk and I checked it out immediately. It was the stunning “Island Prayers” by author and photographer Jack Perkins, former NBC news correspondent and host of A&E’s “Biography.” Such a fitting book to read later at day’s end as I enjoyed another sunset on Casey Key, Florida.


Living on the barrier island of Casey Key, Florida, is truly “living the dream.” The Casey Key Library simply adds to the dream life of this friendly, welcoming community. Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Casey Key. Call 941.350.5035.

1 comment:

  1. Hey that seems pretty neat..old fashioned but definitely got a charm to it..

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