Sarasota County libraries staff and Longboat Key officials updated the joint meeting on the Longboat Key Library project, describing the work completed to date and the timeline for design and construction.

Renee DiPelato, director of libraries and historical resources for Sarasota County, said the project began in earnest in 2023 after principles of agreement were approved that assigned the town to provide land and the county to design, construct and operate a core library. "The town agreed to provide the land on which the library would be built and the county agreed to design, construct and operate a core library," DiPelato said. She identified Borelli and Partners as the architectural firm and John Swift as the construction management firm engaged in the procurement process.

DiPelato said community engagement identified a desire for an enhanced meeting room and exterior program space; those enhancements led the town to fundraise. She told commissioners that storm damage in late 2024 lengthened the fundraising period but that the campaign had produced significant commitments. Howard Tipton, Longboat Key town manager, said the town was asked to raise $3.5 million for enhancements and had surpassed that amount, reporting $4 million raised and ongoing conversations to increase the total toward $4.5 million. Tipton also said a major donor is Congressman Buchanan; when large donations require legal agreements, the town will work with county legal staff and the donor’s naming rights would be reflected in the facility.

Library Foundation leadership echoed the progress. A foundation representative said roughly $1 million was already in hand and forecast about $1.7 million by year end, and described the foundation’s role as fiscal agent for the project.

DiPelato described the next steps: finalize amended contracts with the architect and construction manager, move from conceptual design into design development (refining materials and furnishings) and continue fundraising for programming. She said a formal groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2027.

The transcript records no county vote on the project during this meeting. Town and county staff said they will continue coordination on lease, maintenance and donor agreements and committed to ongoing community engagement as the design is finalized.