Ways 
We're Helping

Opened in 2015 with joint support from TLF and the Manatee Community Foundation, The LITtle Discovery Center is an interactive learning space for children, ages 2 to 5, and their caregivers. The space is an extension of the Central Library--replete with children's librarians for guidance, books, educational kits, toys, STEM learning stations, and more! The Little Discovery Center provides a place for preschool children to engage in activities that help cultivate literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills.

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The Little Discovery Center is free and open to children and their guardians Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm. All are welcome. Appointments are encouraged.

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Located at:

321 15th Street West

Bradenton. FL 34205

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For appointments or inquiries:

(941) 748-5555 x. 3807

TLF is sponsoring this self-paced early literacy program that encourages families to read at least 1,000 books to their children before beginning kindergarten.

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Children start developing language and vocabulary skills early. Reading together is great way to equip your child with the tools they need for their primary education and spend time together as a family.

 

We had over 1,300 participants in 2023! We look forward to continuing to grow that number, and helping as many local children on their path to early literacy as possible.

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Visit your local library branch for quick and easy sign-up. You'll receive your first reading log upon enrollment. Turn in logs after every 100 books and win prizes at key milestones.

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Manatee County's seventh library location is here! 

The new Lakewood Ranch branch opened in January of 2024. The Friends of the Lakewood Ranch library set out on a mission to raise $410,000 to fill the shelves inside of the new state of the art facility.

 

Along with other donating partners, TLF has helped the LWR friends get closer to their goal with a matching grant of up to $200,000. The Lakewood Ranch branch will host many resources to be shared among the county, making the donations toward one beneficial to all!

The Library Foundation was proud to once again sponsor Manatee County’s Summer Learning Program—an annual initiative that keeps thousands of local children and teens engaged in reading while school is out.

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Participation continued to grow in 2025, with readers up to age 17 diving into books from May 31 through August 1.

 

This year’s pirate-themed adventure rewarded participants with a new book for every five hours read, plus fun milestone prizes like mini golf at Smugglers Cove, Bradenton Marauders game tickets, and entries into a grand-prize raffle.

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Readers who logged over 20 hours earned the chance to become a Kid Librarian, going behind the scenes at their local branch and curating their own library display.

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Thanks to generous donor support, the Foundation helps make programs like this possible—ensuring that every child in our county can access the joy and enrichment of summer reading.

Manatee County Libraries offer an array of interesting things to check out aside from just books. Mobile hotspots join tools, bakeware, binoculars, and museum passes as one of the many useful resources available to library card holders. 

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Users are able to check out a mobile hotspot from their local branch to keep for up to three weeks! The Library Foundation supports this wonderful program to help provide wider reaching internet access to community members. 

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Whether it's to help keep up with the increasingly remote nature of many jobs, to perform research for school projects, or simply update one's social media, mobile hotspot rental is an accessible way for patrons to stay online in their own homes for free.