Libraries

Way back, the Collier County library was located in what is now the upscale Third Street shopping area, backing up to the old Naples Hotel and the pier area. This w as pretty the original 'downtown' part of Naples. It moved to its current location near what was then the junior high school in the mid-Sixties.

the old library

 

The protagonist trio of my 'Sun' novels are just old enough to have been there for the change, and would have visited the library at both locations. For Joey and Ronnie, it would have been a favored after-school location (and Kris would have gone along with it as a meet-up spot, at least sometimes). As I remember the old library, it was cramped and a bit chaotic, and really could not fill the needs of a growing Naples.

The new building was a considerable improvement, at least in function. Very modern in its architecture, a big change from the old one. Eventually, it was also expanded and a shopping center-like facade added. Not an improvement in my opinion!