Picture Sarasota's first public library opening its doors here in May 1941, at 701 North Tamiami Trail. Its Mediterranean Revival design was done by Martin Studio of Architecture consisting of Thomas Reed Martin and Frank C. Martin, and it opened in May 1941 as Sarasota's first public library building. In November 1941 the building was dedicated to John and Ida Chidsey, who made the project possible by helping pay for the majority of the cost — approximately $25,000 (equivalent to $410,000 in 2024). By 1946 the library held approximately 18,000 books.
You can almost imagine readers of that era crossing these thresholds to browse the collection. In 1974 Sarasota County assumed responsibility for maintaining all public county libraries, and library services continued here until 1976, when operations moved to Selby Library at the former GWIZ building located at 1001 Boulevard of the Arts. Sarasota County Historical Resources moved into a portion of the Chidsey Library, and by 1998 the Historical Resources fully occupied the Chidsey Building.
Notice the Mediterranean Revival details John and Ida Chidsey's gift made possible along North Tamiami Trail.