The Name
The Selby Library is named in honor of William G. and Marie Selby. In 1955, they established the Selby Foundation (opens in a new tab) . The foundation works to improve quality of life in Sarasota County and surrounding areas.
A grant of $550,000 from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation was the largest single contribution to building the Selby Public Library. Additional funding came from city, county, federal, and private sources.
The Design
Eugene Aubry designed Selby Public Library in association with Gary Hoyt of Hoyt Architects (opens in a new tab) of Sarasota.
The Artwork
Artist and architect Tim Prentice created the kinetic sculpture Just Browsing, installed in the library rotunda in 1998 as part of the Sarasota Arts in Public Places program. The moving elements are often compared to clouds or a school of fish.
Additional bronze sculptures are located outside in the parking area. These works are part of the Sarasota Arts in Public Places program and were funded in part by a gift from the Selby Foundation.
Sharing, created by artist Bruno Lucchesi, was installed in 2002. His work is displayed in major museums and public collections across the United States.
This content was edited and reviewed with assistance from ChatGPT, including support for clarity and accessibility considerations. Final review, validation, and approval were completed by County staff.