Libraries around the Tampa Bay area are offering paper unemployment forms to people who don’t have access to a printer.
(Updated at 10:45 a.m. Thurs., April 23, with Sarasota County information)
CORONAVIRUS: Complete Coverage From WUSF And WUSF Public Media
Hillsborough County has opened drive-thru services at two libraries in Tampa. Residents can go to the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave. and the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., to pick up the printed forms. They can also return the forms to the drive-thru locations, and the library staff will mail it to the state.
The hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Since the libraries are otherwise closed to the public, the drive-thrus will be open exclusively to distribute and collect unemployment assistance applications.
Pinellas County libraries have paper applications for reemployment assistance available at the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative building at 1330 Cleveland St., Clearwater as well as at the libraries at 7770 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park; 9200 113th St. N., Seminole; 365 73rd Ave., St Pete Beach. For the purpose of social distancing, the papers are stocked in red boxes near the entrance of each location.
Pasco County libraries are distributing paper applications at five of their locations. The forms are available outside the entrance of Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Rd, Hudson; Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Rd, New Port Richey; South Holiday Library, 4649 Mile Stretch Rd, Holiday; Land O' Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Pkwy, Land O' Lakes; Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth Street, Dade City.
Pasco residents who are not able to pick up the application papers from the libraries can request them by mail. Contact the library via e-mail at virtualservices@pascolibraries.org or through the "Ask a Librarian" feature on the Pasco County Libraries website.
Sarasota County public libraries are offering printed reemployment application forms in English and Spanish, as well as mailing envelopes. The papers are available in the boxes near the front entrance of each branch Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The libraries also use the outside book return slots to take the filled forms from residents. They will mail the applications to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for no cost. You can find locations on the Sarasota County Libraries website.
Manatee County libraries aren't handing out printed documents themselves, but are providing people with information about places that are offering printed forms and mailing for free. Those places include, for example, local FedEx offices and CareerSource Suncoast.
Though all the libraries are closed for visitors, personnel keep answering calls and emails from the public. They also can assist with applying for unemployment online and provide people with the necessary information about reemployment.
Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative – (813) 273-3652
Manatee Libraries - (941) 748-5555
Pinellas Public Library Cooperative - (727) 441-8408
Pasco County Library System - (727) 861-3020
Sarasota County Libraries - (941) 861-1110
WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online at WUSF.org/give.
