The first library in North Port was founded in 1975 by the Friends of the North Port Area Library, an organization formed by the North Port Women’s Club. The Friends purchased a house that originally stood on the site of the present 12,400 sq. ft. structure. Operating the library with volunteers, the Friends applied to the Sarasota County Government in 1976 to become part of the Sarasota County Libraries Department. Later they raised funds for an addition to the original facility.   Over the years, they have donated materials and program supplies, and provided countless hours of volunteer support.  The present facility was the first project built with the one-cent sales tax passed by the citizens of Sarasota County for capital improvements. The Friends of the Library Enhancement Fund Task Force raised nearly $200,000 to help furnish the new library in an effort to provide North Port with a modern library in every sense of the word.