Page 4 - Boca Exposure - June '23

Page 4, Boca Exposure
Celebrating 75 Years Of The Boca Raton Public Library

After Closures Due To The 1920’s Real Estate Bust

And 1947 Hurricanes

This May marks the 75th anniversary of continuous • On Jan. 26, 2008, the new Spanish River Library music,” commented Ellen Randolph, Manager of Library
service from the Boca Raton Public Library. The city’s library branch opened. On June 22, 2013, the new Downtown Services for the City of Boca Raton. “Our library spaces
has grown from a small space in the city’s Municipal Building Library opened just up the street from its original location. are also welcoming hubs for civic engagement and
in 1948 to two locations – the Spanish River and Downtown Today, the Boca Raton Public Library offers over 1.6 public information, where we host elections, town halls,
Public Libraries. The original founding of the library was the million items to check out, more than 1,700 youth and adult homeowner association meetings, sustainability programs,
result of dedicated community builders and took 25 years programs a year, information and technology assistance, and more. Visitors can find quiet places to read or work,
to fully realize. In recognition of the anniversary, the Boca and wonderful spaces for study, work, and collaboration book recommendations and tech training from friendly
Raton Public Library is inviting the community to share at both locations. staff, and wonderful children’s areas to explore.”
pictures of their time at the libraries over the years. “The Boca Raton Public Library has served the Call for photos! Do you have any historical photos
A Look Back At The Boca Raton Public Library community for 75 years with popular collections, of the library (inside or outside) taken during the past 75
• The first public library was actually started in 1923, by engaging storytimes and children’s programs, and learning years? Help the Boca Raton Public Library celebrate its 75th
the Women’s Club of Boca Raton, and housed in the city’s classes and events for adults. Over 470,000 library users anniversary with your favorite library memories. Share your
Municipal Building. Many books in this first collection came a year enjoy an innovative library collection that also photos on social media with the hashtag #BocaLibrary75 or
from a large donation of fiction books coordinated by a Women’s includes nontraditional items such as hotspots, puzzles, email them to the library at brpl@myboca.us. The library
Club member through her friends in Chicago. Due to Florida’s cake pans, and musical instruments and over a million will feature the photos on its social media pages and add
real estate bust in the late 1920s, this first library closed. ebooks, audiobooks, streaming videos, and downloadable them to the archives.
• In 1946, another public library was opened in the city by
the Women’s Christian and Civic Club in the Administration Aspirin Use And Colorectal Cancer
Building on the Boca Raton Army Air Field base through
monetary and book donations. This library closed in 1947
after the city was hit with two hurricanes. By Steven E. Reznick, M.D., conducted a prospective study of over 32,000 female
• Eleanor Bebout, a previous library secretary, became FACP – Boca Raton nurses participating in the Nurses’ Health Study II.
a Library Board president in 1948 and moved what books When I was completing The study looked at the relationship of women younger
remained from the Army Base library, back to a location at my medical school training, than 50 years of age who took aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-
the city’s Municipal Building in 1948. That year, the official post graduate internship and inflammatory drugs at least twice a week and the development
Library of Boca Raton was founded. residency training, data from of adenomatous colon polyps with the potential to turn
• The city built and opened the first library building in a Veterans Administration malignant. The results clearly supported the theory that aspirin
1961 at 200 N.W. Second Ave., where the city’s Building study indicated that men 45 prevents the development of premalignant colon polyps. A
Department is housed today. In 1966, the Library of Boca years of age and older should follow-up study looking at female nurses 50 years of age or
Raton was renamed the Boca Raton Public Library. take an aspirin to reduce the older found a similar result especially with larger polyps. The
• As the library grew, a wing to the building was added risk of heart attack and stroke. data was presented recently at a gastroenterology conference
in 1972 and a second expansion was added in 1982. In 1989, We were taught that taking one held in Chicago called Digestive Disease Week.
the City Council approved a 10-year plan that included a new aspirin prolonged our bleeding time (a test no longer performed The presentation did not discuss the number of significant
library branch in the northwest corner of the city. The Friends prior to surgery) by one week through inhibition of platelets. bleeding events occurring in their patients. Further research
of the Library campaigned for two new library buildings, Over decades, with repeated studies, these must be done to include men, not just women.
and in 2003, Boca Raton residents voted in favor of a $19.8 recommendations have changed dramatically. We have We are currently seeing an explosion of colorectal cancer
million bond to build two new libraries. reached the point that taking aspirin to prevent heart attacks in men and women who are younger than 50 years old and
and strokes is no longer recommended in the primary researchers are trying to find a mechanism to stop that trend. It
prevention of heart attacks and strokes because the risk of may be that taking an aspirin regularly provides more than just
bleeding may outweigh the aspirin benefits. protection against heart attacks and strokes but also colorectal
The U.S. Preventive Task Force (USPTF) has already cancers. If it accomplishes that, will the USPTF change its
made this change to their guidelines while forgetting about recommendations on the use of aspirin for prevention?
the other beneficial observations seen with aspirin ingestion. Voted a “Best Doctor” by his peers, Dr. Reznick is board
For years, clinicians observed fewer skin cancers and fewer certified in internal medicine with added qualifications in
cases of premalignant colon polyps and colorectal cancer in geriatrics. He has practiced in the Boca Raton area since 1979.
those who took a daily aspirin product. His concierge medicine practice is currently accepting a limited
Cassandra Fritz, M.D., MPHS of the Washington University number of new patients. To schedule a complimentary meeting
School of Medicine in St. Louis explored the use of with Dr. Reznick to discuss your health needs, call (561) 368-
aspirin as prevention for early colorectal cancer. She 0191 or visit www.BocaConciergeDoc.com.

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