A new vending cafe for patrons was also part of the $2.1 million expansion. In the year before the expansion, the library circulated over 660,000 books and other multimedia. The library also took advantage of federal funding to purchase an electric charging station for electric cars. Cooking Oil Recycling Station: To support the recycling of cooking oil, the library has partnered with Hillsborough County Public Utilities and the C.O.R.E. program. All cooking oils can cause problems in home plumbing and the sewage collection system. Cooking oil recycling stations are available at some library locations countywide. Friends of the Library  The Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library group is made up of citizens who support the library by raising money for special events and programs. One such event is the Friend’s annual Book Sale. One such special program is the award-winning Life Story Writing Workshop. The Friends operate their Book Ends Bookstore, located in the library's lobby. Bloomingdale Regional Library offers the following Assistive Technology for patrons who need assistance:  JAWS is screen reader and navigation software compatible with Microsoft Office and web browsers. Dragon Speak reads aloud what is on the computer. ZoomText enlarges print on the computer screen. Keys-U-See keyboards have large print for the visually impaired.