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Answers to Go

Answers to Go

Sunday, June 13, 2021

SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY 625 E. HOPKINS ST. 512-393-8200

Q. I hear the “new”library is now open and having a dedication ceremony on June 18 at 9:30 a.m. Can you tell me a little about it and the library’s history in San Marcos?

A. The library has a long history – over 100 years. The “new” library building houses these memories as well as books, dvds, books on CD, and much more.

The seed of the library was planted in 1918 when the Brackenridge Club and other Women’s Clubs began collecting books for a club lending library. The books were graciously housed on a shelf in grocery store of Mr. Terrell, a civic-minded man. At around the same time, the Chamber of Commerce also began collecting books. In 1925, the Brackenridge and Sorosis Women’s Clubs began collaborating on a new library which would include the chamber’s collection. At this time, the library was moved to the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse then subsequently moved to a room in the old Presbyterian Church on West Hopkins Street. Everything was funded by donations and run by volunteers. When the Church needed its room back, the library moved again, this time to a more permanent spot: the old Red Cross building on West Hutchison. The library was housed in this building for over 35 years. This library was initially classed a “club library” until June 1964 when the City of San Marcos assumed responsibility for the operation of the library and the first city library board, chaired by Theodora Scrutchin, was appointed. Another important event which occurred in 1964 was the organization of the Friends of the Library. The Friends began with 250 charter members and the goal of raising funds to build a new library.

Groundbreaking on the new library building on Hutchison was in December 1965 and the building was opened for public use in November 1966. During the library’s first year of operation in the new building it circulated 13,000 books and that number grew to 100,000 volumes in 1985. That growth necessitated a new building. In 1991 discussion regarding where the library could build next arose. The Library Board, Friends of the Library and the Parks and Recreation Board all recommended that the new library be built at Memorial Park. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held at Memorial Park October 1992, opening a new chapter for the library. The new library had been approved by voters in 1990 with a $2.8 million bond. The 27,000 square foot building was paid for by bonds and a $300,000 federal grant. On March 7, 1994 then-Governor Ann Richards came to dedicate and admire the new facility. The governor, after noting the contribution of so many women’s clubs in the founding of Texas libraries said, “When resources are slim, a library is too often viewed as a luxury. But you and I know that is not true…and so did those early Texas women. They understood that a library says something about a community’s basic values…a library demonstrates a commitment to learning for all, a commitment to the preservation of knowledge and to encouraging creativity and the stimulation of new ideas.”

The library now has been expanded and retrofit for a new generation of information lovers. The $14,500,000 bond passed by voters in May 2017 funded the building. The new addition added 28,000 square feet to the original building of 27,000, equaling an impressive 55,000 square foot modern building. The library added many meeting spaces, some of which are not available yet due to COVID-19. However, as the pandemic wanes, rooms will become available. Library patrons will have access to a large meeting room that can easily hold up to 240 people and can be divided into two spaces, complete with a catering room. The conference room, set up with a beautiful table, comfortable chairs and state-of-the-art electronics, will be available. There are four smaller study rooms and an enhanced study room with a large monitor. The smaller study rooms and personal sized kiosks are currently available to walk-in patrons. We have a makerspace room, currently waiting for donations to fit it out with things like a 3-D printer and a Cricut machine. Teens have their own special room in the library — a “Teen-Space” that includes a large collection of young adult books, a bank of computers just for teens and banquette seating. In addition to a large children’s garden where we will hold storytimes during the pandemic, we will have an adult garden for people who wish to go outside to read a book or magazine.

The dedication ceremony is Friday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m. in the library lobby. Special guests Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Mayor Jane Hughson and State Librarian Mark Smith will speak. Everyone is welcome.

Suzanne Sanders is the new columnist for the library. She is the Community Services Manager for the San Marcos Public Library and came from the Austin Public Library in 2015 after having served there as a librarian for over 20 years. She gratefully accepts your questions for this column.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666