The Texas Book Festival announced the winners of its 2015-16 Texas Library Grants at the Texas Library Association conference in Houston recently. Forty-four public libraries across Texas received grants totaling $100,130 including the Brownwood Public Library.
Out of the 44 public libraries awarded, 14 are first-time Texas Book Festival library grant recipients. The TBF’s Texas Library Grants support collection enhancement to help public libraries meet the needs of their communities.
“It is very rewarding to see how impactful each grant is, especially in libraries with little to no collections budgets,” says Lois Kim, the Texas Book Festival’s executive director. “Whether the library needs more large-print books, Spanish language materials for bilingual families, or young adult literature, Texas librarians, who are incredible champions for their communities, will now be able to add vital new books to their shelves. We are proud to be able to help libraries share new materials with their patrons.”This year, the TBF awarded the following libraries:
1. Alpine Public Library – $2,500.00
2. Azle Memorial Library – $1,500.00
3. Bee Cave Public Library – $2,352.77
4. Benbrook Public Library – $2,000.00
5. Blanco County South Library – $2,500.00
6. Bonham Public Library – $2,500.00
7. Brownwood Public Library – $2,494.94
8. Carl and Mary Welhausen Library – $2,500.00
9. Chambers County Library – $2,500.00
10. City of Wolfforth Library – $2,498.08
11. Clara B. Mounce Public Library – $2,465.36
12. Cleburne Public Library – $2,300.00
13. Cockrell Hill Public Library – $2,499.99
14. Crowley Public Library – $2,500.00
15. Denton Public Library – South Branch – $2,500.00
16. Dublin Public Library – $2,500.00
17. Elgin Public Library – $2,498.41
18. El Paso Public Library Main Branch – $2,500.00
19. Farmers Branch Manske Library – $670.00
20. Georgetown Public Library – $2,269.60
21. Gunter Library and Museum – $2,500.00
22. Hondo Public Library – $1,181.90
23. Hutto Public Library – $1,632.35
24. Justin Community Library – $2,500.00
25. Kennedale Public Library – $2,064.16
26. Kyle Public Library – $2,348.29
27. Lake Travis Community Library – $2,500.00
28. Lakehills Area Library – $2,500.00
29. Liberty Hill Public Library District – $2,496.49
30. Live Oak County Library, Three Rivers Branch – $2,500.00
31. Marion ISD Community Library – $2,493.79
32. Mary Lib Saleh Euless Public Library – $2,500.00
33. Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library – $2,500.00
34. Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library – $2,500.00
35. Real County Public Library-Leakey – $1.000.00
36. Rhome Public Library – $2,500.00
37. Sam & Carmena Goss Memorial Branch Library – $1,500.00
38. Sam Fore, Jr. Public Library – $2,457.74
39. T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library & Archives – $ 2,413.98
40. Unger Memorial Library – $2,500.00
41. W. Walworth Harrison Public Library – $2,000.00
42. Waller County Library – $2,500.00
43. Whitehouse Community Library – $2,499.44
44. Whitesboro Public Library – $2,500.00
Since its founding in 1995, part of the Texas Book Festival’s mission has been to promote Texas libraries and literacy. Each year, proceeds raised at the annual Festival through book sales and individual, corporate, and foundation sponsorships fund the Festival’s Texas Library Grants. More than $2.8 million has been awarded to more than 600 libraries across Texas.
Applications for the 2016-17 public library grant cycle will be available in November 2016. For more information, visit http://www.texasbookfestival.org/library-grants/.
About the Texas Book Festival
The Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by first lady Laura Bush, Mary Margaret Farabee, and a group of volunteers, the nonprofit Texas Book Festival promotes the joys of reading and writing through its annual Festival Weekend, the one-day Texas Teen Book Festival, the Reading Rock Stars program, grants to Texas public libraries, youth fiction writing contest, and year-round literary programming. The Festival is held in and around the Texas State Capitol each fall and features more than 250 renowned authors, panels, book signings, live music, cooking demonstrations, and children’s activities. The 2016 Texas Book Festival Weekend will take place on November 5 and 6, and the 2016 Texas Teen Book Festival will be held on October 1. Thanks to generous donors, sponsors, and 1,000 volunteers, the Festival remains free and open to the public. Visit www.texasbookfestival.org for more information, and join the conversation using the hashtag #txbookfest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @texasbookfest.
