6 years in the making, new Alpine library opens doors

By MARK GLOVER

ALPINE – The Alpine Public Library opened its doors at the new 9,000-square-foot facility Monday.

“It was a community effort with very dedicated and persistent board members,” said Paige Delaney, Executive Director. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears.”

Fundraising and planning for the $1.4 million project started in 2006.

“We not only had to raise money for construction, but new books and furniture,” Delaney said in her office at the new building.

The non-profit entity generated most of the funds from private foundations, corporations and individual donations. Federal government and corporate grants were awarded for furniture and equipment, Brewster County provided in-kind help in the form of craftsmen and supervision from the maintenance department, and the city of Alpine granted the land and acted as facilitators in obtaining Housing and Urban Development funds to pave the parking lot and sidewalks.

A total 3,000 new items are on the shelves, including books and DVDs, at a cost of about $60,000.

“We’ve expanded our Spanish-language books by four fold,” Delaney said. “And plenty of new volumes for kids, adults, fiction and non-fiction.”

A host of new features including a multi-purpose room offers meeting space for non-profit groups, lectures and other events. Children’s and a young adult area are sectioned, bordering large rectangular windows on the west side. Nine internet-ready computers are coupled near the entrance and an expanded electrical system now allows adult computer classes to be held weekly.

“We hope to use technology as a way to attract both young and old,” Delaney said. “Our staff continues to learn and try to stay up to date on technology so that we can be as sophisticated as our patrons. It fulfills our mission to create life-long learners.”

Tutoring and ESL programs are being offered by a core of volunteers in Alpine, Ft Davis and Marathon.

“We have a regional responsibility to bring literacy to everyone,” Delaney said, standing near the thermostat.

Costs to operate the building will increase compared to the old smaller library building, but measures have been taken to be as streamlined as possible.

“Most everything is energy efficient including the light bulbs,” said board member Mary Jane Morgan pointing at the recessed lighting in the ceilings as she guided a tour across the chocolate stained cement floors.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21 at 5:15 pm.

Re- Reads Bookstore, the library’s outlet for used books, is now part of the building and situated on the east side.

“We’ve got a bathroom and lights,” Karen Boyd, a Re-Reads volunteer said as she compared it to the former Re-Reads building.

Paying the bills of the new library will be a challenge. According to the Texas Library Association, last year, the Texas State Legislature cut $41 million, or about 98 percent of the State Library budget.

“In previous years we received about $5,000 to 6,000 dollars a year from the state to buy new or lost volumes and help with various programs,” Delaney said. “But we don’t expect much this year.”

The old library building is now being re-modeled for an expanded Brewster County Adult and Juvenile Probation Department.

The past and present board members who helped make the new Alpine Public Library building happen include Kathy Bork, Mary Jane Morgan, Chris Ruggia, Tom Michal, Johana Nelson, Ann Calaway, Val Beard, Ken Durham, Pete Peterson, Juliette Schwab, Julian Gonzalez, Carol Fairley, Chuck Newcomer, Anna Kreger and Fitz Fitzpatrick.