The Texas Book Festival is proud to announce the 2020 Texas Library Grant recipients. We are especially appreciative of the hard work of library directors and staff for adapting to our new timeline and submission guidelines—thank you! We also want to extend our gratitude to our Board members for joining us during the review process and to the Texas Library Association for supporting our efforts to grow equity for libraries and communities across Texas.
The Texas Book Festival is also excited to welcome and highlight new grant recipients working to serve their communities as they navigate and persist through the current COVID-19 crisis.
North Richland Hills Public Library
This library serves Tarrant County and will be using the Texas Library Grant to prepare for re-opening by increasing their community recovery resources. They’ve examined their community needs carefully and will be increasing their emotional support resources with hopes that patrons do not only seek employment-related information but are also able to safeguard health, respite, and well-being at their community library.
Riter C. Hulsey Public Library
Hulsey Public Library will update their youth collection in order to better support children and teens as they begin their 2020-21 school year from home. Their new collection will also include resources for teachers and school leaders. This library often serves Terrell ISD students as their primary library and they feel committed to supplementing the educational experience of all youth in the community.
Nicholas P. Sims Library
This Waxahachie library didn’t forget about one of their most vulnerable populations, homebound patrons. Their Homebound program serves six nursing homes as well as other medically fragile community members. They will be using the Texas Library Grant to increase their large print and audiobook collection plus create access for more patrons as many opt to stay home to ensure their family’s well-being.
Laguna Vista Public Library
Laguna Vista Public Library gives us a snapshot of the hard work happening across Texas to continue to support patrons of all ages during a global health crisis. This library serves the entire Laguna Madre region which includes: South Padre Island, Port Isabel, Laguna Heights, Laguna Vista, Bayview, and Cameron County. They will be using this grant to update their collection overall and better serve a changing demographic. Once home to mostly Winter Texans, this South Texas region is now a permanent residence for many young families and Laguna Vista Public Library is getting ready to serve its community in a very different way this fall 2020.
Congratulations to all 42 Texas Library Grant recipients! Since 1996, the organization has funded 1,211 grants totaling more than $3 million to 600+ libraries in every corner of the state. We feel lucky to do this work and look forward to supporting many more libraries in the future.
2020 Texas Library Grant Recipients
- North Richland Hills Public Library
- Riter C. Hulsey Public Library
- Hewitt Public Library
- Joe Barnhart Bee County Library
- Nicholas P. Sims Library
- Eastland Centennial Library
- Hurst Public Library
- Mitchell County Public Library
- Nancy Carol Robertson Memorial Library
- Nicholson Memorial Library
- Howard County Library
- Plano Public Library
- Elgin Public Library
- Jarrell Community Library
- Laguna Vista Public Library
- Nueces County Public Library
- Round Rock Public Library
- Azle Memorial Library
- Corsicana Public Library
- Nesbitt Memorial Library
- Pflugerville Public Library
- Schulenburg Public Library
- Alpine Public Library
- Henderson County Library
- Whitehouse Community Library
- Arlington Public Library
- Dickinson Public Library
- Cleburne Public Library
- Cozby Library and Community Commons
- Jennie Trent Dew Library
- Bandera County Public Library
- Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library
- Mesquite Public Library
- Emily Fowler Library
- Hillsboro City Library
- Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library
- Blanco County Library
- Jackson County Memorial Library
- Haltom City Public Library
- J.R. Huffman Public Library
- Sherman Public Library
- Little Elm Public Library