Pflugerville Community Library

Pflugerville Community Library

By Pam Stephenson Friday, 06 March 2009

Prior to discontinuation in 1981, the only library service to the small, rural Pflugerville community was a book mobile, a van with shelves inside filled with books, from the Austin Public Library, sponsored jointly by Travis County.

A group of locals, the majority of whom resided just outside the city limits, decided a library was needed. They organized a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Pflugerville Community Library. By 1982, they had assembled a collection of donated books and materials and secured a small space behind First State Bank on Railroad Avenue. With no air conditioning, water or bathroom facilities, the first library opened in April 1982, staffed by volunteers.

The library soon outgrew the small space, and the Friends negotiated with the City of Pflugerville to use city property, a small house at 102 S. Third St., for the growing library. In November 1986, the library moved into the larger facility for $1 rent per month. The Friends hired the first part-time professional librarian, Helen Klenz, who was assisted by volunteers, according to the history booklet written by JoAnne Thornton, “A Dream Come True.” Thornton, who is now vice president of the Friends, took over the librarian duties in 1987 and served as the first director of the library until her retirement in 2003.

From 1988 until 1996, the Friends continued to raise funds to support the library by operating a thrift shop in a house on Fifth and Pecan streets where Oo La La is located today. The property is owned by Friends co-founder Audrey Dearing.

Continuing to plan ahead, in 1990 the Friends purchased 1.6 acres of land at Pecan and 10th streets, with hopes to have a new library built on the site. In 1992, the library was gifted to the city in a ceremony on the library’s front lawn. At the time, the book collection, materials, equipment and furniture were valued at $250,000. After the city passed a bond in September 1996 for a new library building, the Friends transferred the land to the city. Construction began in June 1998 and in February 1999, the new library was complete. The Friends hosted A Library Love Affair gala that was attended by more than 250 people, and the organization raised more than $60,000 for the new library.

The library opened to the public Feb. 16, 1999, with the formal dedication during National Library Week in April 1999. The honored guest speaker was Laura Bush, then First Lady of Texas. This year the library celebrates its 10th anniversary.

A stained glass window in the library was a gift from the Friends. It depicts the principle of the Friends and their dedication to having a library for the Pflugerville community: to make books and information available to all, regardless of race, color or creed.

In May 2008, voters passed a bond to renovate the library. The city issued those bonds to expand the building from its current 12,500 sq. ft. to more than 43,000 sq. ft. The project is expected to be complete in early 2011.

Today, the library serves more than 100,000 people in 96 square miles, including 27 schools in Pflugerville ISD.

Pflugerville Community Library, 102 S. 10th St., Pflugerville, 251-9185, www.cityofpflugerville.com/library

Friends of the Pflugerville Community Library, www.friendsofpflugerville communitylibrary.org