Page 173 - Watauga FY22-23 Budget

GENERAL FUND

DEPARTMENT: LIBRARY
DIVISION / ACTIVITY: LIBRARY SERVICES – FUND 01-060
LOCATION: HOURS OF OPERATION:
7109 Whitley Road Monday & Thursday 12:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Watauga, Texas 76148 Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Phone Number: 817-514-5855 Saturday 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
MISSION / PROGRAMS / SERVICES:

The Watauga Public Library is committed to enriching the community through access to informational,
educational, cultural, recreational, and lifelong learning materials in a variety of formats. The library
anticipates and responds to the library needs of the community and offers a variety of classes,
lectures, workshops, and services in a professional, efficient, caring, and friendly manner. The four
core purposes of public libraries are: 1) Learning, 2) Literacy, 3) Information, and 4) Community
Spaces.
FY2021-2022 HIGHLIGHTS / ACHEIVEMENTS:

• As a member of the MetroShare Consortium, Watauga Public Library (WPL) has applied with
the consortium members for a second “Regional ILS Cooperative Grant” with the Texas State
Library and Archives Commission. (TSLAC). The applicants will be notified of the Grant Review
Panel recommendations in August 2022.
• The TSLAC in Austin has awarded our library two grants for a total of $8,859. The first grant
called Beyond the Library will allow us to engage in unique outreach with a book bike. The
second grant focusing on Special Collection Development funds a collection of VOX Books to
enhance literacy in early readers.
• A grant application sponsored by the Watauga Public Library Friends group was submitted to
the Dollar General foundation for a Youth Literacy Grant. Recommendations will be received in
September 2022.
• The WPL was recognized as one of the Texas public libraries in 2021 to receive the
“Achievement of Excellence Awards” from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association.
• Under the direction of Senior Youth Librarian, Barbara Goss, the WPL Teen Advisory Board
has added the City Council Youth Advisory Board to their program.
• This fiscal year we were restarting many of our programs, which has been suspended or
adapted to online formats due to the pandemic.
(1) The Youth Services recommenced the annual in-person Family Place workshop
(following Covid-19 precautions) this year on Fridays from October 15 to November 12,
2021. The parents and children attending met with local child development specialists to
learn about literacy, early childhood development, parent education and engagement,
family support and community information.
(2) The Adult Services resumed the popular knitting/crocheting group, book clubs, art
classes, gardening classes, meditation, and various other educational lectures. Efforts
are underway to relaunch English as a Second Language, GED, and computer classes
in August 2022.

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