Latest News: March 27, 2008

Council Approves Mockingbird Branch Location

The Abilene City Council has voted to accept a proposed lease on a property to house the new Mockingbird Branch Library.  The property, at 1214 N. Mockingbird, is in the Edgewood Shopping center.  The building has in excess of 11,000 square feet, more than double the size of the South Branch library facility.

“We expect to take possession of the building on July first, after the remodeling is finished” says City Librarian Ricki Brown.  “If all goes according to plan, we are hoping the new Mockingbird Branch library will be open in the late summer.”

The Mockingbird Branch library project is a joint effort between the City of Abilene and Friends of the Abilene Public Library.  Since the Friends launched the campaign in early November to raise fund to furnish the Branch, some 204 individuals and businesses have responded.  The Shelton Family Foundation demonstrated their faith in the project through a $300,000 matching grant.  Dodge Jones, Dian Graves Owen, Barber, Hendrick Community Initiatives, Scripps Howard/Abilene Reporter News, Community Foundation of Abilene, Stubbeman Family, Greathouse Family and Furr Family foundations also lent their generous support.

"The support of foundations, individuals, and business that culminated in gifts of over $700,000 indicated that Abilene citizens believe branch libraries are essential to our city," said Nancy Brock, Friends Mockingbird Branch Chairman.  "We are delighted with a location that not only places us in a neighborhood, but also fulfills our goal of generating infill development."

November 2007

Dear Friends,

We need your assistance and for the first time in the 56 year history of our nonprofit organization, we are requesting your financial help.

• If you believe that early reading is critical to success;
• If you believe in access for all to our public libraries;
• If you understand that owning a computer and paying internet access fees is not affordable in every home;
• If you are convinced that neighborhoods where 1 in 3 adults do not have a high school diploma is an unacceptable statistic;
• If you accept the concept that a library can contribute to stability and stimulate infill development in neighborhoods;
• If you believe that readily available library services, with professional, caring librarians, can encourage young mothers to read to their children and can inspire teenagers to read and do research;

IF YOU BELIEVE, join us with enthusiasm and with a pledge or gift to support the opening of a branch library in northwest Abilene by the summer of 2008!

Your membership in FOL, your participation in our Book Sale and/or Cookbook Gala has provided funds enabling the Friends Board to contribute up to $115,000 to our City for the two-year lease of a building in the northwest sector of the City.  The FOL Board voluntarily committed to raise $594,000 to purchase shelving, desks, chairs, tables, computers, books, videos, magazines, newspapers, and books on tapes, all of which are an integral part of an opening day collection. Is it costly? We invite you to weigh the cost against the penalties paid for drop-outs and for persons poorly prepared to enter the work force.

Working with city staff and management, in a

spirit of cooperation and purpose, we have developed a plan. By City Council consensus and resolution, we have a commitment that ensures the City will pay for all operating expenses for the first two years then assume all expenses by year three.

With your end-of-year, tax deductible contribution or a pledge over one to two years, we will be able to take the next significant step in the enhancement and expansion of library services in Abilene.  We have talked about a North Branch, studied it in 1997, and put it into a Strategic Plan in 2004.  Now, LET’S DO IT! 

Whatever the size of your gift, it will be gratefully received.

Sincerely,

Nancy Brock for Friends of the Abilene Public Library

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Abilene Reporter-News Guest Editorial on North Branch - November 18, 2007