EDITORIAL
The new Kyle Library is scheduled to open its doors this spring, complete with more computers and more books.
The 20,000-square-foot building echoes the look of the city hall, with red brick, metal overhangs and window light streaming through high openings. There will be more than double the number of computers of the current library, and the collection – of books, ebooks and audiobooks – will be infinitely larger
But a new building doesn’t just spring to life from the old. There are many, many little costs that come with a move. We at the Hays Free Press know, having just moved into the new offices at 113 W. Center St. in downtown Kyle. While we could use some of the old furniture, the same computers, the same equipment, there are costs for needed new items – large and small.
With that said, two groups rise to the forefront of the “additional” funding for the new library. A hearty thanks should be given to the Burdine Johnson Foundation, led by Bill and Kate Johnson, which donated $200,000 for new collection items, including all of those books, ebooks and audiobooks. What joy those items will bring. Think of the faces of the kids as they run in at the opening to see all the new books.
And another thanks goes to the Friends of the Library, which runs the thrift store in Kyle, for its donation of $34,000 last year. The many volunteers who man the thrift store have a dedication that one can only imagine. Thank you for all of your work.
With the economy still struggling, but beginning to show signs of growth, both the Kyle and Buda libraries are overcrowded. Job seekers use the computers and other resources, and parents and students look for entertainment in the books and movies.
We depend on our libraries for so much. That’s probably why they are the most used, public buildings of any city.
We’re glad to have such generous donors in our towns. We appreciate it now, and we’ll be grateful for years to come.
