Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Libraries are the cornerstone of every community, with generations being able to enjoy the stories that stand the test of time, and for the Dripping Springs Community Library (DSCL), executive director Mindy Laird shared that the heart for serving has continued to evolve over the last 40 years.
DSCL started in 1986 as the “brainchild” of local Charlotte Rhodes, who worked with the superintendent of the local school district at the time, according to Laird. She wanted to create a space where members of the community could come and check out books — something that did not exist in Dripping Springs.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit library was then established and incorporated, run 100% by a group of volunteers within the walls of the former high school — now Dripping Springs Middle School. That group became the Friends of the Dripping Springs Community Library, which, through determination and hard work, raised enough funds to move the library into its current building off Sportsplex Drive, which sits on donated land from John Baird, in 1998.
After quickly realizing that more space was needed, construction of the children’s wing began in 2004, doubling the area to approximately 10,000 square feet.
Since that time, the library’s board went public in 2023 with a capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new building that would “better serve our community now and into the future,” said Laird.
“It’s a really big project and because of the way that we are funded, it's unique. We receive sales tax revenue. We are not part of the city, which is typical of a public library and so, it's going well,” Laird said. “We continue to make efforts towards construction and trying to solidify the financing. There's a lot of moving pieces and we are just committed to continue to work towards that, so we can expand our services and our reach into our community.”
DSCL has continued to evolve over the years. Laird recalled that in the first year that the library was open in 1986, there were 700 people who attended free programming and in 2025, that number had grown to 17,000.
Additionally, with the help of donations, Laird explained that they were able to purchase its Library on Wheels this year. Knowing that the library has a widespread area that it services, it can be difficult for members of the community to physically stop by the library to attend a program or check out books. So, the “bookmobile” helps bridge that gap.
According to the June 2026 impact report, 12 stops were made, 455 people engaged and 271 items were circulated through the Library on Wheels.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, DSCL is hosting its first annual “A Book Affair” that will feature local food and drink vendors, as well as live music and interactive experiences. This will also act as an opportunity to raise funds to support the library.
The event will also honor the first class of “Storytellers,” which are a group of local residents and businesses who are passionate about the library and investing in the city’s future. They were specifically selected to help raise awareness and support for DSCL leading up to A Book Affair, according to Laird.
“Everyone has a unique story and a connection to the library, what it means to them and what it means to their family and so, I've really enjoyed getting to know the Storytellers and how libraries impact them personally and the value that they see that libraries offer to the community,” Laird said.
As the library is continuing to grow, Laird said that, along with its capital campaign for a new building, DSCL is wanting to try to be innovative and creative in breaking down barriers to people receiving its services and resources.
However, the support from the community every step of the way since 1986 is not lost on Laird and the library staff.
“I realize how the community has shown up in every single piece of history in this library. From starting as a nonprofit library that was completely staffed by volunteers to putting it to a vote in the community to become a special district library, so that we could have a dedicated revenue stream of sales tax income. That was also initiated and voted on and passed by the community,” she shared. “We see parts of this building where the community stepped up and helped to volunteer services just to build the building that we're in now. All the people that have supported the library and the mission with their donations, it shows that they truly care about what we're doing and they see the value.”
A Book Affair will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Pecan Springs Ranch, located at 10601 B Derecho Drive, Austin. To get tickets and find more information, visit bit.ly/4fR7p1E.
DSCL is located at 501 Sportsplex Drive, Dripping Springs and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Learn more about the library’s programs, history and more at www.dscl.org.
