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Bowie librarian reports nearly 2,000 January visits, describes programs, grants and community services
Summary
Library Director Beth Hyatt presented circulation statistics, described grants and community programs — including summer reading funded largely by the Friends of the Library — and highlighted upcoming events such as an author talk and Comic Con activities.
Beth Hyatt, director of the Bowie Public Library, briefed the City Council on library activity, reporting nearly 2,000 door counts in January and steady new-card issuance in recent months.
Hyatt said monthly new library cards were in the mid‑20s (24 in January and 26 in February) and reviewed circulation categories including adult nonfiction, young adult, juvenile and children’s easy readers, as well as recorded books, movies, laptops, hotspots and board games. She described library meeting-room availability for nonprofit and community groups and said money collected from fines, copying and lost-item fees is remitted to the city’s general fund.
Hyatt highlighted the library’s accreditation relationship with the Texas State Library, which allows the library to apply for grants and receive e‑rate discounts. She said the state helps manage some federal grant applications and that e‑rate currently provides a discount on the library’s Internet service and will extend to hotspots this summer.
The director described the Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) group that raises money through book sales and donations; Hyatt said the Friends have paid nearly 100% of the cost for the summer reading program in recent years, covering performers, supplies and giveaway books for participants. She also noted grants funded physical improvements and children’s play centers designed for ages 0–3 to support early learning.
Hyatt described recent and upcoming programs, including an author talk by Will Nicholson, who works as a visual effects supervisor, and an expanded Comic Con / free comic book day that last year drew an estimated 300 attendees; Hyatt said the library expects to distribute thousands of comic books for the free-comic-day event.
“Libraries are no longer tombs or mausoleums. Our library is a community space,” Hyatt said, describing the library’s role as a place for parents and children to use safe play areas, for residents to access computers for DMV or Social Security business, and for groups to meet.
Councilmembers praised the library’s programming and grant activity. No formal council action was required for the presentation.
