Cedar Park Library About To Turn 35 Years Old

CEDAR PARK, TX -- Next time you visit the library, you might want to wish it a happy birthday. Or, you could shout your greetings as Jimmy Stewart does as he runs past Bedford Falls buildings in "It's a Wonderful Life."

The Cedar Park Public Library is celebrating 35 years of community service. City spokeswoman Jennie Huerta prepared a synopsis of the local library's history ahead of an April 14 celebration.

The library first opened its doors in 1981 in a small facility in Cedar Park Plaza. By October that year, the library was moved to a larger, 1,500-square-foot space at 120 Commercial Parkway.

In September 1990, construction completed on a new, 7,000-square-foot building at 550 Discovery Boulevard. An expansion at the site in January 2001 led to the current 25,000-square foot facility.

Each year, the library's programs and services draw 300,000 visitors annually. That's equivalent to 33 sold-out events at the Cedar Park Center, Huerta notes in her press advisory. Each year, three-quarter-million library items are checked out.

"The Library offers weekly reading programs for children from infant to elementary age that draw in 40,000 people to the Library each year," Huerta writes. "Tween, teen and adult book discussion groups each meet once a month. The Library also hosts a variety of activities and enrichment programs not often found in traditional libraries: a knitting club, a coloring group, an Anime club, electronic gaming, chess club, and movie screenings."

The library as residents know it today is a far cry from its early beginnings, expanding "...from the small refurbished laundromat with mostly donated library materials in 1981 to a vibrant community center that boasts more than 130,000 library materials, a wireless hotspot, an automated RFID checkout system, and the availability of e-books, digital magazines, and downloadable e-audio books that reflect the latest technology trends in 2016. The Cedar Park Public Library has grown over 35 years to have something for just about everyone," Huerta said.

In November 2015, Cedar Park residents passed a bond proposition to provide funding for construction, renovation or other costs relating to the library. This may include additional program space, classrooms and conference rooms, quiet spaces, new technology, capacity for more materials and a larger parking lot.

On April 14, residents can drop in for some cake to celebrate the library's birthday. Those wanting to join in the celebration can stop by on that date at 6:30 p.m. during the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting at City Hall (450 Cypress Creek Road, Building Four) or on Saturday, May 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. during the Cedar Park Reads: Edible Book Contest event at the Library (550 Discovery Blvd.).