Library hosts Grand Reopening Saturday

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

The oldest continuously-operational library in the state of Texas got a facelift last year.

On Saturday, the Dr. Eugene Clark Library, along with the City of Lockhart, invites the public to the Grand Re-Opening and ribbon cutting for the Dr. Eugene Clark Library complex, which now includes the orig

inal “Clark building,” and the three story “Masonic Annex.”

The sweeping renovation project, completed late last autumn, opened up the space on the upper two floors of the historic Masonic Building, allowing for expanded usage of both stacks and technology areas, and opened up the lower floor of the building for the Clark Library’s famed Children’s Section.

Additionally, over the course of the renovation, several books were moved out of the original Clark Lyceum, which is now attached to the Masonic Building by an expanded desk and circulation area. The

Clark Building has now returned to its originally intended purpose, as a lyceum and stage area, which also houses periodicals and the Library’s collection of local and State history volumes, as well as a cozy reading and study area for library patrons.

On Saturday, the Library will host the official Grand Re-Opening of the Library Complex, and invites the public to come and enjoy a variety of educational events as they tour the buildings and become familiar with the new layout of the nearly doubled library space.

The event begins at 2 p.m., and will include remarks from not only local leaders in library support, but also an appearance from US Representative Lloyd Doggett.

The Lockhart Junior High School Concert Band will perform, and the Library staff will share with the public several of the expanded spaces and technologies available in the newly-renovated Dr. Eugene Clark Library Complex.

As the Library has expanded its space in the last year, it has also expanded services, to include not only a Technology Center that provides computers with the latest word-processing and desktop publishing software, but also high-speed internet, an extensive database of magazines and newspapers, and the capability to “check out” electronic books for free to Library patrons.

A library card at the Dr. Eugene Clark Library is free to residents of the City of Lockhart, and costs only $XX per year for those who do not live within the city limits.

For information on the Dr. Eugene Clark Library, visit www.lockhart-tx.org or call the Library at (512) 398-3223.