Beginning in 2009 with a Texas Reads Grant, West teens plan, prepare, and present story time for local children at West Public Library each summer. Two dogs from Angel Paws in Waco visited the June 12th event. Over seventy teens have volunteered in the library’s Tale Tellers program since its 2009 debut.

More than “just” a library, El Progreso Memorial Library is a civic and cultural center serving Uvalde and the surrounding area.  It was formed in 1903 by a visionary group of women for self improvement, civic improvement and the establishment of a public library.  This club meets monthly and continues – after 115 years – as a vital support of the library which has expanded to include an eleven county archives, museum with meeting and study rooms of various sizes for all sorts of individual and group activities and use.  They were integral to raising the $5.7 million needed for construction of the current building in 2003 and contribute about one third of the annual budget each year. The Club theme for this year is Literature and Art of the Southwest.  Monthly library displays are keyed to this theme as well.  We remain grateful to El Progreso Club members for their vision and steadfast support.

From Mendell Morgan, Director at El Progresso Memorial Library in Uvalde.