Who We Are

 
The Valley Mills Public Library began as a dream, with the Community Development Association taking on the project.   Bob Allen was president at that time (1990).  Organizational meeting for a library was held August 14, 1989.  A Library Board was appointed --  President- Marjorie Yarbro, Vice-Pres. -- Bryant Schuetz,  Secretary -- Teresa Squires, Treasurer -- John Gilliam, and with Hilda Heath Hill Hope, Irene McLennan, and Jack Donaldson.    Steve Robertson of Clifton drew up the Articles of Incorporation in 1990. The city agreed at that time to support the library.  The shell of a building was built by TSTI in Waco; many people of Valley Mills helped with the completion of the building for it to be a library.  Through a donation from the Rapoport Foundation, the library opened its doors to the public in January 1992; Marjorie Yarbro had gotten books from the Austin Public Library and other sources; Louise McGrath began as library clerk for check-outs.   In July 1995 Kathleen Fisk Hale became President of the Board and Library Director, putting the collection on the Dewey Decimal system as volunteer librarian. On August 22, 1996 she and John Gilliam signed the Resolution for the library to become a member of the Central Texas Library System (CTLS).  The library is supported by both the City of Valley Mills and the Library Association, along with grants.   In the past the library has received grants from TIF for  Internet and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation twice for two computers each, the Viburnam Foundation  ("Center for the Book")  for books, the Bernard & Audre Rapoport Foundation (April 2006 to April 2008, & for  '09, for K. Hale as a paid librarian, Tocker Foundation for furniture in Sept. '10 for $6,859, a $10,000 grant, Dobie Award,  for books in April ' 11 and a $3000 literacy grant project funded by Dollar General for Summer 2011--and $675 for the Every child Ready to  Read project in  Summer '11-- and the Loan Star Libraries Grants.  The library has received grants from the local Coop Round-Up grant for $2500.  $2000  grant from Dollar General in  May 2014 for Summer Reading Program 2014, and a Dollar General Grant in May 2015 for $1500.00 for the Summer Reading Program, including books. ....... Again in 2018  the library received a grant from Dollar General. October 2020 the library received a grant from the Ladd & Katherine Hancher Foundation for an art project; Donna Taylor served as the Art Coordinator.   To continue that project in 2022 there were individual donations and a grant from the Ed Rachal Foundation in December 2021 for 2022. Perla McMullen served as the Art coordinator for that grant.                    In 2024, with Clova Gibson as president, the library received a matching grant from the Pilcrow foundation for children's books and a $3500 grant from Dollar General for the summer reading program, written by a committee, as well as a grant from the HOT Round-Up for books, and other donations.  Through all the years until 2024, Brent Rickels did the technology work to help the library. The library held its first "Book It to the Block" event in September 2024, spear-headed by Jordan McNamara and Roger Molenda as both a fund-raiser and event to bring awareness of the library to the community. It was a great success! Through the work and support of the board, volunteers and the city the library continues to be a vital part of the community. 

   NEW OFFICERS AND NEW  BOARD MEMBERS IN JANUARY 2025 ARE AS FOLLOWS: 

 President- Jordan McNamara and New Board Members Brooke Bartels and Brittany Banks

   OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS for 2025 are as follows: 

   President - Jordan McNamara;  Vice-president - Roger Molenda;  Secretary - Robin Prause ; Treasurer - Cindee Molenda

  Other Board members :   Perla McMullen, Shelby Hyde, Heidi Morgan, Brooke Bartels and Brittany Banks

     OFFICERS  and committees IN JANUARY  2024 ARE AS FOLLOWS:

          President -- Clova Gibson

          Vice-Pres.   Roger Molenda

          Secretary    Robin Prause

          Treasurer     Cindee  Molenda/  Past treas. Kitty Poston

Other  board members are :

           Alice Filler,  Perla McMullen, Jordan McNamara,

           Shelby Hyde, and Heidi Morgan

           Craig Godby, City Council Representative

Committees

          Volunteer Work  Chairman  -- Cindee Molenda

          Art Committee  --Daphne Tenant, B. Banks, Perla McMullen,

               Daphne Diab, Shelby Hyde & Jordan McNamara

          Education and Community Support---

               Brittany Banks, Chairman;  Craig Godby, Shelby Hyde,

               Jordan McNamara, Perla McMullen, Robin Prause

          Fundraising committee-- Jordan McNamara, Chairman

                C. Molenda, Heidi Morgan, Robin Prause, Lydia Pliscott

           Library volunteer work -- Cindee Molenda, Chairman

                Alice Filler, Daphne Tenant,

                (Summer) - Shelby Hyde, Perla McMullen, Robin Prause,

                 Brittany Banks, Daphne Diab, Lydia Pliscott

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                    In the past ..........

Friends of the Library

Library Staff

VISTA committee '08