McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library Opens its Doors
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Dec 6, 2014, Comments Off
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
South Laredo Library to expand library activities through the city
(Laredo, TX ) “When you give a child a book, you give that child the world.” That is the celebration theme of the City of Laredo’s newest branch library in South Laredo. Today, the Sophie Christen McKendrick, Francisco Ochoa, Fernando A. Salinas Branch Library, a two-story, 20,000 square foot facility located at Laredo at 1920 Palo Blanco, officially opened its doors to elected officials, special guests and the entire community. The entire solar system, as a custom-tile galaxy floor, welcomes guests, hints at the worlds that can be discovered within the walls of the new facility.
“I’m so happy that my colleagues on council were committed to not only bringing back the south branch library, but also, funding various activities that promote reading,” said District I Council Member Mike Garza, in whose district the south branch library originally resided. “This library is for the community, for every citizen of Laredo, who will find much more than just books here; they will find opportunity here.”
The new branch library features plenty of comfortable seating throughout the building, areas conducive to reading and learning; the Lamar Bruni Vergara children’s library with its own computer lab and a cozy story-hour “niche;” an arts and craft room; a periodical reading area; a Teen Café for teenagers; a community room for neighborhood events; a classroom; study rooms; and two state-of-the art computer labs with over 70 computers and wireless Internet throughout the building.
Fully ADA accessible with plenty of parking, the building features a beautiful outdoor patio, as well. Additionally, State Representative Tracy O. King, District-80, who represents a portion of South Laredo, will also have a district office in the new library to better serve his constituents.
Services such as ESL classes, GED classes, computer/Internet access and classes; children’s story hours; summer reading and arts and crafts programs; homework help; reference materials; free income tax preparation during tax season; and many more programs will once again be provided to the citizens of South Laredo. The MOS Branch Library offers over 20,000 items available for check-out, including books, CDs, video games, etc.
“We are so pleased to offer a full-service library to the citizens of South Laredo. This is our largest branch to date and the community should be very proud of it,” said Maria G. Soliz, Library Director.
Today’s celebration included a grand opening ceremony that featured many of the school children who will benefit from the South branch library location, as well as authors, book characters and lots of books given away to those in attendance.
“Today we celebrate more than the grand opening of a building, we celebrate the opportunity to open doors of literacy, of education, of imagination, and of resources, for the thousands of children and adults who live in South Laredo,” said City of Laredo Pete Seanz. “The McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library will be more than just a beautiful building; it will be a place of beautiful activities for everyone who knows that reading is the most amazing gift we as human beings can possess because if we can read, we can accomplish anything.”
The total project cost was over $4.5 million, including: allocating $3.233 million in 2006, 2008 and 2009 Certificates of Obligation Bonds, $1.341 million in Community Development Block Grants, as well as an additional $94,809 from Capital Improvements from the City of Laredo; $250,000 from The Fernando A. Salinas Trust, Francisco Ochoa and William McKendrick; $189, 033 from The Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust to fund the Children’s Library; $15,000 HEB; and Friends of the Library Fundraising, which included a Bowling Tournament, Eat-to-Read Gala, Adopt-a-Book, Bricks Pavers, and LISD and UISD librarian donation campaigns.
The project began in 2008 when the old South Laredo Library branch was closed in 2006 due to building structural issues. Cm. Garza championed the idea of building a new building and in 2010, the City of Laredo broke ground on the project, with a design from Architects Plus, Inc., while the construction contract was awarded to Modern Construction, Inc., both of Laredo, Texas. When the original contractor had to declare bankruptcy, the project stalled until the City of Laredo acting as general contractor was able to complete the project with City of Laredo crews.
