Frequently Asked Questions, Bryan+College Station Public Library System

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Frequently Asked Questions
Bryan + College Station Public Library System
What is the Library's Mission Statement? What libraries are part of your system? Who are the members of the Library Advisory Board and when do they meet? What can you tell me about the Friends of the Library? How do I join? Where do I purchase a Brazos County History Book? When were the libraries built? What is the TexShare Card? How do I request a book from another library through Interlibrary Loan? What is the history of the dollhouses? What is the history of the bell on the lawn at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? What is the history of the fireman's obelisk in front of the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? What is the history of the Hook & Ladder Company Number 1? What is the history of the oak trees on the east side of the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? What is the policy for posting flyers on the public bulletin board? How do I go about getting a receipt for tax purposes for donations? What is the history of the Grandfather clock on the first floor at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? What is the number of employees at each library? What is the Library's Mission Statement? The Bryan + College Station Public Library System provides equal opportunity access to information, high quality book and multimedia materials, programs, exhibits, and online resources to meet the needs of our diverse community for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment and intellectual stimulation. [To Top] What libraries are part of your system? The system consists of three libraries all administered by Community Librarian Larry Koeninger. The libraries are the Clara B. Mounce Public Library, the Larry J. Ringer Library, and the Carnegie Center of Brazos Valley History which is a local history center and genealogy library. [To Top] Who are the members of the Library Advisory Board and when do they meet? The Library Board meets the third Tuesday in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November. The Board meets at 5:15 p.m. and rotates the location to the Clara B. Mounce Public Library, Larry J. Ringer Library, and Carnegie History Center. The Library Board is comprised of 8 members with four from Bryan and four from College Station. They are appointed by each council to serve two year terms. [To Top] What can you tell me about the Friends of the Library? How do I join? The Friends of the Library are a non-profit group that raises money to support the library's programs and other needs including copiers, computers, furniture, etc. The Friends host two used book sales throughout the year. You can join the Friends of the Library by completing a membership form and making a donation. Forms are available at the front desk at all three libraries and online at http://www.bcslibrary.org/friendsmembers.html. You may also call the administrative office at (979) 209-5614 for more information. [To Top] Where do I purchase a Brazos County History Book? Limited quantities are available for $50.00 from the Administrative Office [(979) 209-5614]. Published in 1986, the History Book won the Texas Historical Commission's T. R. Fehrenbach Award for the most outstanding Texas history book published that year. Checks should be made to Friends of the Library. If a patron desires the book to be mailed, the cost is $55.00 and the check should be sent to 201 E. 26th St., Bryan, Texas 77803 c/o Adm. Office. [To Top] When were the libraries built? The current Clara B. Mounce Public Library opened in 1969. Due to a fire in March 1995, the building closed for five months for renovation and cleaning for smoke damage that included removing all books from the building. The Carnegie Library was built in 1903 and is the oldest Carnegie Library in the state of Texas still standing. It was completely restored in 1999 and dedicated as the Carnegie Center of Brazos Valley History and also known as the Carnegie History Center. The Larry J. Ringer Library was established in 1987 and housed in a strip mall until 1998 when a new building was built on Harvey Mitchell Parkway. [To Top] What is the TexShare Card? The TexShare Card Program allows registered users of participating TexShare libraries to have access to library materials not available at their local public or academic libraries. Patrons with valid library cards may receive a TexShare card from the Clara B. Mounce or Larry J. Ringer Library. They can then take the card to any other participating library to use their resources and check out materials. [To Top] How do I request a book from another library through Interlibrary Loan? All requests for Interlibrary Loans are handled through the Adult Reference Librarians. [To Top] What is the history of the dollhouses? The yellow dollhouse at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library was donated by Glada Mae Trant Crocker. It is a replica built in a 1/12 scale of a ranch house in Scenic Valley, Idaho. It is valued about $16,000. [To Top] What is the history of the bell on the lawn at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? The bell on the lawn of the Clara B. Mounce Public Library is the Fire Department's bell, originally rung to call the volunteer firemen. It was located on the roof of the fire-house located at the corner of Main Street and 26th Street in the combination Fire Department and Opera House. That building burned on February 20, 1909, but the bell survived and was moved to the new fire-house across from the library in what is now the Children's Museum. It stayed there until it moved to the lawn of the Clara B. Mounce Public Library, its final home. [To Top] What is the history of the fireman's obelisk in lawn of the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? The obelisk on the south side of the building is a memorial to fallen firefighters. Placed in the Bryan City Cemetery and dedicated in December 1907, it was moved to the Library in 1996. A new base was inscribed with the death of Fireman Richard Lopez and others. /Erected 1907/ W. H. Elliott 1857-1894 Henry Spell 1870-1904 Joe Hearne Jr. 1878-1915 Virgil J. Head 1906-1934 H. R. Cowart 1894-1960 L. B. Coleman 1909-1967 /Protection/ B. P. Leman 1833-1906 E. J. Ettle 1884-1910 G. M. Brandon 1857-1910 John N. Kerwin 1902-1977 Richard B. Lopez 1948-1978 /Eng. Co. No. 1/ D. A. Bone 1855-1890 C. A. Patterson 1835-1896 A. K. Brow 1913-1929 C. E. Jenkins 1861-1943 [metal plaque w/ Wittman] John Wittman 1852-1946 [metal plaque w/ Jenkins] Roy L. Baker 1910-1974 /organized 1871/ George Jenkins 1863-1902 Henry Rohde 1850-1903 Geo. W. Smith 1877-1920 Ray Pippin 1901-1942 H. J. Berger 1899-1962 W. B. Saunders 1881-1962 /bottom/ Tony Bonifizi 1918-1980 Tony L. Marino 1918-1981 David Rice Sr. 1915-1982 Leldon D. Massey 1917-1982 Charles Graessar 1899-1984 Grady C. Williams 1909-1990 Edward L. Harus 1914-1990 John J. Stasny 1899-1991 Wardon Marc Plass 1959-1994 Jeff O. Barnett 1946-1995 Sam William Noto 1899-1996 Frank "Bully" Marino 1928-1996 [To Top] What is the history of the Hook & Ladder Company Number 1? Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 was incorporated May 16, 1871. On March 7, 1881, it became Protection Engine Co. No. 1 and united with Engine Co. No. 1 (Org. 1871). Alert Engine Co. No. 2 was formed in 1877, which later disbanded in 1882. [To Top] What is the history of the oak trees on the east side of the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? Set in an old city park, the Clara B. Mounce Library was dedicated on December 14, 1969. The oak trees on Washington St. side are memorials. Plaque: Memorial Tree George Washington Bicentennial 1732-1932 William M. Scott Chapter, DAR Registered American Tree Association. [To Top] What is the policy for posting flyers on the public bulletin board? The bulletin board is for posting not-for-profit community activities and resources. Patrons should visit the manager at each location and provide a copy for the flyer for approval. A member of the staff will post the flyer on the bulletin board. [To Top] How do I go about getting a receipt for tax purposes for donations? Donations to the Library are received by the Community Librarian on behalf of the Friends of the Library with the understanding that the library may add donations to the collection, sell them at the Friends used book sale, or put them on the "Free Table." A citizen may request an Acknowledgement of Donation Form. The form is initialed by a staff member, but the citizen provides a valuation of the donated items. [To Top] What is the history of the Grandfather clock on the first floor at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library? The grandfather clock was donated in 1980 by Col. J. Jacques who once owned the LaSalle Hotel. It was bought off a ship that came into New Orleans that probably came from Europe. The clock was located in the LaSalle Hotel until it was donated to the library. Jerry Jacques is the administrator of the estate. [To Top] What is the number of employees at each library? There are 21 employees at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library, 21 at the Larry J. Ringer Library, and 6 at the Carnegie History Center. [To Top] Back to Library Information

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Last updated on January 28, 2010.