The San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) recently announced securing a hefty $385,000 in further funding, giving a much-needed boost to the ongoing renovation of the Las Palmas Branch Library. The funds will serve to restore several aspects of the renovation that were previously scrapped due to the ever-tightening noose of rising construction costs, according to a news release. The expansion on Castroville Rd can now look forward to additional features, thanks to this financial shot in the arm.
In a breakdown of the new financing, it was revealed that the H-E-B Foundation is contributing $250,000 specifically for the naming rights of the new 2,000 square-foot community space. In an effort to continually extend and support communal bonds, this portion of the grant was drummed up by the diligent work of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation. The remaining $135,000 was procured through a federal appropriation, thanks to the initiative put forward by U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, designed to aid in constructing the new Learn at SAPL site at the Las Palmas Branch. Kathy Donellan, SAPL's Interim Library Director, issued a statement celebrating the partnership and expressed her gratitude. "We are immensely grateful for this additional funding brought to this project by our library partners," Donellan said.
Yet, this isn't just a win for the library's administration. The folks at street level, the community members who have earnestly advocated for a top-tier renovation, will have a say in what comes next. SAPL has invited residents to a public meeting slated for May 15 to receive construction updates and participate in deciding how the new funds should be to used most effectively. Those who can't attend in person will have the option to tune into the livestream—and make their voices heard—via SAPL’s YouTube channel.
Duly noted, the Las Palmas renovation isn't entirely reliant on these latest funds; it's a multi-source endeavor with financial backing from the City of San Antonio Bond Programs from both 2017 and 2022, private donors, and other contributions. With a total project budget now soaring to $6.4 million, this ambitious project entails not just superficial facelifts but a wholesale reimagining of the library, with a sumptuous feast of new amenities from a digital sign, to restored spaces for children and teens, to the Learn at SAPL adult education site. Though the doors of Las Palmas are temporarily closed to the public, the library is striving to maintain full services through an interim setup over at Our Lady of the Lake University's Sueltenfuss Library.
For those hungry for more info or with queries that just can't wait, visit mysapl.org or get in touch with library staff directly by phone or through their chat service.
