A 50th Anniversary Celebration Friday recounted a history from the time the Kingsland Library had just one book to it’s name to a modern six-day-a-week service with a large collection of printed and audio volumes, a genealogy collection and internet service.

Friends of the Kingsland Library have been such an integral part of that growth that the organization was key in those recognized. President Fay Creel presented a commemorative plaque to the current librarian Pam Downing.

Llano County Librarian Dian Ray and Precinct 3 Commissioner Duane Stueven also were high on the list of those credited with the growth of the library. Stueven recalled the 1999 dedication of the expansion of the Polk Street facility. First Lady Laura Bush had attended and she added a letter of congratulations to the celebration.

Stueven said that Llano County had a population of only about 5,000 people in the 1950’s, and Kingsland only made up about 1,500 of them.

“Today we have about 11,000,” he said.

County Judge Wayne Brascom recalled his awe the first time he entered a library and how he had come to learn that collections of knowledge have gone back to Sumerian clay tablets 3,000 years before the birth of Christ.

“That is how far back libraries go, like this one, recording ourselves, our heritage and our future . . . for posterity,” he said.

Ann Welder, cited for her work with the Friends of the Kingsland Library when she was named 2008 Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, presented an historical account on behalf of former librarian Dorothy Owen, who was unable to attend.

“In early 1957 a state library bookmobile for three counties began to call on Kingsland,” she said. “A large van would park at Wood’s Grocery.”

Before there was a Friends organization, friends stepped forward, because the bookmobile program faltered after a year.

“In 1958, Anne Lappe and Avis Winsor would drive to the Llano Library and pick up their 30 books from a very cooperative librarian, Mrs. George Powell,” said Welder. “These books would be placed in Barrow Hall, now part of the Kingsland Community Church, to be checked out by the public.

“No one came the first Saturday, however by the second week two or three people came and, by word of mouth, the idea caught on,” said Welder’s account.

The early efforts at a Kingsland Library went from pillar to post, so to speak, around the community. In 1961, when a location was found between Highland Lakes Bank (now Franklin) and the Kingsland Post Office, the Llano County Commissioners Court designated Kingsland as a branch library and hired Jackie Pollard for nine hours a week.

Pollard became full time librarian in 1969 and served until 1977. She was followed by Owen, 1977-81; Retha Dodsen 1981-93, James Closter and Anne Meade, each for a time in 1993, and finally Dodsen in late 1993.

Friends of the Kingsland Library was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1976, and its first president, Avis M. Winsor, served until 1984. Friends was the source of thousands of books donated to the library and its member volunteers allowed for extended hours and summer reading programs. The organization was the source of much of the money for a new permanent home for Kingsland Library.

“In September of 1977, with $35,000 in donations and land donated by Mrs. Anne Lappe, construction started,” said Welder. “Mr. Felix Richardson was named building superintendent, R.V. Burns and Ronnal Burns agreed to build the building at cost, Mr. David Barrow of Austin was the architect. Mr. Richardson died soon after construction began and Mr. Bill Pearson was drafted to supervise construction.

“The county only agreed to maintain and operate the library if it were ever built, but they later pledged $17,500 in revenue sharing funds for furnishings.”

By August 1978, a new library requiring no county tax revenue funds was complete and dedicated and Owen supervised the transfer of 6,000 books to its shelves.

Dodson said she had little training when she came to Kingsland in 1980. She had been librarian at Llano High School when she was hired for Kingsland by County Librarian Nelo Pope.

“But remember, we had only 120 students at Llano High, then,” she quipped.

“The years I spent as a librarian are right up at the top of all the years of my life,” she said. “Children who came in then come in now with their own kids. And, you know, they seem to be doing well.”

Among the many sources of funding that have come to the Kingsland Library, was a J. Frank Dobie Foundation grant that provided $4,000 for the purchase of Texas county histories in 1985. Then Friends President Lillie Worchester made the application and accompanied Dodson to Dallas for the presentation.

Downing said that, when she was hired in 1993, her office was not called “the mouse house” because it was so small and she proudly recounted the expansion of the library, a three-year process, completed and dedicated in 1999.

“Computers have been the biggest change in my years here,” said Downing, who also credited the Kingsland Genealogy Society with its important additions to the library’s research resources.

Downing recently announced plans to retire from her post, but she reminded the faithful supporters of the library that need of another expansion was inevitable within the next decade.

“More technology is just around the corner, embrace it” continued Downing. “But don’t forget the oldest things in the library – the books.”

Frank Serpas of the Friends organization served as master of ceremonies and Veterans of Foreign Wars Bill Lewis and Jerry Shoemaker served as an honor guard.

In addition to members of Friends and the KGS, library staff was honored. They include Downing, assistant Librarian Darlene Litton, Events Coordinator Kathy Aponte, and Children’s Librarian Denise Reed.