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Welcome to the Dennis M. O'Connor Public Library
2025 SUMMER READING PROGRAM
We have some exciting new programs this year for the Summer Reading Program. Participants will be able to learn interesting animal facts as the animal kingdom comes to the library with a program from The Texas Zoo. The Aransas Wildlife Refuge will present a program on how to learn to use clues to learn about common structures of animal skulls. A nature art project will allow participants to use their imagination. These projects will be judged by the library patrons. Winners will be awarded a gift card. Officers from the Refugio County Sheriff's Department will present a program with an up-close look at equipment and patrol vehicles.
The summer reading program is open to children who will be entering 1st grade thru 6th grade. This free program is co-sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The programs will be held on Wednesday's: June 4th, June 11th, June 18th, and June 25th from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the library. There will be only one program each day.
The goals of the Texas Reading Club are to encourage the children and families to read for pleasure, to help children maintain and improve their reading skills, to encourage them to become lifelong readers and library users, and to establish reading as a foundation for academic success. Participants will receive a ticker for every book as they are checked out, which will be put into the raffle drawing box. Weekly drawings will be done each program day. Participants must be present to win. The more they read, the more changes they have to win!
To help us with planning, we encourage parents to pre-register their children. Below is a link to download the registration form. Forms can also be downloaded from the library Facebook page, or can be picked up at the library. Children that are pre-registered will get a head start on recording books they're reading. The registration deadline is May 19th. The library is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2026 SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS (REGION L) REGIONAL WATER PLAN
The Region L 2026 Initially Prepared Regional Water Plan (IPP), developed with funding assistance from the Texas Water Development Board, is now available for public review and comment. Below is the link to access the document:
The Dennis M. O'Connor Public Library now has a conference room available for non-profit groups. Below are some of the policies pertaining to the conference room.
The Conference Room is designed to meet general, non-commercial, information, educational, cultural, and civic needs including activities such as discussion groups, panels, lectures, conferences, and seminars.
The room may not be used for social gatherings such as showers, birthday parties, dances, family reunions, etc.
The room may not be used for religious services or political rallies or campaigns for specific partisan political issues or candidates (however, forums and study groups are permitted).
The room may not be used to provide any kind of direct healthcare services, including examinations, hands-on demonstrations, or treatments (however, the sharing of information about healthcare services is permitted).
Food, beverages, smoking and tobacco products are not allowed.
Meetings of individuals under the age of 18 years of age must have an adult sponsor present.
Comfortable seating capacity is 16; extra chairs are available.
RESERVATIONS
All groups must submit a conference room policy form, and an acknowledgement form and submit to the library at least two days in advance of the date needed.
Conference room can only be scheduled during library operating hours.
A copy of the rules will be provided with the application.
LIBRARY OPENS NEW CHAPTER DEBUTING NEW VIBRANT AMBIANCE OF THE LIBRARY
The newly transformed Dennis M. O'Connor Public Library will start a new chapter Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 following completion of a $147,000 transformation project. The renovations were made possible by the Tocker Foundation, the Stillwater Foundation, the M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation, and the Kathrynn O'Connor Foundation. The library will be back to normal operating hours Monday, Feb. 12th.
There will be much to check out Monday during the reopening. Colors used throughout the project were inspired by the original building, which really adds a vibrant new ambiance to the library. The library includes specific areas designated for children, teens and adults. Additions to the childrens area include: a play kitchen, a discovery activity table, and an interactive touch table with 13 games.
The reopening of the Dennis M. O'Connor Public Library means a revitalized hub for the community. The library is a symbol of our dedication to knowledge, inclusivity, and progress. As a space newly designed for everyone, this transformation project has created a place where people of all ages can learn, collaborate and engage.
"The long-awaited improvements to the library have lived up to our expectations", said Tina McGuill, Library Director.
1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN
The Dennis M. O'Connor Public Library is implementing an early literacy program designed to help parents begin the routine of reading to their children daily, to prepare them for kindergarten.
1,000 books does sound like a lot, and that's why it's a great goal to have. It's good to remember that reading just a few books at a time over the 5 years from birth to Kindergarten will get you to that goal. If you read just 10 books each week for 2 years, you'd have read 1,040 books!
This program is free of charge, and is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and six years. Registration can be completed at the library, or online at https://forms.gle/sTdei5HNMTyhpiRu7
Log sheets can be downloaded at the link below, or a mobile app can be used to keep track. Prizes are offered at different milestones throughout the program, as well as at the end when 1,000 books are reached. We also like to post milestones on our social media (with parental permission) to help motivate others to keep working towards their goals.
Browse the library's collection of fiction and non-fiction books, audio books, large print books, magazines and movies. Search by title, author, keyword, series or subject.
LearningExpress Library features nearly 1,000 online tutorials, practice tests, and eBooks to help patrons of all ages. It offers job search and workplace skills improvement, skill building in reading, writing, math and basic science, career certification and licensure exam prep, college and grad school entrance test prep, GED test prep, and more.
