Libraries are more than checking out books. The Hockley County Memorial Library (HCML) supports the community by providing public access to a variety of resources and hosting events.
With a library card, community members can use resources including educational materials like databases, homeschool curriculum and career prep. They can also find automotive repair information, practice driving exams, newspaper archives and more. Those without computers at home can come to the library to use their public computers.
“We always want to make sure that people have access to that, specifically for job applications because we have a lot of people coming in for that,” Carpenter-Lopez said. “We have at least 10 people here that come in, and they need different legal forms, and we’re able to provide those for free.”
The library also offers eBooks and audiobooks through Libby and CloudLibrary. While those living outside of Hockley County cannot check out physical books at HCML, they can get a non-resident card for Libby and CloudLibrary.
“We try to get people into that because there are a lot of things on there that we don’t have physically in the library.” Carpenter-Lopez said.
Furthermore, the library hosts two main events, the first of which is their summer reading program. They meet every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for magic shows, informative presentations and other fun activities. Kids can also fill out reading logs for up to eight different prizes.
“We tried to get some new stuff in this year to get some more people out, and it’s worked so far,” Carpenter-Lopez said. “We’re doing pretty good with our sign-ups. I think we have at least 80 sign-ups for the reading portion, which is great.”
The theme this year is “Unearth a Story,” and registration is open until July 17.
HCML also hosts story times for preschoolers held on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. during the school year where they read a story and do a craft. Similarly, Carpenter-Lopez does story time for homeschoolers on Fridays.
“We just started it three years ago, and it really started taking off this last year.” Carpenter-Lopez said. “Before we had four or five families, and now we have so many people that they have to talk amongst themselves to see who is going because we can only fit about 20 to 25 kids in the back room. It exploded, but we’re always glad to have more kids in.”
Adults can be part of the Friends of the Library organization who help support the library and its community efforts. Carpenter-Lopez also said she is trying to put together a teen book club to read one book a month starting this September.
“For us here at the library, our main thing is recreational reading,” Library Director Shawna Carpenter-Lopez said. “We try to provide a little bit of everything so that people can have fun reading. We want people to know that reading is not just for academic purposes. It is something you can enjoy doing just on your off time.”
To get a library card, citizens need an ID and a current piece of mail and will be asked to complete a short application. To search the library’s catalog and check open hours, their website is available at Hockleylvl.biblionix.com.
There is also an HCML Facebook page for updates and event reminders.