PURPOSE

	Medina Community Library was organized in 2000, to create, operate, maintain, and sustain a library for the rural community of Medina and surrounding 475-sq. mile area encompassed by the Medina Independent School District. Its mission is to provide access to the world of ideas and promote life-long learning.
	The library also functions as a community hub—a place for the increasingly diverse population of western Bandera County to come together to share ideas, information, knowledge and experience.
	Priorities include —encouraging literacy and promoting lifelong learning through its materials, programs and services; —providing a bridge to the area’s past, through archived records relating to Medina history; —helping Medina’s school-age children prepare to meet the challenges of the future; —offering programs and exhibitions highlighting area resources and other topics of local interest; —providing meeting space for community groups.

HISTORY

	In early 2001, the library’s founding group purchased a commercial property at the center of Medina and undertook the renovation of a long-abandoned 2,400 sq. ft. structure on the site. Thanks to generous support from many individual donors and foundations, the facility opened to the public by October of the same year.
	Again through the support of individuals and foundations, the library was able to expand in 2003, adding a new Texana/reference room, an exhibition/community meeting room, and an outdoor classroom/stage/ pavilion.
	In early 2004, the site complex was completed with the installation of an extensive demonstration garden featuring over 100 species of plants native to Bandera County and surrounding areas.

STRUCTURE

	Medina Community Library is a Texas nonprofit corporation, tax-exempt under IRC Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1)(6).
	The library is independently operated and governed by its board of directors. At the same time, it is a member of the Bandera County Federated Library System and the Texas State Library and Archives regional system (Alamo Area Library System).

2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

	David Derry, President
	Elinor Vandergriff, Vice-President
	Mandy Barton, Treasurer
	Shawn Morrison, Secretary
	Carol Adams
	Kathy Casper
	Debra Hopkins
	Perry Lane
	John McNamara

STAFF

	Mary Ellen Lindstrom, Library Director
	Susan Lewis, Assistant
	Linda Simonson, Assistant

CIRCULATION DESK VOLUNTEERS

	Judy Moore
	Donna Payne
	Reesa Gillette

SUPPORT

	Operations are supported in part by an annual block grant from Bandera County, from individual donors and from foundations.
	Funding for materials is provided from individuals, foundations and community organizations; from Alamo Area Library System ; from the library’s operating budget; and from proceeds of  the library’s ongoing sale of donated/used books.
	Thanks to the ongoing commitment of time and energy by its working board and volunteers, the library has been able to focus its resources on program and collection development.