By HANK MURPHY

editor@woodcountymonitor.com

The Mineola Memorial Library last week underwent significant improvements through the financial help of the Tocker and Meredith foundations and the muscle power of members of the community.

Established in 1960 through the generosity of Harry Meredith, the Mineola Memorial Library was updated last week with new shelving, furniture for adults, teens and youngsters, new computer stations, a spacious new front desk, new chairs for staff, and clean carpets from wall to wall.

Starting Aug. 5, community members last week boxed and moved nearly 27,000 books, disassembled shelving, installed new shelving, crushed boxes, and performed an assortment of tasks before the library’s grand re-opening on Saturday.

Participating in the endeavor were members of the library board, the Friends of the Library, the local Boy Scouts, the Yellowjackets football team, the city’s public works, and other volunteers.

The upgrades have been several years in the making, according to librarian Mary Hurley and Library Board president Lou Steele. Much of the funding for the project came from a $50,000 grant from the Tocker Foundation, which is dedicated to the support of small, rural libraries in Texas. Additional funding came from the Meredith Foundation.

Hurley estimates that the Mineola Memorial Library has 3,500 active patrons.

On Saturday, members of the Meredith Foundation Board of Directors came to tour the updated library, and they were thanked for their support.

“We are so thankful for you guys; with you we can serve the community,” said Steele.

As for the old shelving, it will be put to good use by the library in Canton.