McAllen Public Library

McAllen, Texas

The hulking husk of a vacant Walmart in the Rio Grande Valley is enjoying an unlikely second act. When the big-box retailer moved to a larger location down the street, the building might have been destined to house yet another large chain or to fall into disrepair. But rather than let it become an eyesore, the city spent $24 million transforming the drab structure into a 123,000-square-foot public library that serves as a vibrant space for residents there.

The library has a modern, cheery feel. Twenty-foot ceilings, combined with new skylights and windows, create a bright, airy interior. Large three-dimensional signs that mark the sections hang from the ceilings, creating cozy nooks below.

Nods to nature were incorporated throughout the design — from some tabletops made from local mesquite to shades of green carpet in varying hues that mimic the patchwork of fields and citrus groves that can be seen on a flyover of the valley. Outside, a new facade, fountain, and a mix of native palms, live oak and cypress trees disguise the building’s past life. [Texas Monthly, New York Times]

Teen Owl Cove Grand Opening
Saturday, June 3, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

The Norfolk Library’s Teen Advisory Council invites everyone to the official opening of the new Teen Owl Cove. Come see what the new space has to offer and how the teens have decorated it. Stop by any time for refreshments and games.

Friday Nights on the Village Green Kick-Off:
Musician & Family Entertainer Al DeCant
Friday, June 9, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Come sing, dance and make music with Al DeCant on the Village Green beginning at 6:00 p.m. A critically-acclaimed concert performer and educator from Connecticut, Al has entertained and educated thousands of young people through his programs of music and storytelling. His original comic and soulful songs are enjoyed as much by adults as they are by children. With high-energy tunes spanning genres from traditional folk, rock and roll, to Afro-Reggae rhythms, Al knows how to engage his audience in singing along, dancing, and having a great time. Celebrate the onset of summer and our interactive summer reading program with the Norfolk Library on the Village Green. Let us know if you plan to be there by registering here. Ice cream will be served!

Brothers in Spirit: An Illustrated Talk with Jenny Byers
Saturday, June 10, 5:30 p.m.

Scion of the Pittsburgh oil and banking family, William Larimer Mellon, Jr., was married, the father of three, and a successful rancher in Arizona when, at thirty-seven, he read a Life magazine article about Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy of “reverence for life” which guided his mission hospital in a remote area of Gabon, Africa. Mellon immediately wrote to the famous humanitarian in Lambarene, expressing admiration of Schweitzer’s life of service and the wish to engage in similar work with his wife, Gwendolyn. Schweitzer’s reply in March 1948 was a lengthy letter of realistic encouragement. In time, Mellon received his medical degree from Tulane University and later established a well-equipped hospital in one of the poorest regions of Haiti, where, with his wife, he spent the rest of his life working as a physician and a community development engineer.  The hospital continues to thrive. Author Jeannette Q. Byers has brought together sixty-five of the letters written between 1947 and Schweitzer’s death in 1965 in her book Brothers in Spirit: The Correspondence of Albert Schweitzer and William Larimer Mellon, Jr. She will read from these letters and tell us more about this extraordinary humanitarian project on Saturday, June 10, at 5:30 p.m. Please register for this program here.

All Together! Decorating the Library Lawn
Wednesday, June 14, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.

Help decorate the library lawn with painted wood insects in preparation for our 2023 Summer Reading program. Erika Crofut will lead this fun artistic painting session. Children will need a note to get off the bus at the Library. Visit here to let us know your child will be there.

A Juneteenth Book Discussion
Thursday, June 15, 5:30 p.m.

In recognition of Juneteenth this year, the Norfolk Library invites you to attend a book discussion of All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake. Author, professor, and public historian Tiya Miles draws on history, art, and many other dimensions to explore the meanings held in a single object, a cotton sack passed down through three generations of African American women. The book won the National Book Award in 2021. In the Library's continuing commitment to social justice equity, copies of the book will be freely given to the first 10 people who would like to participate in the discussion. Please register here or by calling 860-542-5075 ext. 2 and come by to pick up your book.

Dragon Boat Festival at the HUB
Saturday, June 17, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The CT-Asia Cultural Center is bringing a Dragon Boat Festival to Norfolk! A Dragon Boat Festival, or Duan Wu Jie, is one of the three most important lunar festivals in China. The festival is celebrated to commemorate Qu Yuan, a famous ancient Chinese scholar. Chinese people celebrate with dragon boat races and rice dumplings. This year the Dragon Boat Festival in China begins on Thursday, June 22, and is a national 3-day holiday. 

Bring your children to the HUB for traditional Dragon Boat Festival food, a Dragon Boat to sit in, Dragon Boat crafts, and a parade by the children who attend.

Registration is required and is limited to 40 people.  Click here to register or call the HUB 860-542-7185.

Seminar with Kim Maxwell: Where is Our Democracy Today?
Sundays at the HUB, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
or Mondays via Zoom, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Beginning June 25

Everywhere we read that our democracy is under serious attack. January 6^th and the many attempts of states, organizations, and individuals to obstruct or control election outcomes outside the actual vote rise before us as existential threats. This seminar will explore the dimensions of our “democracy” through the lens of Shakespeare’s most effective examination of autocracy, Antony and Cleopatra, and selections from the Federalist Papers.  Please email Kim at [email protected] if you are interested or would like more information.

Mindfulness with Miranda Lee
Fridays through June 23, 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. via Zoom

Mindfulness can be defined as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” In this series, mindfulness practitioner Miranda Lee will teach participants how to live a more mindful life and equip them with the tools they need to help build resilience against the challenges of day-to-day life. Miranda's theme for June is "nature as a healer." Visit here to register for the Zoom link. Anyone can join at any time.

Click Here for more information