BEE
Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com
The Beeville Library offers more than 40,000 books for patrons of all ages.
BEEVILLE LIBRARY A QUIET BUT FUN GETAWAY FOR CHILDREN BY GABRIELLA CANALES gcanales@vicad.com
BEEVILLE — A library is sometimes not quiet. “Every day is the best day to come to the library,” said Rosie Amaya, director of the Joe Barnhart Bee County Library. About 15 children sang and danced to “Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed” with Robert Young, public services librarian, in August, while patrons moved silently in and out of bookshelves. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story library, located on the courthouse square, offers modern technology, databases, a large print collection and digital books. The library, which opened March 3, 2001, averages about 60 patrons daily in the summer and about 40 during normal operations, said Denise Gutierrez, circulation manager. One of the most popular events the library hosts is the Wild Things Zoofari that 54
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averages about 350 people in attendance, she said. The library provides more than 26 public access computer workstations with high speed internet connections as well as wireless services for people wanting to use their own laptops. The library has more than 40,000 volumes, including a first edition Samuel Johnson dictionary dated 1755. Computer classes are open to the public and include lessons on computer basics, social media, Apple, coding, Skype, Google and resume and job search. A Homework Center is open to children of all ages, Gutierrez said. “It’s an awesome place,” she said. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission recently awarded the library with the Family Place Libraries grant opportunity with a purpose to create a
welcoming, family-centered environment that empowers caregivers of young children as they become their child’s first teachers. The grant will provide funding for the equipment and training necessary for each library to host workshops for children 0-3 and their caregivers, develop an interactive space for this age group to play and learn in the library and forge strong partnerships with community organizations serving young children and their families. The library will send two staff members to training in New York. It will also receive $6,000 to buy supplies necessary to launch a successful Family Place Library location at their facility. Amaya said the expansion will provide the community with more services. “We are the learning crossroads of our community,” she said.
The library is not the only place to visit in Beeville. The McClanahan House is the oldest business structure in Beeville. The building, the second store built in Beeville by George W. McClanahan, was built about 1867 on the east side of the courthouse square, near Poesta Creek. The house, 206 E. Corpus Christi St., served as general store, lodging house and post office. It was built in the pioneer western style with southern porches. McClanahan was Beeville’s first merchant. He was among the first to buy auctioned lots in the newly formed town of Beeville in 1859. McClanahan also served as schoolteacher, postmaster, county clerk, innkeeper and Sunday school superintendent. After McClanahan’s death, L.F. Roberts purchased and operated the store for many years. The museum is open from 2 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday
