PHOTO #1: Residents take part in a Valentine’s Day-themed painting activity at the Victoria Public Library in 2023.
PHOTO #2: Children watch a science demonstration during an event hosted by the DOW Science Team at the Victoria Public Library.
The Victoria Public Library has received the Texas Municipal Library Director’s Association’s 2023 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award in honor of its innovative programs, outreach efforts and commitment to service.
In 2023, 84 out of 545 library systems earned this award, or fewer than 15% of public library systems in Texas. The award recognizes libraries that support standards of excellence across a variety of categories, including literacy support for all ages, cultural and educational programing, digital inclusion and services for underserved populations.
“Many of TMLDA’s standards of excellence align with goals that we’ve been striving toward and that are important to the library’s mission,” Library Director Jessica Berger said. “Winning the award for the second year in a row reaffirms that we are continuing to work to meet the needs of our community.”
The library often uses creative solutions to reach residents who would not normally use the library as a resource. As an example, in honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month in September, the library began the “Show Your Library Card” program, which highlighted 39 local businesses who offered special promotions to library cardholders. The program attracted many new cardholders during its first year.
The library has made strides in recent years to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the community to learn and engage with one another. The library continues to provide programs and services to support literacy for children, teens and adults.
In addition to in-house events, the library offers meeting spaces that residents can reserve for meetings and public events. The library also has videoconferencing equipment and laptops for remote meetings and interviews.
“We continue to make progress on our master plan goal of being a place where learners and creators come together to imagine the future, discover new possibilities, and connect with others who share their passions,” Berger said.
The library is continuing to seek ways to better serve the community by adapting to whatever the community needs. For instance, the materials pickup locker, which will be open to the public soon, will allow residents to pick up and drop off books and other materials 24/7.
To learn more about Victoria Public Library events and programs, visit www.victoriatx.gov/library.