"When in doubt, go to the library." - J.K. Rowling
The mission of the Coleman Public Library is to provide a respectful, friendly and welcoming environment for our diverse population; to be a leader in the community by providing professional services with new technology and informational programs; to include a wide variety of collection materials and on-line resources to address the informational, educational and recreational needs of all members of the community.
An official notification letter was received that the Coleman Public Library is accredited and will be a fully
qualified member of the Texas Library System for State Fiscal Year 2025: September 1, 2024, through
August 31, 2025. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has been authorized to accredit libraries
since 1971, and the Coleman Public Library has been accredited for over 33 years.
As an accredited library, your library has access to any program through this agency that is made possible
through federal funding. This includes statewide interlibrary loan (ILL), E‐rate, funding opportunities
through competitive and non‐competitive grant programs, and the TexShare Card and TexShare Database programs.
Coleman Public Library 2024 Summer Reading Program, “Adventure Begins at The Library,” will start on June 18th, 2024, and complete on July 17th, 2024. Due to the ongoing repairs inside the library, which have no definite open date yet, Librarian Sue Dossey had to develop a Plan B. “This year, the program will be offered through “Beanstack,” a motivating platform that inspires all ages to read. It is the #1 choice for thousands of libraries and schools worldwide”. “Join us at the City Park Family Center this Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. for a special program with the Abilene Zoo.” Library Staff will provide bags with the week's adventure, a list of suggested books to read, and a craft. Readers can select their chain/bracelet and a reading brag tag for this year's program. Then, each Wednesday morning, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., at the Park Gazebo, staff will be set up to trade your completed badges into reading beads and brag tags. New readers can select their chains and tags at this time also. Spin the wheel, and receive weekly prizes for all ages.
Instructions to join the reading program:
The Summer Reading Program is a collaborative effort of Friends of the Coleman Public Library, Friends of the Coleman County Foundation, state libraries, and CSLP. All working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults. Friends of the Library are so pleased to once again receive a generous grant from the Friends of the Coleman County Foundation, providing beautifully illustrated children's & youth books, remarkable live performances, and brag tag keepsakes.
Here's to an adventure for ourselves, as we have never had to present our program this way.
Thank you,
Sue Dossey, Librarian
325-625-3043
Children under five can now sign up for a free book each month from birth until their 5th birthday. The “Imagination Library also allows multiple children under five in a household are eligible to enroll. There is no cost to participate in the "Imagination Library." Funding comes from donations and sponsorships given to United Way of Abilene. Depending on when you register your child, the first book may take eight to twelve weeks to arrive. After that, the books will arrive every month. You will be notified via email when the registration is approved.
All books within the program are age-appropriate and are selected by early childhood experts.
Coleman Library has registration forms available at the Circulation Desk. Or you can download a form on the Imagination Link and bring the form to the circulation desk, email it to cpl@web-access.net, or mail it to:
Coleman Public Library
402 Commercial Ave.,
Coleman, Texas 76834
To help sustain Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, you may donate to the United Way of Abilene.
Have you heard the news? Did you know you now have access to over 1/5 million media titles via hoopla Digital?
Coleman Public Library is excited to offer hoopla, which lets you borrow and instantly stream audiobooks, eBooks, comics and manga, music, movies, TV, and more, all with no holds or waiting. Just visit hoopladigital.com or download the hoopla app from your device’s app store and sign up with your library card.
Hoopla works on smart devices or in your computer’s browser, so you can start on one device and pick up where you left off on another. You can stream titles or even download them for offline use. And with over 1.5 million titles available instantly and more being added each week, hoopla truly has something for everyone.
If you have questions, please contact us at 325-625-3043.
Children’s music is a full-time focus for Joe McDermott. “What I love about this genre is how open it is to expression.” His artistic training helps him create songs that evoke emotions in “people of all sizes.”
Starting out with a coffee can and a couple of drumsticks given to him by his dad which he was sorry he gave them to him”, his first gig was when he and his brother performed at a Harlem Globetrotters show. Five years old, Joe played the drums and sang “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”
All he wanted to do from that point on was make music and make people smile. His next big show was in the 4th grade when he played drums in his brother’s rock band.
Joe moved to Austin and earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas. He took a job as an art teacher at Athena Montessori and five years later, he opened his own preschool, The Phoenix School, in Central Austin. Little did he know that creativity in early childhood education would lead to his future career as one of the nation’s top children’s music recording artists.
The event will be held at the Coleman Public Library, funded with a grant to the Friends of the Library from the Coleman County Foundation. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the show.
(click image below to register)
April 11 - April 28, 2023
Sponsored by Coleman ISD ACE Program
Coleman, Texas – Beginning April 11th, 2023 to April 28th, 2023, Coleman ISD ACE and Coleman Public Library will present Lonesome Dove, an exhibition produced by the Wittliff Collections at the Alkek Library, Texas State University, presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Lonesome Dove – Larry McMurtry’s epic novel of two aging Texas Rangers who drive a herd of stolen cattle 2,500 miles from the Ro Grande to Montana to found the first ranch there – captured the public imagination and has never let it go. The Lonesome Dove miniseries, which first aired on CBS in 1989, lassoed an even wider audience.
Capturing the seeping visual imagery of the original miniseries, the Lone Dove exhibition presents fifty-fived framed classic images taken during filming by Bill Wittliff, renowned photographer, writer, and executive produce (with Suzanne De Passe) of Lonesome Dove. The images, however, are worlds apart from ordinary production stills, depicting an extraordinary union of art, literature, and history.
The exhibition will be available to the public from April 11th, 2023 to April 28th, 2023. For more information about viewing hours or to arrange group visits, contact Sue Dossey/Librarian at 325-625-3043.
Humanities Texas develops and supports diverse programs across the state, including lectures, oral history projects, teacher institutes, museum exhibitions and documentary films. For more information, please visit Humanities Texas online at http://www.humanititestexas.org or call 512.440.1991.
LCRA representatives present a $25,000 grant to Friends of the Coleman Public Library for upgrades to the Coleman library, including new lighting, air conditioning and toilets. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Tammy Swening, Friends of the Coleman Public Library board member; Cooper Hogg, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Dixie Bible, Friends of the Coleman Public Library president; Sue Dossey, Library Director; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Tammy Davis, Friends of the Coleman Public Library board member; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; James King, Assistant City Manager; and Sarah Beal, Friends of the Coleman Public Library board member.
Upgrades include energy-efficient heating and cooling units, low-flow toilets
COLEMAN, Texas – A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority will enable the Coleman Public Library to replace outdated lighting, add water-saving toilets and install new energy-efficient heating and cooling units.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $8,458 in matching funds from the non-profit group Friends of the Coleman Public Library, will pay for energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the 18,000-square-foot library and in an outdoor vestibule.
Library Director Sue Dossey said most of the existing lighting dates back about 50 years, making it difficult to find replacement lights, fixtures and ballasts.
“The improvements to the lighting will make our library much more attractive and easier on the eyes for people while they are reading, searching for books, working on projects or spending time in our computer lab,” Dossey said.
One of the library’s two new high-efficiency units for heating, ventilation and air conditioning will replace an older model that suffers leaks, which can cause water damage. The five low-flow toilets will take the place of toilets that dae back to the 1980s.
“I’m excited about these new HVAC systems, but I’m also excited about making everything more energy efficient to help defray the cost of our utilities,” said Dossey, who has worked at the library for 40 years.
The Coleman Public Library consists of three side-by-side downtown buildings, with one featuring a community room that is available for public events. The library has extensive modern-day and historical holdings, including the Dr. Walter M. Woodward Texas History Collection. Eighteen computers are available to patrons, and the library recently created a business center where users can charge cell phones, use free Wi-Fi and print or fax documents.
Dossey praised the Friends of the Coleman Library for supporting the library and helping it continue to improve its building and the services it provides.
“Not all libraries are lucky enough to have a ‘friends’ group, but the Coleman Public Library has an outstanding group,” Dossey said. “Anything the library needs that is not within the city’s budget, they help come up with the funds for it, through fundraisers and grants. We appreciate this support and look forward to working with LCRA.”
The community grant is one of 46 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
The Library Summer Reading Program “Oceans of Possibilities” Awards Day was held on June 30th, 2022 in the Library Community Room. Each child, as they arrived, received their reading certificate and coupons from local business; one free swim pass from the City of Coleman, one free cookie from Prickly Pear/Cactus Coffee Co., one free fountain drink from Owl Drug Store, one free- one topping, personal pan pizza from Coleman Pizza Hut, one free drink from Best Fried Chicken, and one free cookie from Sinclair Bakery.
Librarian Sue Dossey gave a short program to the group attending. The reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the Coleman Public Library, The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Collaborative Summer Library Program, (a consortium of all 50 states working together to make high-quality summer reading materials), Coleman County Foundation, library patrons, and Coleman business to be listed below.
Registration began on June 1st, 2022 with the first “Family Night Event”. With a grant from the Coleman County Foundation, a special program was scheduled so that the whole family could come and enjoy a night together. Coleman’s favorite “Mr. Blue Shoes”, Michael Dyson, entertained an audience of over 40 guests. Friends provided free popcorn for the event.
Librarian Sue Dossey reports, that 88 attended Registration Day and 101 signed up to participate using the reading log entry or the virtual online version. 48 completed the program.
Toddlers/Pre-K/Kindergarten ages met on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. A total of 62 children attended the program with an average of 15 for all four programs. Children enjoyed stories, flannel board stories, video clips, and crafts.
1st & 2nd grades met Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am. A total of 12 attended three programs for an average of 4 each program. Kids enjoyed stories, video clips, fishing contests, and crafts.
The 3rd, 4th & 5th grades met on Wednesday morning at 10:00 am. A total of 53 attended three programs and an average of 18 attended each session. The older kids enjoyed video clips, crafts, a scavenger hunt, a fishing contest, and a special guest Texas Game Warden, Lee Morrison on boating safety and fishing rules. Other events scheduled for the summer included a Rodeo Program, Rodeo Association President Patrick Justice, Announcer T. C. Long, and Clown/Bull Fighter Brandon Dunn. Each child attending received a free Rodeo pass for one night and 51 attended. 24 attended Movie Day, children enjoyed the movie “Moana” and free popcorn on June 15th. And June 16th, 24 also attended another special program by Mark Fuller, “Fish who Cried Shark” a balloon show.
A big THANKS to all the parents, grandparents, and Coleman ISD ACE for bringing your children to our program this year. Next year’s program theme is “All Together Now”, about Kindness and Friendship.
Winners of Beach Pails are:
Toddler/Pre-K/Kindergarten
P. J. Warrick
Carlos Barrios
Brody Butts
Adalia Barrios
Rosalinda Barrios
1st & 2nd Grades
Sage McMahon
Olivia Christopherson
Landrie Jones
Brailynn Barrios
George Guijosa
3rd, 4th, 5th Grades
Makayla Walters
Armonie Eldred
Madalyn Brooks
Aubrey Padialla
Rebekah Jones
Charlie Moore
Karliah Garza
Tristan Staggs
Lance Vaughn
Brenna Horner
Those receiving reading certificates:
George Guijosa, Adalia Barrios, P J Warrick, Brody Butts, Rosalinda Barrios, Carlos Barrios, Izzy Christopherson, Taylin Golson, Axel Golson, Arya Golson, Landrie Jones, Brailynn Barrios, Olivia Christopherson, Sage McMahon, Sutton McMahon, Pyper Wooten, Rebekah Jones, Corbin Rivers, Brennan Horner, Aubrey Padialla, Tenessa Payne, Karliah Garza, Ethan Otwell, Kamryn Delgadillo, Conner Hadden, Luke Hadden, Braylee Golson, Noah Payne, Charlie Moore, Tristan Staggs, Jacob Horner, Riley Newton, Armonie Eldred, Abigail Vanpelt, Emilie Lawhon, Santa Nunez, Makayla Walters, Megan Schaechtel, Brazon Moxley, Quill Moore, Madalyn Brooks, Lance Vaughn, Joseph Wren, Julian Vasques, William Otwell, Eli Walters, Zennia Mata, Ava Nickerson, Candice Rose, Alexie Graham.
Individuals and businesses donating funds for the program are ATMOS Energy, Steve Arthur Family Foundation/Vicki Arthur-Virden, Jerry & Glenda Dodson, Donna Stephens, Bonneville, Shirley Bethel, In Honor of Marian Johnson by Lizz Berry, Otis, and Lulu, Shoppin Baskit, Coleman County State Bank, Coleman Co. Farm Bureau, Grammars Coleman County Telephone Coop., Coleman County Media, Lone Star 24 hour Fitness, Coleman Veterinary Clinic, Big O’s, Johnson Feed Barn, Coleman County Special Utility District, Live Oak Realtors, Christian Book Store, Cooper Supply, and Coleman Interbank.
The Coleman Public Library Summer Reading Program Committee and Library Staff are working on 281details for the 2022 Summer Reading Program “Ocean of Possibilities”.
Welcome to the 2022 Texas Summer Reading Program! Coleman County students and children dive into the ocean depths this summer at the Coleman Public Library. The reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the Coleman Public Library, The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and the Collaborative Summer Library Program. The CSLP is a consortium of all 50 states working together to make high-quality summer reading materials. The Texas Summer Library Program is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services through a grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Readers aged Toddlers/Pre-K/Kindergarten, will meet Tuesday afternoons @ 2:00 p.m. 1st & 2nd grades will meet Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am, and 3rd – 5th grades will meet at 10:00 am also on Wednesday mornings. Programs usually last an hour and the program ends on June 30th, 2022, Awards Day.
Activities may include story-time, video clips, group games, ocean-related crafts, and programs (Rodeo Program and Mark Fuller, Underwater Adventure “The Fish who cried Shark”). Those completing the program will have their names placed in a box for prize drawings.
The fun starts on June 1st, 2022 Registration Day.
Registration will begin 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm in the library, with games and free popcorn. At 6:30 pm, the first-ever, Family Night Program will feature Mr. Blue Shoes (Michael Dyson), sponsored by a grant from the Coleman County Foundation. Mr. Blue Shoes is a highly interactive, engaging program that inspires children of all ages about music and learning.
Again, this year children may use the online reading program READsquared for logging their reading titles or the paper form.
For more information, call the library at 325-625-3043 during regular library hours.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) recently awarded funding to Coleman Public Library under its Library Technology Academy program. Coleman Public Library will replace the five computers in the main section of the library with new “All in One” computers, and provide a new “Work Center” so patrons can use a printer with Bluetooth/scanner capabilities, and have a charging tower and hub so patrons may charge their devices. This project is expected to be available by mid-January 2022.
This project is just one of 8 library technology grants made possible this year by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. “Communities in every corner of Texas will benefit from the resources that have been made available through this list of forward-thinking grant proposals. “said TSLAC Director and Librarian Gloria Meraz.
TSLAC awards grants annually, as funding allows. For the 2022 fiscal year, which runs from September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022, TSLAC has awarded approximately $80,000 in library technology grants. The Library Technology Academy educates and prepares public library staff to be strategic managers of their library’s technology. Each awarded library is charged with designing and implementing a technology project to support the needs of its community. “We are grateful to the IMLS and federal government for providing this assistance to libraries across Texas as they support their communities in these challenging times.” Said Meraz.
“The library has had increasing demands for more advanced technology to support our patrons and were so thankful to be able to provide this technology at this time”. said Librarian Sue Dossey. Librarian Dossey would also like to let our community know in addition to these funds the library has also had donations from the Steve Arthur Family Foundation for $7,500.00, and the Coleman County Electric Cooperative “Round-Up Program” for $2,500.00 to provide new computers for the Computer Lab. And just recently, on November 18, 2021, the library received funds in the amount of $6,990.00 from the Coleman County Foundation to provide lounging furniture for the new Work Station Center.
ABOUT THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION
Formed in 1909, TSLAC is committed to giving Texas access to information and programs to improve their lives and communities. TSLAC provides historical and genealogical search assistance, federal and state government documents, electronic research, and library services to all of Texas, including those who are unable to read standard print material because of physical or reading disabilities. For more information, visit
www.tsl.texas.gov.