The City of Palmview opened its first municipal library on Saturday

The grand opening took place at 505 Palmview Commercial Drive and featured appearances by two Rio Grande Valley authors. This marks the city’s first public library since its incorporation in 1972. The establishment of the library was made possible in part by three United Way Community Impact Grants and a T-Mobile Home Town Grant. Contributions from neighboring City Libraries including Peñitas, San Juan, Mission, Edinburg, Mercedes, La Joya, Los Fresnos, and the La Joya Independent School District, in the form of books and furniture, also played a significant role.

City officials view this as a pivotal community resource center that will promote education and literacy. Mayor Ricardo Villarreal emphasized the facility’s importance in bridging educational gaps within the community, stating, “This will truly be more than just a place to check out books. Some programs we will offer include GED/ESL and citizenship classes. We want our residents to recognize it as a place where they can get the help they need.”

Some of the services offered are as follows:

Technology

The Palmview Municipal Library offers free Wi-Fi to everyone. Ask staff for information on how to connect to it. Patrons may check out a Chromebook using their library card for research, internet, homework, or job search use.

Public Access to Chromebooks

Use of Chromebooks is on a first-come basis (no reservation allowed), you need a library card to check out a Chromebook. Time limits are set so all patrons seeking access will have an opportunity to do so.

In-House Printing

Black, white, and color printing is available for a fee (black & white is $0.15 per page and color printing is $0.50 per page, cash only).

Wireless Printing

Print your document(s) or web page from your internet connected PC or Mobile Device to our library printer. See circulation attendant for instructions.

Fax Services

The library provides fax services for $1.00 per page (cash only). No international faxing services are available, and the library does not receive faxes.

Study Areas

Individual and group study areas are available throughout the library.

Educational Classes

The Palmview Municipal Library’s primary goal is to provide free resources for information, education, and recreation that will enrich and enhance the lives and minds of the citizens. Classes include in-person Citizenship classes taught by library staff. Online GED and ESL classes through Regions One Adult Services.

Proctor Exams

The Palmview Municipal Library is pleased to support people in their education effort, whether to complete their college degree or to advance their careers. Therefore, Proctoring services are available free of charge to distance learning students.

Interlibrary Loan

The Palmview Municipal Library borrows and lends out library materials through interlibrary loans thus enhancing and extending the resources available to its users. Because the library cannot purchase or subscribe to every useful resource, interlibrary loans are an essential part of meeting the information needs of the community.