Allen Public Library has finished another notable and award-winning chapter in its 51-year history.
This year marked Allen Public Library’s fourth consecutive Achievement of Library Excellence Award and the presentation of the Texas Libraries Branding Iron Award for Community Engagement. The latter was awarded in recognition of the Library’s Chinese Story Time program – a children’s program in which stories are told primarily in Mandarin Chinese through music and rhymes.
Library Director Jeff Timbs presented these awards to Allen City Council at the July 24 meeting. He emphasized the important role the Library plays in the community.
“Every day someone walks into our library and has his or her life changed forever,” said Timbs. “Because we don’t know which person that is, we act as if every person who walks through those doors is that person. Day after day, that can make a tremendous difference in our community.”
In the same Council meeting, the Library Board gave a brief presentation highlighting its achievements over the past year.
Shahmeen Khan, Library Board Chairperson, described some of the projects the Board has advised on over the past year.
The Library Board has assisted and provided input on the Phase I parking expansion, new STEM programs for children, expanding the Library’s digital collection, the Library’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and has collected data on Library trends and usage.