By: Sydney Spangler
As a Corpus Christi native, I grew up around Flour Bluff and North Padre Island. I did my schooling at Flour Bluff ISD and often spent time after classes at the Janet F. Harte Public Library.
Public libraries provide access to resources and services for literacy and education. They house centuries of learning, information, and history. They often provide after-school programs in art, science, music, and more. Public libraries are important, which is why we are doing a series of blogs highlighting the histories of Coastal Bend libraries.
So, what's the story behind the Janet F. Harte Public Library?
The Janet F. Harte Public Library first opened its doors to welcome both public library patrons and high school students on August 19, 2000. The 13,500-sq. ft. branch replaced both the 1,000-sq. ft. public library that had been in operation since 1977 and the 7,708-sq. ft. high school library.
The library is named the Janet F. Harte Public Library in recognition of the $1.84 million gift to the city from Janet and Ed Harte establishing the library. The Library Foundation raised additional funds to augment this historic gift. More than $100,000 was raised for additional books, furnishings, and equipment.
Harte is located next to the Flour Bluff High School and operates as a joint public/high school library through an agreement between the City of Corpus Christi and the Flour Bluff Independent School District.
Services:
Collections include over 47,500 Harte Library volumes, 27,000 Flour Bluff High School volumes.
Fourteen computers which provide access to the catalog and the Internet are available for public use.
Children's programs are offered on a weekly basis such as story time, arts & crafts, and other special activities.
The Noel McArdle Gallery features art exhibitions from local and regional artists.
You can learn more about events and other services by visiting the Harte Library Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/hartelibrary/.