Temple Public Library Honored with Achievement of Library Excellence Award

TEMPLE – The Temple Public Library has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Achievement of Library Excellence Award by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. This accolade is a testament to the library’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional services and resources to the community.

To earn this esteemed award, the Temple Public Library demonstrated excellence in several key areas, including:

• Providing services to underserved communities
• Implementing innovative marketing strategies
• Engaging in collaborative efforts
• Offering unique and expanded programming
• Supporting literacy and digital inclusion
• Promoting workforce development
• Delivering cultural, topical, and educational programming
• Ensuring comprehensive staff training
• Offering unique services to the community

This recognition celebrates the library’s dedication to being a welcoming space for families and residents of Temple and the surrounding areas. By promoting access to information, connecting with services, engaging with community members, and offering enriching programming and materials, the library fosters lifelong learning and enrichment.

Natalie Alvara, Director of Libraries and Museums, expressed her pride in the library’s achievements:

“Receiving the Texas Municipal Library Director’s Achievement of Excellence Award is a true honor and a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of our library staff. This recognition highlights our commitment to providing outstanding programs, services, and resources that meet the diverse needs of our community. We take great pride in fostering lifelong learning opportunities for all. To be among the select libraries recognized statewide affirms our mission to serve as a vital hub for education, enrichment, and connection in Temple.”

In addition to this honor, the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum Foundation Board has generously donated $33,500 to the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum. This donation will fund the acquisition of a trackless train, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and furthering the museum’s mission of preserving Temple’s rich railroad history.

“The museum has had a lot of neat things for a long time, but this will make it even neater. It’s our pleasure to donate the trackless train to the museum,” said Mark Erskine, Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum Foundation Board President.

The Temple Public Library and the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum demonstrate distinction with their many programs and services. To learn more about all they offer, please visit exploretpl.com and templerrhm.org.

The Temple Public Library and the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum continue to be pillars of the community, dedicated to education, enrichment, and preserving local heritage.