City of Mercedes library receives Family Place Libraries Project Grant

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia library in Mercedes Texas is excited to announce that they were selected as one
of the lucky recipients of the Family Place Libraries Project Grant.

TSLAC initiated this project in 2015 to help public libraries address early learning with a goal of ensuring
that all children enter school ready and able to learn. The purpose is to create a welcoming, family-
centered environment that empowers caregivers of young children as they become their child’s first
teachers. This project will provide funding for the training and equipment necessary for each library to:

 Host workshops for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers.
 Develop an interactive space for this age group to play and learn in the library.
 Forge strong partnerships with organizations serving young children and their families.
Financed by a combination of grant funds, the Family Place Libraries™ Project provides tuition to attend
training, travel stipends for each attendee, and reimbursement of purchases for establishing the
program. Participating libraries are granted tuition for up to two staff members to attend the Family
Place Libraries™ Training Institute where they’ll learn the core elements of the Family Place Libraries™
model and receive assistance with the beginning stages of developing and maintaining a program at
their facility. In addition, participating libraries can also expect three years of follow-up and support
from the Middle Country Public Library (MCPL) following the training. Tuition for the Institute and
follow-up support are provided through a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS). Moreover, TSLAC will host an in-state Training Institute and provide each attendee with
up to $700 in stipends to offset the cost of travel. Finally, after attending the Institute, participants are
eligible for an additional grant of $6,000 to assist with the development of their program.

Dr. Hector P library is located at 434 South Ohio Ave in Mercedes. Hours of operation is Monday through
Thursday 9am to 7pm and Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday closed. Follow them on Facebook, X
and Instagram for events and resources.