Worth Heights residents feel left behind in Fort Worth's quote to reach brand-new audiences for city libraries

In the Worth Heights community, it's a tale of 2 libraries.

The brand-new La Gran Biblioteca and the old Seminary South Library, which was recently changed into the Fort Worth History. They sit less than a mile away from each other, but citizens state they were created for very various purposes..

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La Gran Biblioteca opened inside the La Gran Plaza shopping center in February 2022 as a replacement for the Seminary South branch. Library leaders wished to draw in new users with the more vibrant, quickly available option to the conventional library.

Lots of visitors at La Gran Plaza like the convenience and accessibility it brings, and brand-new programs created given that the relocation are popular, library personnel stated. A number of long time Worth Heights locals say La Gran Biblioteca does not provide the very same services as their previous branch. They're asking the city to develop a conventional brick-and-mortar library to supplement the Biblioteca..

" La Gran Biblioteca was an extension, not a replacement," said Worth Heights resident Rosemary Galdiano. "They made a mistake.".

A group of Worth Heights locals prepare to consult with library leaders later this month to discuss their concerns. The meeting was established by city personnel after five individuals raised issues about the restrictions of La Gran Biblioteca at an Aug. 15 city council meeting.

" It boggles my senses that the city's library administration decided to eliminate a full-fledged library from the Latino barrio on the south side," Richard Gonzales said to council members. "Instead, they replaced it with a store library that does not have books and the basics of restrooms and, most significantly, safety.".

La Gran Biblioteca moved from East Bolt Street to reach a wider audience and bridge the gap between libraries and communities in south Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto

Despite the shopping mall location's limitations, it's reaching its designated target, stated Theresa Davis, interaction supervisor for the Fort Worth Public Library.

Fort Worth resident Kelly Rosales went to La Gran Plaza shopping center to look for flower girl gowns with her daughter and 2 grandchildren. It was the very first time she saw the shopping mall's library.

The name tossed her off. Did "Biblioteca" imply the establishment offered bibles? After hearing it was a library, Rosales thought having one inside a shopping center would bring in more people, but that more advertising would help, too.

" It makes people more open to go when you're in a place where you're familiar (rather) than going to a huge town library," she stated. "Maybe you've never ever been to one in the past. I believe it's good when I begin thinking of it.".

The Fort Worth Library system plans to broaden its existence in the city by opening more smaller-scale libraries tucked into shopping. Last Tuesday, council members authorized a strategy for the library to rent 4,051 square feet of space at a strip shopping center in far west Fort Worth.

Armando Villalta was inside the brand-new library on a Wednesday afternoon using the printer for the second time that week. The Fort Worth homeowner was getting his documents in order for an immigration appointment.

Villalta is from Nicaragua and operates at El Torito inside La Gran Plaza, making the trip to the library a quick walk upstairs. He appreciates the customer support, he said in Spanish, and said he's planning on returning.

According to the U.S. census, 24% of homeowners in the area surrounding La Gran Plaza live listed below the poverty line, nearly double the rate in Fort Worth as a whole. The city just recently released a complimentary community Wi-Fi program in the neighboring Rosemont area. Still, lots of Worth Heights families have no internet gain access to, limiting task potential customers and educational chances, Galdiano said..

" The Seminary South library was not supposed to be closed at all," Christine Voight, another Worth Heights homeowner, told council members Aug. 15. "The plan was to remodel it to much better serve its surrounding Latino areas, where many citizens still do not have home web access.".

That implies lots of families are living in multigenerational homes, Galdiano said. When she was in high school, the Seminary South library was an important break from her loud home, she stated.

Galdiano is concerned that the La Gran Biblioteca area can't serve the exact same function for high school students today.

One patron, who declined to offer her name, stated she pertains to this library since it's simple to get to by bus. She'll usually sit at a computer system and check out her emails and do some research. Recently, she's been looking for jobs online.

" That is distracting and really loud," she said about the music at the mall. She stated she avoids Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays since the shopping mall gets hectic on those days.

The Fort Worth citizen of 12 years said she misses the Bolt Street area since there were more computer systems and there was easy access to the bathrooms.

Programming, accessibility show popular

Alondra Aguilar, 23, is a library assistant at La Gran Biblioteca and runs programs for kids and their households, including multilingual storytime, household science nights and arts and crafts.

Adult programs are likewise popular, because the library hosts events for kids at the same time. While grownups are learning English or enhancing their computer skills, their children are reading with Aguilar or working on crafts.

" We try to make it easier for (moms and dads) to discover something and for the kids to do and come something and get sidetracked," Aguilar stated.

Davis, the interactions supervisor, said La Gran Biblioteca's most popular programs are English as a 2nd language and Civics for Citizenship.

The ESL program eventually grew out of the area at La Gran Biblioteca and was transferred to the library's previous location on 501 E. Bolt St., now referred to as the Fort Worth History Center..

Laura Parra, 24, is a library assistant at La Gran Biblioteca and manages the adult programs.

She says attendance has actually remained constant. Since of its convenience, she likewise believes the area of the library draws in patrons.

" A great deal of the people that we service are working individuals," Parra stated. As Soon As inside La Gran Plaza, they can purchase clothing, groceries and then take their children to the library-- all in one area, she included.

Aguilar said due to the fact that the library can be tough to find, it will host occasions like "Pokémon Day." The novice occasion, hosted in February, had over 50 participants.

" We try to do occasions outdoors simply so (people) can be mindful that we are here," she stated. "You can hear the little kids say, 'Oh, a library!

Davis said she and her team try to make everybody welcome, however they acknowledge that not all customers are happy with the brand-new area.

" We're attempting to make as lots of lodgings as we can, but it is a various type of facility," she said. "Just since it's various, does not indicate it's not being successful. It's still serving the community; we're just attempting to do it in an ingenious way.".

Marcela Sanchez is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marcela.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or via Twitter.

Rachel Behrndt is a government responsibility reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at rachel.behrndt@fortworthreport.org or via Twitter..

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The Fort Worth Report retains the copyright for all of its released material. If you have any other questions, contact Managing Editor Thomas Martinez.Worth Heights locals feel left in Fort Worth's quote to reach new audiences for city libraries.
by Rachel Behrndt, Fort Worth Report.
September 23, 2023.

<< h1>> Worth Heights homeowners feel left in Fort Worth's bid to reach brand-new audiences for city libraries<.
<< p class="" byline" > by Rachel Behrndt, Fort Worth Report << br/>> September 23, 2023<.

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<< p>> La Gran Biblioteca opened inside the << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2023/08/27/la-gran-plaza-ranks-near-the-top-of-most-visited-malls-in-fort-worth-heres-why/" target=" _ blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener">> La Gran Plaza mall< in F<< a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2022/02/20/la-gran-biblioteca-prepares-for-a-gran-opening/" target=" _ blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener">> ebruary 2022< as a replacement for the Seminary South branch. Library leaders hoped to draw in brand-new users with the more dynamic, quickly accessible option to the traditional library.<.
<< p>> Many visitors at << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2023/08/27/la-gran-plaza-ranks-near-the-top-of-most-visited-malls-in-fort-worth-heres-why/" target=" _ blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener">> La Gran Plaza< like the convenience and availability it brings, and new programs developed because the relocation are popular, library personnel stated. Nevertheless, numerous long time Worth Heights residents state La Gran Biblioteca does not provide the same services as their former branch. They're asking the city to develop a conventional brick-and-mortar library to supplement the Biblioteca. <.
<< p>>" La Gran Biblioteca was an extension, not a replacement," stated Worth Heights resident Rosemary Galdiano. "They made a mistake."&& nbsp;<& nbsp
<;. < p > A group of Worth Heights homeowners plan to consult with library leaders later on this month to discuss their issues. The conference was established by city staff after five individuals raised issues about the limitations of La Gran Biblioteca at an Aug. 15 city board conference.&& nbsp;. < p >" It boggles my senses that the city's library administration chose to eliminate a full-fledged library from the Latino barrio on the south side," Richard Gonzales said to council members. "Instead, they replaced it with a boutique library that lacks books and the essentials of restrooms and, most significantly, safety."<.
<< figure class=" wp-block-image size-large"><> < img src=" https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CAS_Gran_Biblioteca_Prep-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class=" wp-image-32645"/><> < figcaption class=" wp-element-caption">> La Gran Biblioteca transferred from East Bolt Street to reach a broader audience and bridge the gap in between libraries and communities in south Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto