Our Library and Community

 I’m excited that our new library is a point of consolidation for Boerne and Kendall County residence. -- Phillip Bell

As a member of the Historic Landmark Commission, I have felt a personal responsibility to make sure the present library building was protected and preserved in perpetuity.  Its downtown location served as a convenient location, easily accessed and highly noticeable for all to enjoy.  However over the past few years the library has expanded services and the community it serves – which means its computer and internet research space has grown and the collection of books and resources have increased to meet the needs of our community.  As we continue to grow, it has become a repository for valued documents donated by local citizens.

Recently, I donated many personal documents… as did City attorney, Mick McKamie… pertaining to the historical legal battle (City of Boerne v. Archbishop Flores) that went to the Supreme Court of the United States.  The documents will be available for historical research for future generations.

Libraries are important to communities as a place of reference, education, enjoyment and social gatherings. Personally, I found the library to be a place I could collect my thoughts and research almost any subject. The library was extremely important to me during my collage years. It was a quiet place to study and research, as I was majoring in political science and history.  Most important to me, the library allowed me to compete with my fellow students… at least help me keep up with other students… as I discovered I was dyslexic and had trouble reading most of my life.  At the library, I could read at my own pace without the pressures of the classroom and embarrassment associated with being a slow reader.

Our local library has provided more than just books and computers. It is also the resting place for historical objects like the old German Bible on display (one of the few remaining in the world), maps, photos and genealogy data. I have especially enjoyed samples of unique rocks and geological specimens on display. Much of our Texas history is available for research as well as many photos and documents of Boerne’s early days in the 1800s.

A special section dedicated for children is a wonderful way to introduce young minds to learning and the possibilities that await them as they mature.

The new Patrick Heath Library will be an icon for Boerne and Kendall County, not only for the building design, but as an anchor for future development of city services.  The fifteen acre site will accommodate other public buildings in the future as Boerne continues to grow and remain one of the most desirable locations to live and work in Texas.  The extension of Johns road, across Main Street, will be an invitation to enlightenment and knowledge elevating Boerne as the cultural center of the Hill Country.