Bastrop Public Library Timeline
Trace the evolution of today's Bastrop Public Library and the influence of the Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle
Public Library is closed, and the City of Bastrop Electric Department opens in the space.
Belle Moore Jones Memorial Library opens at 906 Main Street underwritten by the City of Bastrop, the Jaycee-ettes, and the Bastrop Ladies Reading Cricle.
August 1941
April 1962
Belle Moore Jones
Bastrop Advertiser
August 1965
February 9, 1900
Ladies Reading Circle of Bastrop organizes the Bastrop Public Library Association (BPLA).
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Officers: Sarah Jane Orgain, President; Emma Holmes Jenkins, Vice President; Drusilla Orgain, Corresponding Secretary; Annie Bean, Librarian.
April 1900
BPLA petitions Bastrop City Council to procure a room for the library. The upstairs front room of 1010 Main Street becomes the library's first home.
May 1900
City Council initiates a sum of $8 monthly stipend from General Funds for library rental.
City Council withdraws financial support.
City Coucil reinstates $100 annual General Funds committment to support library rental and maintenance.
The new Bastrop Public Library opens at 1008 Water Street. The City provides the building and pays the librarian's salary.
Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle sponsors the organization of the Friends of the Library. Reading Circle members are elected officers: Officers Pamela Bell, President; Marge Troublefield, Secretary; Maxine Gunn, Treasurer.
Friends of the Library organized as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
City of Bastrop passes a bond issue to triple the size of the Bastrop Public Library.
Newly expanded Bastrop Public Library opens.
Snow on City Hall
Bastrop County Historical Society 012.141.001
February 7, 1903
January 1902
March 29, 1971
1998
2006
1972
2003
Prior to 1915
Public Library relocates upstairs at 1006 Main Street (Erhard Bldg.).
1930
Public Library relocates downstairs in the new city hall building at 904 Main Street.
Bastrop City Council renames the library the John Jenkins Library in recognition of contributions of historical materials by John H. Jenkins III, 3rd-great-grandson of Emma Holmes Jenkins
November 1970
City Council renames library the Bastrop Public Library.
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1974
The library becomes a public library owned by the City of Bastrop.
1978
Bastrop Public Library becomes part of the Texas State Library System.
October 22, 1989
New Bastrop Public Library at Church and Spring Streets is dedicated.
John H. Jenkins III
Bastrop Advertiser
Bastrop Public Library
Bastrop County Historical Society 017.044.001
Bastrop Public Library
Bastrop Advertiser
Bastrop Public Library
1900 Bastrop Library Room
Laura Jackson
Haynie Building
Photo: Jane Hunt