Mission Statement

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The Mission of the East Travis Gateway Library District is to bring information, ideas, and people together to promote a love of reading, discovery, and connection, as well as to contribute to the creation of a stronger community.

Vision Statement

As the area's primary community meeting place, we aspire to meet the changing needs of our diverse and connected citizens.

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Our Nine Values:

1. We inspire curiosity.

2. We deliver exceptional customer experiences.

3. We initiate community conversations.

4. We provide access to technology, digital services, and information.

5. We cultivate collections of timely, in-demand materials.

6. We listen.

7. We ensure that our library is an integral part of its community.

8. We embrace change

9. We encourage creativity and adaptability.

 

Library History

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In the winter of 1982, a young boy from a rural area in Travis County complained to Mayor Carole McClellan that he was unable to check books out at the Austin Public Library because he could not afford the non-resident user fee. That little boy provided all the stimulus that southeast Travis County needed. Plans were organized to establish a public library, and by December 1982, the Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State.

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The Elroy Community Library opened in 1983 under the direction of Sara Hilgers. The library building was completed in 1988. As the area population grew, the Library Board realized a dream of forming the East Travis Gateway Library District in 2006. To better serve the East Travis communities, the Garfield Community Library opened in June 2010​

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ETGLD Policies

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Click here. You will need to have Adobe Reader to download the PDF for the library’s policies and procedures.

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Library Card Application

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Applications can be completed online or in person at any ETGLD library. In-person library card applications require a government-issued photo identification and proof of address to be shown.

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Online applications will only allow a patron to access ETGLD’s digital library offerings until they come into an ETGLD library and present their government-issued photo identification.

 

Account types:

• Full Access

  • Access to all ETGLD resources

  • Available to residents of the following counties: Travis, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop

• Out of District

  • Limited to 5 checkouts at a given time, no digital access or Interlibrary Loans (ILL)

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Accounts for minors ages 5-17 are considered joint accounts and are owned by the parent/guardian who assumes financial responsibility for all materials borrowed on the account. To qualify for a minor’s library card account, the minor must be present and a parent/guardian must have an active ETGLD library account and show government-issued photo identification. The library card entitles the minor to borrow library materials from any library in the district, including Elroy, Garfield, and the mobile library.
 

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• Online application​

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Card Renewal

Library cards are issued for a two-year period.

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1. To renew a card, all debts must be paid in full.

2. Children’s cards will be renewed without having a parent or guardian sign again.

3. Adults must verify registration information (Physical address, email address, and phone number)

 

Replacement Cards

Library cardholders are encouraged to keep their Library card secure. Should a Library card become lost or stolen, it is the responsibility of the cardholder to notify the Library immediately. ​

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To Reserve Books:  

Call the Library to reserve your book OR go onto our Catalog and reserve.  

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Fines and Late Fees: 

The ETGLD no longer charges late fees on overdue materials. Additional fees may be charged for lost or damaged items. If a patron pays the full replacement cost of an item, the patron owns the item and may do with it as they wish.

 

Lost or unrepairable materials:  Cost of material

Damaged materials that require: repair $3.00