Rene Flores of AT&T presents a $50,000 check to the Boerne Public Library Foundation that will be used to fund a computer lab in the new facility. Frost Charitable Trusts also presented a $50,000 fund to the library foundation during a public ceremony near downtown where groundbreaking for the new library will take place in the spring. Others pictured from left to right are Library Foundation Co-chair Patrick Heath, Library Foundation Chairman Mike Morton and Library Foundation Co-Chair Mike Schultz. Photo by Mike Reeder

By Mike Reeder
Staff Writer

AT&T and Frost Charitable Trusts each presented the Boerne Public Library Foundation with $50,000 checks during a Sept. 25 ceremony at the new library site near downtown.

The latest corporate contributions boosted the foundation’s fundraising total to about $1.35 million, or about $700,000 short of its ultimate goal, even though the public phase of fundraising has barely begun.

“We have made good, steady progress since we kicked this off in late January,” said Boerne Public Library Foundation Chairman Mike Morton, crediting the members of the capital campaign committee and city leaders for their work over the past nine months.

“We have been blessed that there are so many people and organizations involved in our community that understand the importance of the library and its relevance to so many lives,” library foundation co-chair Mike Schultz said.

“The library is truly the heart of the community,” Former Boerne mayor and library fellow foundation co-chair Patrick Heath said. “It is a building overflowing with ideas and discussion and cultural enrichment and life.”

The new library is being primarily funded by a $5 million bond issue approved by voters in May 2007. Prior to that election, the library foundation had pledged to raise an additional $2 million through private donations, which will be used to pay for a computer lab and children’s computer area.

“With today’s increased access to technology, the role of the library is as vital as ever, and we are able to keep the Boerne Public Library with that mission,” said AT&T’s Renee Flores.

“We are privileged to be a part of a community that recognizes the importance of libraries and education and gives generously to support the democratic principles a community library stands for,” said Frost spokesman Fred Stumberg.

The Frost gift combines $30,000 from the Myra Stafford Pryor Trust and $20,000 from Frost corporate.

Groundbreaking on the new library is expected to take place in the spring.