El Progreso Memorial Library

Our organization is aiming to accomplish the following: (not ranked in order of importance)

1 - Meet financial needs in the future by actively increasing our fundraising and grant writing and growing our Endowment Fund account (long-range goal of $2 million).

2 - Expanded our Business Service Program to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs' recovery from COVID-19 Pandemic by providing access to printing, black/white and color copying (even up to blueprint-size), faxing, laminating (IDs to poster-size), scanning, computer/laptop/iPad usage, 3-D printing, various-sized meeting rooms for civic engagements, study and network groups, conferences, and events.

3 - Increase the annual usage of Library services:
a. Number of books checked out (in print and online)
b. Amount of database use
c. Number of art/culture programs and number of people attending these special programs

4 - Upgrade our facilities' infrastructure for energy efficiency by replacing outdated HVAC System (boiler replacement, chilled water variable pumping conversion, and AHU variable air volume conversion), tinting of all exterior windows, and retrofitting of all light fixtures(indoor and outdoor) with LED lights (cost $388,000),

5 - Open a state-of-art Bibliotheca center for use by library patrons, students, and small business owners, as well as hold computer and software classes (i.e. Excel, QuickBooks, PowerPoint, etc.) for students, low-income underemployed individuals, and elderly patrons (cost $60,000).

6 - Showcase and fund new Southwest Texas Ranching Exhibit at Weisman Museum of Southwest Texas to recognize ranching heritage and traditions. This new exhibit will increase visitors to the Library and our community, and

7 - Build a new free-standing environmentally controlled building that will house a volunteer workroom and item storage for the Virginia Wood Davis Archives and the Weisman Museum of Southwest Texas. This building will be on site at 301 West Main adjoining the Library and designed to compliment the Library's architect.

Our strategies for accomplishing our organization goals is to design and implement a Marketing and Fundraising Strategic Plan. This plan incorporates all details of our events, programs, fundraising activities and links them to the annual budget and Library calendar. This enables the Board of Directors and staff to make appropriate decisions in regards to the viability of the event, program or fundraising activity (i.e. Will it be successful? Will it accomplish it's goal?) and to make the necessary adjustments with respect to time, budget, staffing requirements, facility, equipment, and supplies needed. The Board of Directors can use the plan to track cash flow during the fiscal year and see where there are gaps in funding. Consequently, this plan is very beneficial to making strategic and intentional financial decisions for the Library.

Our organizations capabilities for meeting our goals are threefold:

1 - Dedicated Board of Directors who represent the diversity of our rural community
2 - Strong historical community support (since 1903!)
3 - $5.7 million, 36,000 sf, state-of-the-art facility that is well maintained and strategically located in the community for easy access.

The Board of Directors have been proactive is reaching the Library's goals and has hired a Development Officer (DO) 25 years' experience in nonprofit. The DO in conjunction with the Library Director (LD) work together to submit grants and other funding requests as well as events and programs, in accordance with the Marketing Strategic Plan, to raise future funds for the following: (includes accomplishments to date (6/2020) of these goals)

1- General Operating Fund and Endowment - received payroll, relief, and other grant assistance from federal government and other entities because of the COVID-19 Pandemic
2 - Business Services Program - received a $1,250 grant from Medina Electric Coop for poster laminating machine,
3 - Library Services - meeting all objectives to keep and maintain accreditation with the State of Texas.
4 - Facilities Infrastructure - submitting grant requests for improvements/upgrades to various organizations.
5 - Bibliotheca - designing the computers and server specifications and arrangements in the Library before submitting grant applications.
6 - Southwest Texas Ranching Exhibit at the Weisman Museum of Southwest Texas - determining items and verbiage for the exhibit.
7 - New Workplace and Storage Building for the Virginia Wood Davis Archives and the Weisman Museum of Southwest Texas - researching building plans that incorporate the architectural design of the Library and meet archivist standards for storage.

Utilizing the Market and Fundraising Strategic Plan, the DO and LD are following a grant schedule to ask for funding from local and state foundations as well as other available sources (i.e. bequest, corporate donations, fundraising events, etc.) to fund the above list.