El Paso Public Library is the municipal public library system of El Paso, Texas.
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The El Paso Public Library serves the needs the public in El Paso, Texas, Chaparral, New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. It consists of 13 branches and one Bookmobile service. Multiple outreach services are also available including a Homebound service.
The main collection consists of 902,521 items in multiple formats including books, reference, downloadble eBooks, audio books, music and movies, DVDs, CDs, large-print books, magazines and newspapers[1]. Special Collections include a Government Documents Collection, Border Heritage Collection and RAZA Collection.
The El Paso Public Library offers services to children, teens, disabled adults and others through special collections, programs and outreach.
Children's services at the library dates back to 1912 when librarian, Marion Weil-Tappan, promoted children's literature and the connection between the library and public schools. In 1922, the library was fully departmentalized to include a juvenile department [2].
Children's services include special collections and programs at each branch of the system. During the summer months, the library partners with the Texas State Library and Archives for the Texas Summer Reading Club in order to encourage literacy among children.
Services specifically for teens are much newer. In the El Paso Public Library, Teen Services are created and implemented by the Teen Hangout Committee. Each library branch sends a member to the committee. Teen services include programming, special teen collections and a celebration known as TeenFest which is celebrated annually.
In addition, the system offers a bookmobile service.[3]