Finding a Space, Raising Funds
Through a series of bake sales, garage sales, chili suppers and other activities, the incipient Friends secured money to rent a space and fill it with books. Volunteers assembled and managed the collection. With electricity but no air conditioning, heating, water or bathroom, the first library space was sparse but affordable: $50 per month initially and later $1 per year. Early commercial support for the Friends of the Library came from First State Bank of Pflugerville and John Pfluger.
The library’s first professional librarian, Helen Klenz, was hired for 20 hours per week. Eventually Helen Klenz moved on, to be replaced by JoAnne Thornton. Ms. Thornton later became the first library department head when management was taken over by the City of Pflugerville, and the author of the official history of the library, “A Dream Come True”.