DRIPPING SPRINGS   — Twenty-five years ago, the Dripping Springs Community Library (DSCL) opened the doors to its 9,500 square-foot facility with approximately 900 members. Now, with more than 13,000 members, leadership believes that an expansion is the best way to properly serve the community and is in the process of raising funds for a 37,000 square-foot building.

The library, according to DSCL capital campaign manager Sarah Rose, is unique in that it is a library district, one of only 15 in the state of Texas. This means that the library is not governed by the city, county or state, but rather by an elected board of officials, and is funded by sales taxes instead of property taxes.

“The sales tax historically has covered the operating budget for the library,” said Rose. “The last few years, we’ve had an overage of sales tax versus our expenses and we’ve been intentional about that, so we could save away this overage for a new building that the library needs.”

Those extra funds, Rose explained, were used to purchase land right next to the current library, located at 501 Sportsplex Drive in Dripping Springs.

As far as the building, DSCL will take out a loan — most likely a certificate of obligation bond through Hays County — which will be largely covered by sales tax, said the capital campaign manager.

“… There’s a gap until the sales tax revenue is high enough to cover the building loan payment and the new operation budget. So, we know our sales tax revenue is projected to at least double by 2033, at the latest,” Rose said. “So, what we are fundraising is this gap, which is about $5 million.”

Already, the team has raised $1.8 million, but, with national Library Giving Day coming up April 1, it hopes to break the $2 million mark.

“At the DSCL, we have five sponsors that have agreed to unlock learning,” Rose continued. “So, for example, if we receive 25 donations between 9 and 10 o’clock, that’s going to unlock a gift from Wild Birds Unlimited. And if we get to a certain dollar amount between 10 and 11 a.m., that’s going to unlock another gift from Indigo Healing Acupuncture.”

Additionally, local businesses have pledged a percentage of proceeds on Library Giving Day will go to DSCL.

“That’s what Library Giving Day is really all about. It’s about spreading the word; it’s about awareness,” said Rose. “So, a lot of people just assume ‘Dripping Springs is getting a new library; it’s a city library,’ but, in reality, we will not be able to build a new building unless the community shows up for the library.”

About the new space

According to Rose, the new facility will be comparable in size to the Cedar Park Public Library and will have two stories.

“One of the things that we heard from the community is, ‘We love the Texas Hill Country. Do not destroy our Texas Hill Country,’ and so, we’re working with the property in that, instead of dynamiting it and flattening it all out, this will be built into a hill that already exists,” said Rose.

Patrons will walk in on the second floor, which will include meeting spaces of varying sizes and the adult collection, while the first floor will be entirely dedicated to children. Additionally, there will be an outdoor amphitheater.

As for the current library, if the $5 million is raised, DSCL will be able to keep the building and offer extended programming out of it. There is also an option to rent it out to a few nonprofits and create a community resource center.

If there is not enough funding, the next considerations would be renting it out to for-profit businesses, as an additional revenue stream, or selling that property.

DSCL is also offering the option to sponsor a butterfly in the new building. For a minimum pledge of $30 per month for 36 months, individuals, families or businesses are given the opportunity to design a glass butterfly, with help from artist Carlyn Ray, to be in a permanent display above the staircase.

The goal for the library is to have all monies pledged and break ground by the end of 2025. It is expected to be an 18-month build and open in late 2027.

For more information about DSCL, visit www.dscl.org. To find out how to participate in Library Giving Day, visit www.dscl.org/future. To learn more about butterfly sponsorship, visit www.dscl.org/future/butterflies.