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Alan Shivers Library and Museum administrative staff, pictured left-to-right: Kay Timme, Roschelle Springfield and Carolyn Williams, gave a presentation on the library and museum’s history and its resources available to Tyler County residents to the Rotary Club of Woodville last Wednesday. MOLLIE LASALLE | TCBAlan Shivers Library and Museum administrative staff, pictured left-to-right: Kay Timme, Roschelle Springfield and Carolyn Williams, gave a presentation on the library and museum’s history and its resources available to Tyler County residents to the Rotary Club of Woodville last Wednesday. MOLLIE LASALLE | TCB

By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – The Rotary Club of Woodville heard from the staff of the Allan Shivers Library and Museum at their meeting last Wednesday at the Pickett House.

ASLM Director Kay Timme began by giving a little history of the building’s origins. If you didn’t know, the museum began way back in 1881 as the R.A. Cruse home, a two-story Victorian mansion that originally was situated where the Woodville Inn is today. Former governor Allan Shivers purchased the home in 1962 and purchased the land and deeded it to the school district for the purpose of creating a library and museum. The museum’s objective was to illustrate and display Governor and Mrs. Shivers personal and public life; Shivers was governor from 1949-57.

In the 1950s the Tyler County Library was in different locations. It was on the third floor of the courthouse for a while and was also located in a portable building on the grounds of the hospital. When Governor Shivers deeded the land to the school, he stipulated that it was to be a joint effort between the school district, the city and the county. After he bought the Cruse home, he had it moved to its present location to be used as a museum and a library, however he soon realized the building wasn’t big enough for that purpose, so construction began in 1963 on the library side. The library opened in 1965, the complex was dedicated in 1966, and the buildings remained relatively unchanged until the early 2000’s. The courtyard was closed in and became the children’s reading room, the Bunch meeting room was opened in 2010, and the museum was updated and renovated in 2021-2022.

Allan Shivers Library and Museum is in the very capable hands of its leadership team which consists of: ASLM Director, Kay Timme, Assistant Director and Head Librarian Carolyn Williams and Museum Manager Roschelle Springfield. The complex has four part time library aides, and a part time maintenance man.

If you haven’t been to the library lately, come and check out the new look; the library was remodeled on the inside in January to reflect a more modern look, although some of the original chairs from the 1960s are still in house. Some of the services offered at ASLM are free WIFI, free public computers, over 25,000 books, 20,000 e-books, more than 2,000 movies, interactive play and learning areas, hotspots, yearly free events, meeting spaces, and author signings, to new a few. The volunteer group “Friends of the Library” recently re-formed last year and has been a big help. Timme said “we are very appreciative of all their efforts.”

She also said the “Shivers family is 100% on board with everything.  We are at a place now where we have their 100% support”.

ASLM received a generous grant last year which went towards installing an elevator on the museum side, and Springfield has spent the last year getting the museum up to date, with a lot of help from Timme and the library staff.

The complex held a grand re-opening in January to showcase all the hard work everyone has done to get it looking new again. The library is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can call the library to schedule a tour of the museum at 409-283-3709, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

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