Pictured from left to right: Dr. Robert Muñoz, Vice President of Sul Ross State Univ. Rio Grande College, Thery Cardenas, Victor Ortiz, Dr. Audrey Taylor, RGC Assistant Professor of English, and Gilbert Bermea, Vice President of Southwest Texas Junior College in Eagle Pass.

By Laura Nelson

The students of the Sul Ross State Univ. Rio Grande College English Club realized a dream when they filled the shelves of the new Sul Ross RGC Lending Library in Eagle Pass.

Thery Cardenas, an RGC student graduating in May, and Victor Ortiz, who graduated from RGC last semester, explained how the little library works. Free to everyone, members of the community as well as Sul Ross students, faculty, and staff, are welcome to visit the public bookcase and choose a book to take and read. Books may be returned, or not, and patrons may also donate books. The shelf will be permanently mounted on an outside wall inside the courtyard entrance to RGC.

Members of the RGC English Club hope the little library will be visited by readers of all ages. Currently, the shelves are stocked with classic fiction, books of short stories, fantasy fiction and much more plus titles suitable for parents to read to children. The RGC English Club plans to install them on the Del Rio and Uvalde campuses, too.

The charming case, constructed by Jose De Jesus De Luna of JDL Custom Woodworks in Eagle Pass, encourages users to browse and perhaps to share their favorite books with the community. Dr. Audrey Taylor, Assistant Professor of English, said, “I am proud of my students for taking the initiative to put together this great reading opportunity for the community.”

Cardenas and Ortiz said, “This is just one part of our ongoing effort to get the community excited about reading and writing. We hope to receive continued support in our future projects, which include writing contests and summer reading camps.”

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