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May2025 |
We have lots going on this month!
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Celebrating 10 years of Dia de los Niños at MPL!
| This year, we welcomed an incredible 2,784 attendees for a day packed with stories, crafts, snacks, and high-energy wrestling excitement!
Together with the South Texas Literacy Coalition, we celebrated the power of reading by giving away 879 books to babies, children, and teens. Families showed off their library pride by creating lucha libre masks and sporting temporary tattoos. Local author Grandma Cookie delighted the crowd with songs, two story readings, and even surprised a few birthday babies with their own copy of her book!Guests enjoyed free popcorn before gathering for the grand finale — live pro wrestling matches, courtesy of the Texas Wrestling League — a perfect celebration of both culture and community spirit. A special thank you to Kona Ice, who generously donated 20% of their proceeds back to support knockout library events like this one.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our 10th anniversary a celebration to remember!
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A heartfelt thank you to our Library Board members, Dr. Nathaniel R. De La Cruz and Ann Anderson, for joining us at our 10th Annual Día de los Niños celebration! We truly appreciate their continued support and involvement.
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Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership: Kate Horan Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
| It’s a proud moment for us at McAllen Public Library to share that Kate P. Horan, our Director, has been honored with the prestigious Texas Library Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. For anyone who knows Kate, this recognition comes as no surprise. Her leadership, vision, and corazón have completely transformed not just our library system, but the way our entire community experiences what a library can be.
Kate has been the driving force behind so much of what makes MPL special. She’s not the kind of leader who just talks about change - she makes it happen. Whether it was helping design a new Main Library that truly belongs to the community, growing small programs into major city events, or mentoring staff (myself included) into careers they love, Kate always leads with ganas, commitment, and a deep respect for our community. Kate’s commitment to making the Library a place of belonging, learning, and culture has shaped everything we do — from major events like the South Texas Book Festival, to creating spaces where every reader, family, and visitor feels at home. |
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This award doesn’t just mark years of service; it represents the real difference she’s made. It’s about every family who found a place to belong at the Library. Every child who fell in love with reading. Every staff member who grew into a leader because she believed in them. It’s about putting McAllen on the map. Not just with awards and headlines, but by building a library that feels like it was made for us. Her impact even caught the attention of the Texas Legislature, with a special resolution introduced by State Representative Bobby Guerra recognizing her outstanding contributions.
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Personally, I owe my career to Kate’s belief that libraries should be places of opportunity - for staff, for patrons, for everyone. What started as a part-time job for me grew into a career I love because of the encouragement and example she gave.I’ve seen her fight for our library, push for programs that represent our community, and always make sure that what we do stays rooted in real service, not show.
Congratulations, Kate! Your impact runs deep, and the McAllen community is stronger because of it.
Priscilla C. Suarez, CFEE
Events Coordinator
McAllen Public Library
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