Port Aransas

In 1980, the need for a public library was brought to the attention of Mayor Dennis Dreyer and the Port Aransas City Council by a group of concerned citizens. The City of Port Aransas hired Sue Vosseller to be the library director. Sue is one of the true pioneers of the soon to be established Port Aransas Public Library. The library started out in the City Hall complex (currently the City Council chambers). Sue started out with an empty room, a desk, and a telephone. She recruited volunteers and initiated book drives and helped to organize the Friends of the Library. As the books came in the volunteers helped with the processing and soon the shelves began to fill up. The Friends of the Library, headed by President Jo Leta Gavit, organized community fund-raisers to help pay for new furnishings.

On April 21, 1981, the new library was opened to the public and in September, 1981, became a member of the South Texas Library System. By 1995, the Library had out-grown its space in the City Hall complex. Land adjacent to City Hall was donated for a new libary building by Maude Ellis. Ground was broken on May 26, 1995. Once again, community volunteers helped the new director, Sue James, with preparations for the move. The name was changed to the William R. "Bill" Ellis Memorial Library, in honor of the former mayor and civic leader. The doors opened in January of 1996.

Presently the library collection contains more than 27,000 items including large print books, audiobooks on CD and cassette, VHS tapes, DVDs, magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

Original Library Advisory Board

1981

Bruce Furlow
Georgia Neblett
Joe Bicknell
Jo Leta Gavit
Betty Ann Gibbs

Current Library Advisory Board

Rick Kalke
Carolee Crider
Gary Ramsey
Patsy Grimes
Betsy Churgai
Helen Garrett

Library Directors

Sue Vosseller: 1980-1994
Sue James: 1994-2003
Kim Grotewold: 2004-2005
Lisa Kinsner: 2005
Kathy Caldwell: 2005-present