Photo by Stephen Burnett

Cedar Park Public Library director reflects on career

In September, Cedar Park Public Library Director Pauline Lam announced she would retire in January after 34 years with the city.

On Jan. 17, 1981, Cedar Park's first library opened in a 500-square-foot retail space in the Cedar Park Plaza shopping center. Ten months later the library moved to a 1,500-square-foot remodeled laundromat.

For a new building Lam obtained a federal grant for $100,000, which Cedar Park City Council matched with $100,000, along with donations from city residents. In October 1990 the library moved to its first new building on Discovery Boulevard with 7,300 square feet. The library has since expanded and now draws an average of 286,546 visitors a year and hosts book and multimedia programs for all ages.

Lam is originally from Hong Kong and has a master's degree in library science from The University of Texas. She said she has secured about $1 million in grants for the library during her tenure as library director.

How does it feel coming to the end of your 34-year career?

I feel that I have a lot of accomplishments [such as] founding the library first, and then [helping to expand] from one space to a bigger space and adding more programs. Of course I don't want to get credit for myself. I can't do it without the help of many people—my staff, the support from City Council and the Friends of the Library and the [Cedar Park Public] Library Foundation.

What challenges from the library's early days do you remember?

When I first started, all the books were donated to us. Those were all new books or gently used books, even. So the first thing I did was apply for a grant. And when I got the new books [with the grant funds] I was so happy because they were all brand-new. It actually motivated me to apply for more grants, so I became more skillful in getting grants.

I definitely want to give credit to our City Council. They realize the importance of the library, and they provide funding even though the funding is always a challenge.

How has the library grown since moving to Discovery Boulevard?

Technology has driven us to change our service a lot. Instead of just books we have different things, too. We have media and we have Internet access and we have Wi-Fi here for people to use, and we added more programs. Originally there was just one family program. Now we have Lapsit [storytime programs for infants]. We have [programs for] toddlers and preschoolers, after-school, elementary, tweens, teens, adults and seniors.

What will you do after you retire?

We're going to Hong Kong for two weeks and then coming back. There are always things to do like volunteering and taking classes. I live in Austin ... so I can always take some continuing education classes at [the University of Texas].

Will you visit the library?

My baby has grown up, so I'm sure I will come back and visit because I'm close to Austin. But Cedar Park is always in my memory, a fond memory. And I'll never forget the library and the people I have worked with.

Cedar Park Public Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park, 512-401-5600, www.cedarparktexas.gov/library, Hours: Mon.–Thu. 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 1–6 p.m.