It’s 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday, and the Lark Community Center and Branch Library parking lot in McAllen (TX) is jam-packed.
A school bus unloads droves of students who swarm into the glowing building for an evening program. A Valley Transit bus pulls in. Parents in SUVs scoop up their offspring and line up to exit onto the street.
Located just a block away from Garza Elementary School, the Lark branch library finds a similar scene playing out each school day. Children walk over after school and spend the afternoon reading, playing computer games and doing homework until their parents finish work.
The situation is not unique to Lark here in South Texas. It’s happening all over the country. How many unattended children can a public library handle? More from The Monitor.
Interesting
I’m originally from Edinburg, I have fond memories both both Edinburg and McAllen’s public libraries. Very interesting to see my hometown in library news.