EVENTS
Who Are the Friends of the Library
Bertram’s library first opened in the early 1930’s, upstairs over Sullivan’s Store. It was later upstairs over McFarland’s Drugstore / Lewis Building (now known as the Allied Underground Building). In the late 1940’s the library moved into an old store building at 140 N. Gabriel (now the Library Thrift Store).
The library was founded by a group of ladies from the Literary Club, who pooled together their own private home libraries to form a lending library. The library became a branch of the Burnet County Library System in 1948.
The Friends of the Bertram Free Library was organized on May 6, 1978. We are a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the Joann Cole Mitte Memorial Library (commonly known as Bertram Library). The Friends’ Thrift Shop opened in 1981, and proceeds from the shop fund new books, materials, Story time, Summer Reading, maintenance of the buildings and many other library necessities.
Over the years, the generosity of many community supporters has made it possible for the Bertram library to continually expand and grow. The Friends currently own the building at 140 N. Gabriel, which now houses the Thrift Shop. The Friends gifted the library building to Burnet County in 2021 due to rising costs of maintaining the building.
The Friends continue to build the library’s momentum by supporting projects that enhance the love of reading and life-long learning. They support the library by fund-raising and promoting community awareness. The volunteers also operate the Thrift Shop.
Our meetings are held the second Friday of the month at 4:30 PM in the Library Meeting Room (check our calendar for exact dates).