Tom Green County Library Honors Former Director, Larry Justiss

Larry Justiss worked for the downtown Tom Green County Library, located at 33 W. Beauregard, for almost 38 years as the Director. When he retired in Jan. 2014, the library committee, unbeknownst to Justiss, decided to honor him for his years of service and hard work by renaming the bookstore after him. With approval from the County Commissioners Court, and with added support from library staff, the library bookstore was dedicated as the Larry Justiss Friends of the Library Book Store, in a small ceremony on Monday afternoon.

One of Justiss’ greatest accomplishments in his years with the library was moving over to the old Hemphill Wells building after $18 million in renovations were complete. “It took many years to expand the library. We were in such cramped quarters before,” he said. “It was an amazing project. It was supported strongly by the community; in fact it was built with community funds.”

Justiss says he has many fond memories throughout his years working at the library, almost too many to pinpoint only one.

“The children's department here is very attractive, and has brought in lots of things,” he said. “Shortly after the new library opened, I remember seeing a mother with her child over her shoulder, throwing a fit screaming 'I don’t want to go! I want to stay at the library!', he recalled smiling. “Those are the type of things that I saw that made it worth all of the work, to see families using the library and enjoying our services. The relationships I built with people over the years has been absolutely incredible and fulfilling.”