Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Gregurek.
Hi Susan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center:
Established in 2016, the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center originated from the curiosity of a young girl who wondered why Jarrell lacked a library. The community united to create the Community Library of Northern Williamson County, a nonprofit library located just outside the city limits of Jarrell. The library officially opened its doors in May 2019, operating with the dedicated efforts of volunteers. In September 2021, I became the library’s first part-time employee.
A Commitment to Mental Wellness
In January 2022, the library was awarded the Libraries for Health grant from St. David’s Foundation, which provided funding to expand mental wellness resources and support a part-time employee to oversee related programs and activities. Additionally, SDF funded the salary of a part-time mental health peer support specialist. These initiatives transformed our library into a hub of services for one of Texas’s fastest-growing communities.
Jarrell is characterized by its divided community: the City of Jarrell (on the west side of I-35) houses only a quarter of the population within the zip code, while the Sonterra master-planned community, located on the east side of I-35, hosts the other three-fourths of the population which is rapidly expanding and is managed by a Municipal Utility District.
This complex community has significant unmet needs. The library staff and board have listened closely to community feedback and recognized these needs. In 2023, the library rebranded itself as the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center to reflect its renewed emphasis on health and wellness.
Essential Services for the Community
The library serves as a vital resource, functioning as the hub for health, human, social, educational, and business services for the wider community. The City of Jarrell provides funding for State Library Accreditation, while the Jarrell Economic Development Corporation has contributed to community workforce training support and Sonterra MUD has provided space for the library in it’s building. Local businesses and grants have also helped finance three part-time employees, including the library director.
Over the past five years, the library has wholeheartedly embraced its new mission. We have joined nonprofit organizations, participated in training sessions hosted by Williamson County Nonprofit Organization, and forged connections to better serve our community.
Currently, we employ two full-time mental wellness peer support specialists who offer groups, resources, training, activities, and connections to meet the needs of Jarrell and its surrounding rural communities.
Our Offerings
Foundations Communities Organization holds office hours at the library twice a month on Thursdays.
We operate a small food bank run by the library and supported by the community.
We collaborate with various organizations, including United Way, Age of Texas, Rural Area Workforce Solutions, DigitalLift, Next Step Transition Center of Georgetown, Georgetown Sertoma, Williamson County Nonprofit Organization, WilCo Care, Neurodivergent Friends, and others to bring essential services to the community.
Programs Provided
Gina Paja, Mental Wellness Peer Support Specialist, offers programs, groups, and activities tailored for senior citizens, veterans, ASL users, language learners, grief support, and those dealing with anxiety and depression.
Ailina Aponte focuses on groups, programs, and activities centered around parenting, families, disabilities, and enhancing wellness through the arts.
Programs Offered Include:
English/Spanish Classes
ASL Coffee and Conversations
Veteran’s Hero Haven Group
Senior Citizen Socialization Through Games
Serenity Seekers Group
Grief Support Group
Neurodivergent Friends Family Group
Pre-K Early Literacy Storytime
Books and Babies Early Literacy Developmental Storytime
Bilingual Storytime
Homeschool STEM Groups
Summer Reading Program
Wellness Through Music Exploration
Calming Crafts
Tech Classes
Tech Training for Adults with Disabilities (in collaboration with Next Step Transition Center in Georgetown)
Workforce Solutions SEAL Program
Workforce Training Programs
Seniors That Sew for Charity
Crocheting for Charity
Through these efforts, the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center has become a vital part of the community, dedicated to addressing the needs of its residents and fostering a supportive environment for all.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A Five-Year Journey: Challenges and Triumphs
The past five years have truly been a journey. Financially, the library is thankful to the St. David’s Foundation, which funded the library director’s salary for the initial three years and provided essential support for a part-time position through Libraries for Health, as well as funding for peer support specialists that have expanded our team.
As a nonprofit in a relatively new community with a median age of 38, we face challenges due to the lack of substantial funders to meet staffing and essential needs.
While the MUD (Municipal Utility District) cannot financially support the library, they have generously offered space in their building. Until 2025, we occupied most of this rent-free space. However, in December 2024, we received a two-week notice that we would need to start paying rent, reduce our occupancy to three rooms, and vacate by December 31, 2025, to make way for Parks and Recreation expansion. We quickly adapted, moved, and figured out how to cover the $750 monthly rent for the following year.
The year 2025 proved to be challenging. We lost over half of our space while experiencing a patron increase of 50 members each month. As the library director, I wrote 55 grants but only secured two: one for 25 devices for tech training and another for $5,000 to train teens in tech classes and compensate them for working in the library. Many of our loyal donors faced financial difficulties in 2025, complicating our situation further. Throughout the year, we searched for rental spaces, but affordable and suitable options for a library are scarce in our rapidly growing community.
In May, a surprising turn of events occurred. Marie Boatright, a longtime resident of Jarrell, donated two acres of land for a new library. This generous gift has brought excitement, but we are now navigating the complexities of land development, securing funding, and finding temporary housing for the library while we plan for a permanent facility. We are proud to announce that we have received over $900,000 in gifted utility construction services and land.
In November, the MUD voted to extend our stay in the current space until June 30, 2026.
At this point, we need $94,000 for a portable building to be situated on our property, a road to access the temporary building, and a paved parking lot to ensure safe access for our patrons. This building will serve as a permanent fixture on the land and will support sustainable income for the library in the future.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure a smooth transition of services from our current location to our new temporary building.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a retired educator with 15 years of experience in elementary education and 16 years in middle school. Throughout my career, I served as a grade level and department leader, engaging in various school activities. My roles included instructional coach, mentor, curriculum writer, trainer of trainers, and Student Council sponsor. After retiring, I joined the McGraw Hill Textbook team, where I trained teachers on their textbook materials on a per diem basis.
In 2021, my husband and I retired to Granger, Texas, before applying for a position at the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center.
I am recognized for my passion for helping others. My strength lies in identifying needs or issues and leveraging my critical thinking and problem-solving skills to devise effective solutions.
People often describe me as a visionary who actively seeks solutions to challenges and works diligently to bring those solutions to life.
I take pride in being a “doer,” always committed to ensuring that community needs are met.
What sets me apart is my dedication to being a team player. I genuinely believe that everyone deserves recognition for their achievements. In our library, our staff, including peer support specialists and our board, collaborates as a united team to reach our goals.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking is essential for achieving success. Following the guidance of our former Treasurer, Gwen Blakeslee, and her CPA husband, Duane, I have worked to shift my perspective from a library mindset to one aligned with nonprofit principles. This transformation has significantly enhanced my ability to connect with nonprofit leaders who can mentor me in managing a nonprofit organization.
I began attending various organizations such as:
Williamson County Nonprofit Organization
Central Texas Communities Foundation
Georgetown Nonprofit Group
Georgetown Sertoma
Through these connections, I met Valerie Zapien, a health and wellness leader from Healthy Williamson County Collaborative. She has been instrumental in introducing our team to health and wellness nonprofits, providing valuable collaborations and resources that have helped us transform our library into the resource center it is today.
My advice is to assess your organization’s goals or focus to identify “who can be key in guiding your journey.” Then, seek networking opportunities to present your organization, its needs, and objectives. Be transparent about your requirements, and don’t hesitate to ask for mentorship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jarrellcommunitylibrary.org
- Instagram: @jarrellcommunitylibrary
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jarrellcommunitylibrary/
Image Credits
Images by Susan Gregurek and Christianna Bettis
