Henry A. Guerra, Jr. Library

CONTACT INFORMATION Address 7978 Military Dr. West · San Antonio, TX 78227 Phone/TTY (210) 673-1492 · Fax (210) 673-3862 HOURS Sunday 1:00 - 5:00pm Monday 1:00 - 9:00pm Tuesday - Wednesday 9:00am - 9:00pm Thursday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm

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COLLECTION & SERVICES
This new library offers full services including access to Internet and word-processing computers, computer classes, children’s materials and programs (including the annual Summer Reading Program), services for young adults and senior citizens, materials and services in Spanish, and audio, video and CD collections.

Funding for the facility included $400,000 for books, magazines, newspapers, videos, DVDs and CDs. An additional $400,000 was raised by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation to complete the opening-day collection. Approximately 1/3 of the Branch materials is for children.

Staffing includes four full-time professional librarians, five other full-time staff and nine part-time staff members. There is a community meeting room, a small conference room/quiet study room, and comfortable reading areas.

FACILITY

Naming Process
The Library Board selected the name to honor long-time San Antonio historian, author and broadcast journalist Henry Guerra, who died in 2001. Guerra, a San Antonio native, graduated from Central Catholic High School and attended St. Mary’s University. In 1939, he was hired by WOAI Radio as the first Mexican-American announcer to work for a major English-language broadcaster, and later became the first Mexican-American television announcer, on WOAI-TV (now KMOL.) Guerra served in the military in World War II. He was also development director for St. Mary’s University and international department liaison for Hemisfair ’68. Guerra’s wide range of interests included local history and he was the author of San Antonio: a Unique History and Pictorial Guide. Known for his trademark resonant baritone voice, Guerra narrated two video histories of San Antonio, The Missions of San Antonio, and Alamo: from Mission to Fortress, the latter researched and written by his wife, Mary Ann Noonan Guerra.

Don Counts, chairman of the Library Board of Trustees said, “Because of his lifelong love affair with the Library and the whole city of San Antonio, Mr. Guerra was a natural selection. It is a privilege for us to honor this San Antonio ambassador to the world.” The Board of Trustees approved the name by a vote, after soliciting nominations from the public, including residents and neighborhood associations in the area where the new Branch is to be built.

Construction
Construction on the new 15,000-square-foot Guerra Branch Library ran steadily and opened to the public on July 14, 2004. The funding of $2,799,144 for the facility was from the 1999 bond election. This project was also supported with $1 million in CDBG funds.

COMMUNITY
Officials and Districts

School districts in the area include Northside Independent School District.

OFFICIALS AND DISTRICTS

U.S. Representative: Charlie A. Gonzales, U.S. Congressional District 20
TX State Representative: Jose Menendez, TX State Congressional District 124
TX State Senator: Leticia Van De Putte, TX State Senate District 26
City Council Member: Delicia Herrera, City Council District 6
Library Board Representative: Lora Devlon Eckler, Council District 6

Updated: 03/27/2008