Mobile Comunidad Van Delivers Food, Books and Services to Jeff Davis County
By Christy Reynolds The shock of the pandemic struck everyone across the state of Texas in different ways and transformed the way we utilize our resources. In Jeff Davis County, which includes 60 miles of the towering Davis Mountain range, the county’s most renowned asset – its beautiful, remote location – became a liability. NORMALLY THIS GORGEOUS AREA DRAWS THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS TO DAVIS MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, FORT DAVIS, AND THE MCDONALD OBSERVATORY. When the pandemic struck, the lack of tourists coming to visit these West Texas mountains hit Jeff Davis County hard. Public spaces, including the library, closed to the public, though the library was grateful to be able to keep everyone employed. Schools shut down to follow safety and state regulations; however, while other communities pivoted to fully online and virtual learning, Jeff Davis County could not. Fort Davis ISD received a grant to bring Wifi hotpots to students that needed them, but the mountainous terrain of Jeff Davis County prevented the hotspots from working properly. Without cell service, students could not access the internet through those hotspots. This prevented schools from being able to go fully remote.
225 | Texas Library Journal FALL 2021
Photo courtesy of Jeff Davis County Library
