Backup — original pdf

Backup

Highlights & Updates Report Hannah Terrell, Director of Libraries March 2026 Public Services Highlights AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Highlights Lunar New Year at Spicewood Springs The Spicewood Springs Branch hosted a vibrant 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 28. Guests enjoyed hands‑on activities including crafts, calligraphy, games, red envelopes, and a Lucky Magnets workshop with Rita Wang. The Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team performed a lively Lion Dance, with the program interpreted in Chinese Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese to support multilingual access. Library staff also highlighted the Centennial program to attendees, helping connect the community with ongoing Austin Public Library initiatives. Author Event: The Future Book On March 3, Austin Public Library, in coordination with the Texas Book Festival and First Light Books, conducted a family-oriented author program at the Austin Public Library Special Events Center to mark the release of The Future Book by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris. The program featured structured activities including dramatic readings, musical components, stage presentations, author photo stations, and hands-on engagement areas. The event delivered a coordinated literary experience for families and demonstrated the Library’s ongoing collaboration with local organizations to advance youth literacy and community participation. 3 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Centennial Planning Updates The Austin Public Library Centennial celebration has launched! A press release was issued on February 16, officially announcing the campaign to the public, accompanied by a kickoff video featuring Van and Director Terrell that was shared on the APL Instagram page. At the same time, the Centennial main landing page at library.austintexas.gov/100 went live, providing campaign information and a listing of upcoming Centennial‑themed programs. Additionally, the APL Adventure Book, which is part of the system‑wide Centennial Celebrations, was introduced on March 2. This free, passport‑style booklet, available in English and Spanish, highlights every APL location with checklists, historical notes, and a unique stamp at each branch to encourage exploration and learning about APL’s history and neighborhoods. Participants were also invited to find Page B. Turner, APL’s mascot, at four locations to earn a prize. Digital versions were made available through Beanstack, with related challenges active from March 2 through December 31, 2026. Special Events Updates For February 2026, the Central Library Special Events team hosted 16 events with an estimated total attendance of 2,550. The month’s activity included 14 rentals, 1 co‑sponsorship (Headwaters School – Civil Rights Day on 2/4), 1 internal City of Austin event (APL’s Expanded M‑Team Meeting on 2/26), and 2 film/photo requests. Budget and Expenditures 4 Facilities Services Updates APL Facility Services 6 Data & Numbers APL Data and Numbers (as of February 28th) 8 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Data and Numbers 9 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Data and Numbers 10 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Data and Numbers 11