July Highlights Report — original pdf

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Highlights & Updates Report Hannah Terrell, Director of Libraries July 2026 Public Services Highlights AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Highlights Kids Block Party Austin Public Library hosted its annual Kids Block Party at Central Library, transforming the first-floor event center into a DINO-mite pop-up dinosaur museum. Families enjoyed a pop- up Dinosaur George museum with fossils, themed storytimes, crafts, book giveaways, and a CapMetro bus storytime featuring author Lindsay Leslie reading Gus Hearts the Bus. Paleontologists from the Texas Natural History Museum answered questions, while Austin Park Rangers led nature activities and STEM play included robotics demos. The event launched APL’s summer reading program, engaging young readers and families in an interactive, educational, and unforgettable kickoff to summer fun. Tuneful Tales with the Austin Symphony Orchestra Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Tuneful Tales brought vibrant, family‑friendly performing arts programs to Austin Public Library branches across the city. More than 2,000 children visited Central Library, University Hills Branch, and Windsor Park Branch to experience musical storytelling performed by ASO chamber ensembles and local storytellers. Each event featured hands‑on arts activities led by certified Orff Schulwerk educators or interactive music stations at Central Library, creating joyful, imagination‑sparked moments that turned library spaces into lively hubs of creativity for young audiences. 3 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Centennial Planning Updates Austin Public Library’s Centennial year reached new heights in June, marked by landmark achievements and citywide enthusiasm. The 100‑Year Carver Branch Juneteenth Community Cookout brought families together in celebration, blending food, music, and history with the debut of Freedom Legacies: Visual Reflections of Austin’s Juneteenth Festivities, a new Austin History Center exhibit honoring generations of Juneteenth traditions. Across the city, the festivities were impossible to miss. CapMetro introduced a striking Centennial‑themed bus now circulating through Austin’s neighborhoods, while APL’s Central Library earned national acclaim as one of TIME Magazine’s 25 Buildings That Represent America—described by sociologist Eric Klinenberg as “a palace for the people.” Central Library also became a hub of live storytelling as KAZI 88.7FM broadcast overlooking the atrium, interviewing APL Director Hannah Terrell and highlighting both summer initiatives and the library’s yearlong Centennial programming. Among the standouts is APL’s Summer Reading & Badge Challenge, recently named one of the best things to do in Austin by the Austin Chronicle. Running through August 8, the program invites participants to read for 600 minutes and complete three activity badges to earn either a free book (ages 0–17) or an APL mug (adults). Community creativity continues to shine through the Centennial Library Card Art Contest, which drew more than 100 submissions from artists of all ages. Public voting ends July 31, and three winning designs—one from each age category—will debut this September in honor of National Library Card Sign‑Up Month. June’s celebrations underscore a truly remarkable year for Austin Public Library—one that honors a century of discovering, learning, and creating in Austin, while looking boldly toward the next hundred years. 4 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Special Events Updates In June 2026, Central Library Event Services hosted a total of 14 events, including 9 rentals, 4 co-sponsorships, and 1 internal event, plus 2 film/photography requests, with a total estimated attendance of 1,616. Co-sponsorship partners include: Economic Development Department – Youth Initiatives Office (Summer Internship Program Event on 6/1) Austin History Center Association (AHCA Annual Meeting on 6/7) Impact Austin (Impact Austin 2026 on 6/8) Austin Public Health (Community Violence Intervention Strategy for Austin and Travis County on 6/9) COA Department events include: Economic Development Department – Youth Initiatives Office (Summer Internship Program Event on 6/1) – co-sponsored event Austin Public Health (Community Violence Intervention Strategy for Austin and Travis County on 6/9) – co-sponsored event Internal events include: Expanded Management Team (EMT) Meeting on 6/25 Events breakdown: Budget and Expenditures 5 Facilities Services Updates APL Facility Services 7 Data & Numbers APL Data and Numbers (as of June 30th) 9 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Data and Numbers 10 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Data and Numbers 11 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Data and Numbers 12