Backup — original pdf

Backup

Highlights & Updates Report Hannah Terrell, Director of Libraries September 2026 Public Services Highlights AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Art for All Art for All started transforming the Austin Central Library garage into vibrant murals created by artists and Austinites experiencing housing insecurity. The first team began prepping walls and setting the foundation for a series of works that will unfold over the coming months. Participants earn same‑day pay while accessing on‑site support services, making the project both an artistic and economic lifeline. With new artists joining soon, the murals will continue to take shape in real time, bringing fresh color and powerful stories to a public space. Kittypalooza Tour Austin Public Library and Austin Animal Services teamed up for Kittypalooza Tour 2026, bringing adoptable cats, kitten‑themed crafts, and plenty of feline fanfare to branches across the city. With lively stops at Yarborough and Windsor Park and a finale at Central, the tour helped more than 60 kittens find new homes during peak kitten season. The event’s impact reflects the commitment of fosters, staff, volunteers, and community partners who make lifesaving connections possible. Tool Library The Tool Library is back, and it’s now a citywide service that makes borrowing tools as easy as placing a hold on a book. With online requests and pickup available at any branch, Austinites no longer need to trek to a single location. They can grab what they need right in their own neighborhood. The updated system comes with a few new guidelines, including 21‑day checkouts, in‑person returns at circulation desks, and a one‑time waiver for first‑time borrowers, all designed to keep the collection circulating smoothly. 3 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Centennial Planning Updates August at Austin Public Library was marked by defining moments, and none more significant than Austin City Council’s decision to designate Austin a Book Safe Harbor, reaffirming the city’s commitment to protecting the freedom to read and intellectual freedom. The measure, introduced by The Library Foundation and championed through the Austin Library Commission, signaled strong support for equitable access to library materials at a time when book challenges are escalating across Texas. Council members emphasized the importance of diverse stories, and Austin Public Library affirmed its century‑long responsibility to provide them. Alongside this historic milestone, Centennial celebrations continued across the city. University Hills kicked off the month with its 40th Anniversary Arcade Day. It was a high‑energy afternoon of video game battles, giant board games, button‑making, and Bananarchy treats that brought generations together in true neighborhood style. The excitement carried into the announcement of the Centennial Library Card Art Contest winners—three standout designs by Ishana Jain, Yaretzi Nicole Cruz Santiago, and Lyle Lewis, selected from more than 10,000 community votes and set to debut in September. Rounding out the month, retired and long‑time librarians gathered at the Faulk Building (now the Austin History Center) for the Homecoming History Harvest, a heartwarming event hosted by the Austin History Center Association. Librarians shared and recorded decades of memories, digitized artifacts from their careers, and reflected on the “only in a library” moments that shaped APL’s past as we look toward our next century. 4 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Special Events Updates In August 2026, Central Library Event Services hosted a total of 19 events, including 16 rentals, 3 co-sponsorships, plus 2 film/photography requests. Total estimated attendance of 2,671. Co-sponsorship partners include: Mayor of Austin’s Office – Growing Up Austin on 8/20 Austin History Center Association - History Hour: An Austin History Enthusiasts Event on 8/20 City Council District 6 Office – Library Safe Harbor Resolution Press Conference on 8/26 COA Department events include: Austin Equity and Inclusion – Cesar Chavez Street Renaming Community Meeting on 8/11 (rental) Mayor of Austin’s Office – Growing Up Austin on 8/20 (co-sponsorship) City Council District 6 Office – Library Safe Harbor Resolution Press Conference on 8/26 (co-sponsorship) Events breakdown: Budget and Expenditures 5 Facilities Services Updates APL Facility Services 7 Data & Numbers APL Data and Numbers (as of August 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 Winning Design: Children (0–12) “The Library’s 100th Birthday Party” Designed by Ishana Jain Winning Design: Adults (18+) “Inspiring All to Discover, Learn, and Create” Designed by Lyle Lewis 12 Winning Design: Teens (13–17) “Austin Public Library’s Next Century” Designed by Yaretzi Nicole Cruz Santiago