Celebrate the 2009 Holiday Season with the Austin Public Library

November and December (click here for times)
Winter Tales and Tunes @ Various Branches
Singing, puppetry, and storytelling from around the world will light your way, warm your heart, and bring family cheer with Winter Tales and Tunes. This program is recommended for ages 3 and up. For more information call 512-974-9820.

Saturday, December 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Holiday Open House @ Pleasant Hill Branch
Bring the whole family to the Holiday Open House for fun holiday crafts and games, a live harpist, and refreshments at the Pleasant Hill Branch, 211 E. William Cannon Dr. For more information call 512-974-9920.

Wednesday, December 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Christmas Extravaganza @ Oak Springs Branch
Don’t miss the Christmas Extravaganza at the Oak Springs Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr. Bring the family for food, fun, entertainment, children’s activities, and Santa Claus. For more information call 512-974-9920.

Saturday, December 12 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
9th Annual Lighting of the Peace Tree @ University Hills Branch
Join us for the 9th Annual Lighting of the Peace Tree at the University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Lane. Celebrate the holiday season with music, poetry, dance, and tree decorating. For more information call 512-974-9940.

Saturday, December 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Holiday Open House @ Hampton Branch at Oak Hill
The Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., invites you to make merry at the Holiday Open House featuring Austin Classical Guitar Duo Thales and Matthew, arts and crafts, and storytelling. For more information call 512-974-9900.

Saturday, Dec. 19 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Hill Country Brass Quintet @ Recycled Reads
Recycled Reads is pleased to announce that The Hill Country Brass Quintet will play an arrangement of holiday carols and music at Recycled Reads, 5335 Burnet Rd. Recycled Reads has a wide assortment of books, media, collectibles and signed first editions for holidays browser. Recycled Reads will be open on December 24 from Noon to 5 p.m. For more information please call 512-323-5123.

Monday, December 28 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Kwanzaa Celebration @ North Village Branch
African native and educator Elizabeth Kahura will bring Kwanzaa to life with storytelling, music, and art for all ages at the North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave. Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with a focus on family values. For more information please call 512-974-9960.

Tuesday, December 29 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Annual Kwanzaa Celebration @ Carver Branch
African native and educator Elizabeth Kahura will bring Kwanzaa to life with storytelling, music, and art for all ages at the Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St. Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with a focus on family values. For more information please call 512-974-1010.

All events at the Austin Public Library are free and open to the public. For general information please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Austin History Center's Jones Glass Plate Negative Collection is Online

The Jones Glass Plate Negative Collection of 466 fragile glass plate negatives from about 1870 to 1900 have been digitized and are now available online at www.austinlibrary.com/jones/jonesglass.cfm.

The Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St., also has a small photo exhibit of the best images from the Jones Collection on display in the David Earl Holt Meeting Room through Sunday, March 21.

This unique resource of Texas history includes a variety of scenes from life in early Austin. The Collection also shows portraits of many early Austinties, many whose identities have been lost in time.

This digitization project was funded by a TexTreasures grant made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.

The Jones Collection is the first of the many photograph collections preserved by the Austin History Center that will be digitized and made available online through the Austin Public Library's website.

Consumer Reports and hundreds of other magazines available in full text through APL’s online databases!

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/databases.htm

Would you like to know what Consumer Reports has to say about a product before you buy it? Easy! Just pull out your Austin Public Library Card and point your mouse to the Austin Public Library’s database pages. The full text of the magazine including photographs and charts is available online from the most current issue back to January, 1991.

In addition to Consumer Reports, hundreds of other magazines including The New Yorker, Art in America, Texas Monthly,Mothering, Money, Real Simple, Highlights for Children, PC World, Atlantic Monthly, and Psychology Today are available in full text through the MasterFILE Premier database! Many are available in pdf format (Adobe Acrobat) with images.

Use eJournal Finder to see if a magazine, newspaper, or journal is available in full text in one of our databases. You can search by title, title keyword, or issn. You can also browse by subject to see which titles are available in your area of interest. eJournal Finder only lists titles that are available in full text. Publications that are just indexed or have only selected full text are not listed. Most individual databases also have a publications title list that you can check, as well.

APL Cardholders can access Consumer Reports, MasterFILE Premier, and eJournal Finder from their home and office computers 24 hours a day. They are available to everyone at all Library locations. To find out more call 512-974-7400 or stop by any APL location.

Austin Public Library Foundation Receives Grant from RBC Blue Water Project™

The Austin Public Library Friends Foundation has been honored with a RBC Blue Water Project™ Community Action Grant of $4,500 on behalf of the Austin Public Library that will be used to create educational materials that teach youth in our community about the critical importance of our watersheds. Specifically, the grant will be used to create small lectures about the Beckett Meadows area of the Williamson Creek Watershed collaborating with curriculum specialists and the Watershed Protection Department of the City of Austin. The lectures will be available at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill as audio-guided recordings for field trips or self-guided tours into the Beckett Meadows which contains a water quality wet-pond located adjacent to the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill. For more information please contact 512-974-9900 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

The overall goal of the program is to educate our local school children about the significance of watersheds and the important role that water plays in life cycles and the balance of ecosystems. Teachers, parents and individuals will be able to check out the materials and equipment from the library to guide students, small groups, or interested participants on field trips into the park. “We’re delighted to receive this generous gift from RBC,” said Brenda Branch, Director of the Austin Public Library. “This funding will help the youth in our community understand the significance and urgency of water issues in Central Texas.”

The RBC Blue Water Project accepted applicants that focused on watershed protection and/or access to safe drinking water and on a local, regional or national level within the communities they serve. "Water is our most precious natural resource, and we know that even our youngest citizens can play a huge part in watershed protection,” said Bob Schneebeck, Denver branch director for RBC Wealth Management. "We are thrilled to be helping the Austin Public Library contribute to a culture of water stewardship."

Now in its second full year, the RBC Blue Water Project is a wide-ranging program aimed at helping foster a culture of water stewardship in North America and abroad though a 10-year, $50 million grant program. To date, RBC has pledged over $20 million in funding through the RBC Blue Water Project™.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name of RBC. It is Canada’s largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization and one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies. RBC employs approximately 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients throughout offices in Canada, the U.S. and 36 other countries. In 2007, the company released the RBC Environmental Blueprint, outlining its environmental priorities and objectives. In 2009, RBC was named one of top 100 sustainable companies in the world for the 10th year in a row. For more information on the RBC Blue Water Project, as well as grant guidelines and online applications, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.

¡Qué me cuentas! at the Faulk Central Library

Practice and learn Spanish as a foreign or second language with ¡Qué me cuentas! at the Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St, every Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:30p.m. Through reading and discussion of Latin-American cuentos, or short stories, the class offers a unique way to learn and practice Spanish. 40% proficiency in Spanish is preferred, but if you feel you are not yet at this level, join us and we will help you. For more information please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Reopening of Howson Branch of the Austin Public Library Delayed Until April 2010

While the roof replacement and the asbestos abatement at the Howson Branch of the Austin Public Library located at 2500 Exposition Boulevard proceeded as planned and according to schedule, the interior remodeling of this fifty-year old building has proven to be especially challenging. Library Facilities Services staff have uncovered a number of hidden conditions within the building, such as moisture intrusion in the foundation, which will delay the reopening of the facility until April of 2010. This unfortunate delay constitutes a great inconvenience to our customers, but it is necessary to redress the problem now in a lasting manner so that the building can be safely returned to public use. It is hoped that the fully renovated, asbestos-free library with its increased public space, enlarged computer area, improved internet connectivity, enhanced audiovisual presentation equipment for the meeting room, new air-conditioning units, a rainwater harvesting system, and a fully accessible handicapped entrance/exit to the parking lot will prove to be worth waiting for prior to it being restored to use by the community it was built to serve. Please call 512-974-7379 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library for more information.

2009 Summer Reading Program a Hit with Children, Teens, and Adults Alike!

The goal of the Summer Reading Program of the Austin Public Library is to promote literacy and encourage lifelong learning. By all measures, it appears to be working. Here is what some of our participants had to say. Eva Martinez, Adult Summer Reading Program Prize Winner, stated that the materials available at the Terrazas Branch were instrumental in helping her learn to speak and read English as a second language. Ms. C.J. (H) Redd, Winner of the Adult Summer Reading Program Drawing at the University Hills Branch, summed it all up when she said "I am so glad that I can be an example for the adults here in Austin as far as reading and education is concerned. Wish that I could encourage more people to read. Education is the key. Learning is so important for us as individuals and as a people and a community."

This year a record number of Children, Teens and Adults participated in the Summer Reading Program. The Adult Summer Reading Program had over 1800 participants who read more than 5,500 books. Sally Miculek, Children’s Services Coordinator, said that "the Youth Summer Reading Program, One Green World, distributed prize books to about 3,500 young people who met their reading goals for a combined total of 64,600 books read this summer!" A special thanks to all the readers who participated!

How Do You Envision Austin’s New Central Library?

If you were unable to attend the Public Input Meetings, you may submit suggestions for the new Central Library online. New Central Library suggestion cards are available at all Austin Public Library locations and at City Hall.

Once the public input is collected and sorted, recurring themes will be identified as priorities. These priorities will be considered as the design is developed. The design team will share these priorities and the designs with the Library Commission and the City Council at the project’s approval milestones.

The tentative schedule for the new Central Library project is as follows:

• September 2009 ~ Design Team Consultant Contract Finalized
• November 2009 ~ Citizen Input/Programming Process Initiated
• April 2010 ~ Construction Manager at Risk Contract Executed
• May 2010 ~ Commissioning Agent Contract Executed
• Spring 2010 ~ Schematic Design Completed (30% Design)
• Library Commission Briefed
• Council Approval
• Fall 2010 ~ Design Development Completed (60% Design)
• Library Commission Briefed
• Council Approval
• Summer 2011 ~ Design Phase Completed
• Winter 2011 ~ Construction Begins
• Fall, 2013 ~ Construction Completed
• Spring 2014 ~ Grand Opening

For additional information about the new Central Library please call Cindy Jordan, Project Manager, 512-974-7183 or John Gillum, Facilities Planning Manager, at 512-974-7495 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Great Cities have Great Libraries
More than 500,000 customers utilize the resources at the Faulk Central Library each year. However, the current building has been unable to expand in tandem with Austin’s population growth. The Library’s collection outgrew the building’s capacity more than 15 years ago. In November of 2006 voters approved a bond to construct a $90 million 250,000 square foot new Central Library to replace the 1979 John Henry Faulk Central Library which has 110,000 square feet. On November 20, 2008 the Austin City Council selected the architectural design team of Lake | Flato Architects and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott.

Lake | Flato Architects, Inc.
Established in 1984, Lake | Flato Architects has gained national recognition for architecture that is rooted to its place and successfully merges with the landscape. In collaboration with their clients, Lake | Flato creates buildings that are tactile and modern, environmentally responsible and authentic, artful and crafted. Lake|Flato has received wide critical acclaim. The American Institute of Architects selected Lake | Flato as the Firm of the Year in 2004. In 2006, Lake | Flato was the only firm to have two projects selected as Top Ten Green Projects by the AIA Committee on the Environment. A third was a 2007 Top Ten Green Project. In all, Lake | Flato's work has been recognized with 37 national awards (including the AIA's Honor Award in 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2007) and 51 state awards. For more information about Lake | Flato Architects please visit www.lakeflato.com.

Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott Incorporated
Shepley Bulfinch offer clients innovative design solutions in architecture, planning, and interior design. A nationally recognized leader of library programming and design, Shepley Bulfinch works with libraries as they face changes to their physical space and operations, positioning them for their expanding and evolving roles in the 21st century. The firm was established in 1874 by Henry Hobson Richardson. "Richardsonian Romanesque", though now in the pantheon of architectural styles, was a dramatic break from the works of his contemporaries. The firm carries forward his vision of innovation and his legacy of design excellence. In doing so, they draw on their nationally recognized expertise in the design and construction of sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. Their public library portfolio includes central libraries for the cities of Cincinnati, Memphis, and Eugene, Oregon; and the phased renovation of Boston Public Library/ For more information about Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott please visit www.sbra.com.

Conversation Café @ the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill

What are you eager to talk about?

Hungry for conversation? Drop in for open, public dialogue on a variety of topics and add to the diversity of perspectives. Conversation Café will be open the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the large meeting room of the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. The discussion will be led by Jo Virgil, Community Outreach and Information Coordinator in the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. Jo was formerly the Community Relations Manager for Barnes and Noble. She has also been a feature writer, reporter, and columnist for the Fort Worth Star -Telegram. For more information about Conversation Café at the Austin Public Library please visit www.cityofaustin.org/library or call 512-974-9900

What is Conversation Café?
Conversation Café is a non-profit and charitable organization that seeks to foster a cooperative human community in a diverse, yet interconnected world by creating and disseminating practical tools and innovative approaches to personal and cultural change. Conversation Café promotes community, democracy and wisdom world-wide through generating millions of open, respectful public conversations. For more information about Conversation Cafés please visit http://www.conversationcafe.org.

Texas Opportunity Online Broadband Summit Videos Featuring APL Staff and Customers

Mining Words from Life at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill

The Breathing Life Into Words writing series at the Hampton Branch of the Austin Public Library at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., presents Mining Words from Life. This four part writing workshop is designed for the novice and seasoned writer. Learn how to look for tangible starting points, tap into your own material, and believe that your story is worthy. There is no prerequisite in writing required. All ages are invited. Mining Words from Life is free and open to the public. For more information please call 512-512-974-9900 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

All workshops take place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Monday, September 14, Mining First Experiences
• Monday, October 5, Mining Time and Place
• Monday, November 2, Writing with Compassion
• Monday, December 7, Mining Your Journals (Bring an old journal)

Classic Western Films @ Manchaca Road Branch

Hitch up your wagon and head to the Manchaca Rd. Branch for Classic Western Films at 6:30 p.m.the first Monday of the month, October through December.

October 5th - Shane (1953)
November 2nd - The Searchers (1956)
December 7th - Appaloosa (2008)

***made possible in part by a grant from the 2009 Texas Book Festival

Watching the Detectives at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill

Join us for a five film series highlighting some of the most popular detectives of the last fifty years, including Sam Spade, Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot

September 28 - The Thin Man
October 12 - The Maltese Falcon
October 26 - Hound of the Baskervilles
November 9 - Murder on the Orient Express
November 23 - Murder by Death

All films screen on Mondays at 6pm in the library's large meeting room at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. For more information call 512-974-9900 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Fall 2009 Gaming Tournament

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Tournament for Ages 6 and up
Rated E for Everyone by ESRB, suggested for ages 6 and older

Saturday tournaments will begin at 2 p.m.
Weekday tournaments will begin at 4 p.m.

• September 12 Ruiz Branch 2 p.m.
• September 26 Terrazas Branch 2 p.m.
• October 3 Pleasant Hill Branch 2 p.m.
• October 24 Manchaca Branch 2 p.m.
• November 7 Carver Branch 2 p.m.
• November 12 Faulk Central 4 p.m.
• November 16 Windsor Park Branch 4 p.m.
• December 5 Southeast Branch (wildcard and finale) 1 p.m.

Check out the Connected Youth site for more information and a schedule of Freeplay events! www.connectedyouth.org

Practice Your English at Talk Time

para español haz clic aquí

The Fall 2009 Talk Time Schedule starts the second week of September and runs until the second week of December. For more information or to volunteer please call 512-974-7529.

Faulk Central Library
Thursdays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Old Quarry Branch
Thursdays 10:30 a.m.-12 noon

St. John Branch
Saturdays 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Little Walnut Creek Branch
Saturdays 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Terrazas Branch
Wednesdays 7:00 -8:30 p.m.

Ruiz Branch
Tuesdays 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Southeast Branch
Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Yarborough Branch
Saturdays 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Talk Time is an opportunity for new English learners to practice speaking English in a safe, non-threatening, and relaxed environment. It is NOT an ESL class. Volunteers facilitate conversation to help and encourage participants to speak English. Talk Time sessions are free and open to any adult who wants to practice his or her ability to speak English. No registration is necessary. A person may attend all Talk Time Sessions in a semester, or as many as they are able. Each session focuses on a different topic of conversation.

Changes to APL Policy, Effective October 1, 2009

The following two changes to Austin Public Library Policy will take effect on October 1, 2009. As part of the 2009-2010 Library Budget, the Library will begin charging for holds not picked up within the allotted 10 calendar day hold period. Accounts will be charged a $1.00 fee per item that is not picked up. Additionally, the loan period for DVDs and VHS tapes will be extended to 3 weeks, but, due to high demand, there will be no renewal option for these items. For more information please visit www.cityofaustin.org/library or call 512-974-7400.

African American and Latino History Encyclopedias Added to Oxford Reference Online!

The Austin Public Library has added African American and Latino history encyclopedias to its online collection of eBooks. The encyclopedias can be searched and viewed individually or as part of the Oxford Reference Online database.

The Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895 documents the full range of the African American experience during that period—from the arrival of the first slave ship to the death of Frederick Douglass—and shows how all aspects of American culture, history, and national identity have been profoundly influenced by the experience of African Americans.

The Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the present traces the transition from the Reconstruction Era to the age of Jim Crow, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and the ascendant influence of African Americans on the American cultural landscape. With coverage up to and including the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, the Encyclopedia contains approximately 1,200 fully cross-referenced entries all signed by leading scholars and experts.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the US draws together the diverse historical and contemporary experiences in the United States of Latinos and Latinas from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Over 900 A-to-Z articles written by academics, scholars, writers, artists, and journalists, address such broad topics as identity, art, politics, religion, education, health, and history.

APL Cardholders can access the encyclopedias and Oxford Reference Online from their home and office computers 24 hours a day. It is available to everyone at all Library locations. To find out more call 974-7400 or stop by any APL location.

Serving Austin's Growing Asian American Community at APL

The World Language Collection at the Austin Public Library is expanding to serve Austin’s growing Asian population. The Asian share of total population in Austin almost doubled during the nineties, leaping from 3.3% in 1990 to almost 5% by 2000 and stands somewhere near the 6.5% mark today. The incoming Asians to Austin during the past 15 years are a much more diverse sub-population than what existed here in the past. For example, thirty years ago, if you were Asian and in Austin, chances are you were Chinese and somehow associated with the University of Texas. Today, Austin hosts an Asian population that spans the socioeconomic spectrum and is sourced by several countries of origin, with India, Vietnam and China being the largest contributors.+ The following Asian language materials are available at select locations of the Austin Public Library.

Bengali

• Faulk Central Library
• Spicewood Springs Branch

Chinese

• Faulk Central Library*
• Austin History Center (archives available)
• Howson Branch
• Little Walnut Creek Branch
• Milwood Branch*
• Hampton Branch at Oak Hill
• Old Quarry Branch
• Pleasant Hill Branch
• Ruiz Branch
• St. John Branch
• Spicewood Springs Branch*
• Yarborough Branch*

Hindi

• Faulk Central Library
• Hampton Branch at Oak Hill
• Little Walnut Creek Branch
• Milwood Branch
• Spicewood Springs Branch

Japanese

• Faulk Central Library

Korean

• Faulk Central Library
• Howson Branch
• Milwood Branch
• Old Quarry Branch
• St. John Branch
• Spicewood Springs Branch

Vietnamese

• Faulk Central Library
• Austin History Center (archives available)
• Little Walnut Creek Branch*
• Pleasant Hill Branch
• St. John Branch

* These library locations have over 1,000 items in the indicated language.

In addition, the Little Walnut Creek Branch has over 200 Bollywood films available for checkout. For more information about the World Language Collection at the Austin Public Library please visit www.cityofaustin.org/library or call 512-974-7400.

+ http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/census/downloads/top_Ten_Trends2.doc

Austin Public Library Offers Free Access to Two Genealogy Databases! Ancestry Library & HeritageQuest Online

Visit any Austin Public Library location to research your family tree with two popular genealogy databases.

Ancestry Library Edition includes more than four billion names in over 4,000 databases. Special collections include U.S. Federal Census images and indexes from1790 to 1930 and the Map Center that contains more than 1,000 historical maps. Military records, court, land, and probate records, vital and church records, directories, and passenger lists are also searchable. Standard sources such as American Genealogical Biographical Index, Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1630, Social Security Death Index (updated monthly), WWI Draft Registration Cards, Federal Slave Narratives, and a strong Civil War collection are all part of the database.

HeritageQuest Online is designed to help amateur and professional genealogists, local historians, and public library patrons to search and use data from the U.S. Federal Censuses from 1790 to 1930, more than 20,000 full-text family and local histories, and PERSI, a subject index of 6,300 local history and genealogy periodicals. The database also includes Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land-warrant application files, as well as the Freedman’s Bank Records, an important resource for African-American genealogical research. Additionally, there are more than 250 primary-source documents such as tax lists, city directories, and probate records.

Both databases are available for anyone to search at any Austin Public Library location. HeritageQuest Online is also available for searching from your home or office with an Austin Public Library Card.

To find out more call 974-7400 or stop by any Library location and ask a librarian for more information.

Not a Museum ~ Your Story, Your Archive: An Exhibit About the Value of Archives

The Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, announces the opening of a new exhibit, Not a Museum ~ Your Story, Your Archive: An Exhibit About the Value of Archives on display in the Grand Hallway and Lobby of the AHC, 810 Guadalupe St., from August 11, 2009 to January 10, 2010. Not a Museum explores the inner workings of the Austin History Center and the importance of archives. The exhibit opening coincides with the Society of American Archivists Annual Conference being held in Austin August 11 through 16, 2009, www.archivists.org/conference/austin2009.

On Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. the Austin History Center will host an opening reception for the exhibit. Special guest speakers for the reception are Laura Dunn and Mattie Akers, Director and Associate Producer of The Unforeseen, http://theunforeseenfilm.com/blog/trailer, an award-winning documentary about the environmental impact of urban development on Barton Springs. Dunn and Akers will talk about the film and the value of archives in producing documentary film. Light refreshments will be served. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. Other programs will be offered in October and November, including the annual Archives Clinic, celebrating the value of archives.

Archive has different meanings for different people. From “dusty old books” to “files on my computer that I’m keeping”, it’s a word that can create confusion. What is an archive? What does it do? Why is it important? As the title of this exhibit states, an archive is not a museum. While archives and museums can have similar missions, an archive like the Austin History Center provides a tangible connection to the past through active engagement with historical records. This engagement is different for each person and gives new life and meaning to the documents each time they are used.

Archivists decide what is kept, they organize and describe records, and make those records accessible. Through this work, archivists provide connections between the past, present and future. They connect researchers, scholars, filmmakers, authors, genealogists, and the community at large to the records and collections in the archive. It is through these connections that history, our story, comes alive – allowing us to touch, read, experience, digest the past and make it relevant to our moment, often in ways that go beyond the initial intention of the record. The threads of these stories weave together and create the fabric of our community. In this way, the Austin History Center keeps our community’s history alive!

For additional information please visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.ahc or call 512-974-7480.

YomiCon Anime and Manga Convention Draws Droves of Teens to the Library

YomiCon, the highly successful Teen Summer Reading Program kick-off event for the Austin Public Library, took place took place on June 12 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Over 280 teens and 70 parents attended. YomiCon featured gaming and computer tutorials, an anime room with continuous film screenings, an artist’s alley with artwork by local teens on display, an art contest, an anime and manga trivia contest, crafts such as making buttons out of old manga and comics, and a cosplay contest. The teens really enjoyed cosplay or costume play, the opportunity to dress up as their favorite characters from anime, manga, and comics.

YomiCon also showcased the largest collection of manga books and anime DVDs ever gathered from across the Austin Public Library system. In total, there were over 1500 manga and anime books and about half of those were checked out by the end of the night. Giveaway comic book and other items were made possible by generous in-kind donations from local businesses and organizations, including Austin Books, Dragon’s Lair, and the Travis County Attorney’s Office Underage Drinking Prevention Program.

Laptops were made available so attendees could live blog about YomiCon. Perhaps the most telling measure of success for YomiCon was what teens were saying about it. “YomiCon was so much fun. It was awesome to have people around who had things in common with yourself. We got to watch anime that I haven’t seen in years. This event should happen again.” – Teen Comment

The program merged teens’ interest in anime and manga with computers and technology. By bringing these ideas together in one experience, the convention reached an astounding number of teens who came away with a very positive idea of the public library. YomiCon exceeded the expectations of all involved. Teens were so excited to celebrate, discuss, and experience their favorite genre of literature. The most common question they asked was, “When are you doing this again?”

Free Salsa Lessons at the Austin Public Library (updated schedule)

Put on your dancing shoes and join us weekly for Free Salsa Lessons with instructor Raul Ramirez at the Carver, Cepeda, Pleasant Hill, and University Hills Branches of the Austin Public Library. In addition to teaching the steps, Ramirez spends a few minutes educating attendees on the history and background of Salsa music and dance. He makes an effort to dance with each class member if time permits, especially when they need help learning a particular step. The classes are free and open to the public. So what are you waiting for? Get your feet and hips moving to the beat! For more information please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

• Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina, (512) 974-1010
  Sundays 2:30 to 4:00 p.m., beginner level, through August 30
  Sundays 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., intermediate level, through August 30
• Cepeda Branch, 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd., (512) 974-7372
  Saturdays 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., beginner level, ongoing
  Saturdays 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., intermediate level, ongoing
• Pleasant Hill Branch, 211 E. William Cannon Dr., (512) 974-3940
  Mondays 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginner level, ongoing
  Mondays 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., intermediate level, ongoing
• University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln., (512) 974-9940
  Wednesdays 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginner level, ongoing
  Wednesdays 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., intermediate level, ongoing

Wisteria Chateau, a Miniature Passion Now on Permanent Display at the Faulk Central Library

The Austin Public Library invites you to visit Wisteria Chateau, an elaborate miniature house built and decorated by Marie Anne Osborne. The house is on permanent display at the Faulk Central Library on the first floor in the children’s area. Osborne donated the house to the Library so that the entire community could share its beauty.

Marie Anne Osborne has been working with miniatures since 1980, although her passion began many years before that. As a young girl growing up during the Great Depression, she had few luxuries. One Christmas, Santa Claus brought her a simple set of miniature furniture. She and her father then made a house for the furniture out of some wooden apple boxes. Many years later, after graduating from college, she bought a dollhouse kit and put it together. She then put the furniture inside and began decorating the house.

Years later, married and working as a teacher, Osborne took this first house to her 5th grade students. She asked the children to contribute small objects that were the right size. In this way, she introduced them to the concept of scale. Her husband suggested she build another house and after that there was no stopping her. At first she cut everything with an exacto knife. By the time she created Wisteria Chateau she was using power tools.

Wisteria Chateau is a dollhouse inspired by the Painted Ladies architecture of San Francisco, built to a scale of 1 inch to 1 foot. It has a floor plan very much like a real house. Its staircases are especially remarkable. The staircase from the 1st floor to the 2nd turns twice, so it has two landings. The 1/16th-inch thick treads on both staircases are real walnut, as are the floors. There is even a ladder that climbs to the attic.

The chateau is based on a kit which was radically modified. Osborne used a band saw to split every wall and every floor so that she could make the house four inches wider. She discarded the kit’s 3rd floor and created a new roof-line, resulting in more interior wall space and a better room arrangement.

The chateau is fully electrified, with chandeliers, sconces, and lamps. The furniture, mirrors, fireplaces, pictures, statues, bathroom fixtures, automobile, vases, clocks, musical instruments, flowers, dishes, books, foods, toys, etc. were collected from many places in the United States and Europe. The lovely hand-painted porcelain plates in the dining room came from England. The kitchen has 1930s appliances such as a Roper range and a Maytag refrigerator.

Osborne designed all of the decorations on the exterior. The decoration of the many windows is different on each floor. There is even a wisteria vine on a trellis. Osborne did not put dolls to represent people into this house. Instead, she would like for each of you to imagine yourself living here. For more information about the Wisteria Chateau on permanent display at the Faulk Central Library please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Memorials

You may donate a book to the Austin Public Library collection to honor the memory of a friend or loved one. A plate will be placed inside each book donated as a memorial to commemorate the gift. Memorials may be:

• selected by title
• selected by subject
• placed in the location of your choice

The Library can notify the family of the person to be honored if you choose. The average memorial donation is $25.00. Donations may be mailed to:

Austin Public Library
Library Administration
P.O. Box 2287
Austin, TX 78768-2287

For more information on memorials, call the Austin Public Library at (512) 974-7528 or e-mail David Spradling.

Download the Library's Gift Donation Form in Adobe Acrobat format.

New Businesses and Lifestyle Modules added to ReferenceUSA Database

www.cityofaustin.org/library/databases.htm

APL now offers two new ReferenceUSA modules, New Businesses and Lifestyles.

New Businesses is updated weekly with more than 40,000 new businesses nationwide and more than 200 in Travis County. Search by business name, type, filing type, geography, phone, home-based business, and time frame. Track new areas of economic development and research and find new businesses that could use your goods or services.

Lifestyles offers 19 categories with subheadings to identify consumers based on their lifestyles, hobbies, and interests. Search specific geographic areas for potential customers who have interests in your products or services. Economic factors such as median home income and median home value can also be incorporated into the search.

ReferenceUSA provides directory information for 14 million U.S. businesses and 135 million U.S. households. Search by name, address, phone number, company name, brand, industry, state, county, city, zip code, and other special selections. Details on businesses include toll free and fax numbers, Web address, sales volume, number of employees, ticker symbols, and owner/executive names and biographies. Use the Custom or Guided Search features to create and save customized lists.

Entrepreneurs can use ReferenceUSA to conduct market research by selecting a location and looking up the number of similar businesses in the area, then checking the competition with years in business and credit rating data. Use the residential database to compile mailing lists.

Job Seekers can research industries and companies, find executives, corporate families, and company descriptions. Find companies that don’t advertise their openings. Send personalized inquiries instead of blanket resumes.

Consumers can find corporate headquarters and executive names, toll-free and fax numbers, schools, childcare, and local businesses by zip code. Use the residential database to find friends and relatives.

Researchers can compile data summaries to profile an entire neighborhood, city, or state by type of business, size of business, or household median income.

ReferenceUSA is available at all Library locations and from computers anywhere to Austin Public Library cardholders. Search from your home or your office!

To find out more call telephone reference at 974-7400 or stop by any APL location.

Steeped in Books: Informal Talk and Tea every Tuesday at the Hampton Branch of the Austin Public Library at Oak Hill

Do you have a book brewing in your head? Are you straining to let others know how much you loved (or hated) it? In conjunction with APL's Adult Summer Reading Program, we invite you to drop in for Steeped in Books, informal talk and tea every Tuesday from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. through August 25 at the Hampton Branch of the Austin Public Library at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. Share your thoughts about what you're reading! Don't know what to read? Here's a perfect opportunity to pick up a few recommendations. Steeped in Books is free and open to the public. For more information please call 512-892-6680 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

About the Will Hampton Branch at Oak Hill
With great ceremonial fanfare, the Hampton Branch of the Austin Public Library opened its doors to the communities of Southwest Austin on April 26, 1997. The branch was named in honor of Austin civic leader Will Hampton, who died on September 24, 1996. A colorful relief painting of water birds in flight currently surrounds a large round window in the branch lobby. The painting, created by artist David Everett as part of the City’s Art and Public Places program, is set against a pitched ceiling of skylights to give the lobby an atrium quality. The Hampton Branch is one of the busiest branches in the Austin Public Library system. It is a modern, people-oriented facility with a large neighborhood following.

eJournal finder

Save time and money. Search for a specific magazine, newspaper, or journal in the APL databases using eJournal Finder.

Austin History Center Adopts New Hours

The Austin History Center of the Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe Street is adopting new hours as part of the Fiscal year 2008/2009 budget adjustments. The new hours will allow staff to better serve the vast majority of customers who use the Center during the day to do research despite a reduction in staffing. The change will take effect on Sunday, May 3, 2009. A year long study of the usage of the Austin History Center conducted in the Fiscal year 2008 revealed that over 94% of registered researchers used the Center before 6:00 p.m. and of the evenings it was open, no researchers came in after 6:00 p.m. 25% of the time. In addition, Austin History Center users have requested that the Center not close 2 days a week. By closing during evening hours when usage is minimal, the Austin History Center can be open six days a week. For more information please call 512- 974-7480 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

The Austin History Center’s new hours, effective Sunday, May 3, are as follows:
Monday: closed
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m.

About the Austin History Center
As the local history collection of the Austin Public Library, the Austin History Center provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County. We collect and preserve information about local governments, businesses, residents, institutions, and neighborhoods so that generations to come will have access to our history.

Recycled Reads

About Recycled Reads

The Recycled Reads bookstore seeks to advance City of Austin go green initiatives. Items Recycled Reads is unable to sell will go to Books Beyond Borders, which through Project School House provides books and funding to third-world schools and libraries. Unusable items will be sent via Books Beyond Borders to companies that will recycle them into building material. Recycled Reads gives books a second chance and will be an active participant in the City’s Zero Waste Plan by ensuring obsolete materials are handled in an environmentally responsible way by keeping these materials out of landfills. Additionally, the Library will contribute to a socially responsible cause by ensuring knowledge and learning is passed along to others in need.

What you can find at the Recycled Reads Bookstore
Thousands of books, and assorted media are priced to sell at $1 and $2. Better books starting at $5 and up.

The store will be operated primarily by volunteers with materials withdrawn from the Library's collection and donations.

Volunteers and Donations
To volunteer for the bookstore or for more information call
(512) 974-7443.

Donations are accepted during open hours and by appointment
(512) 323-5123.

New Portable All-in-One Audiobooks @ APL

The Austin Public Library announces a new addition to our collection, the Playaway -- a simple, portable, all-in-one audiobook. Unlike CD’s, Audio Cassettes or Downloads, Playaways do not need a separate player. They come pre-loaded with content ready to listen. All you need to provide are earphones and one AAA battery. Over 200 of these devices will be available for checkout at APL starting March 30, 2009 and we will continue to expand this collection in the coming months. All Library locations across town will carry Playaways in a variety of genres, including mystery, science fiction, romance, thriller, American classics, literary, and of course, current bestsellers.

You may wonder, why does the Library need audiobooks? The answer is simple, customer demand. CD audiobooks were checked out over 83,000 times in the past 6 months at APL. In the words of Librarian Carolyn Rogers, "Printed books will never be replaced totally, but audiobooks are on the rise with Library customers of all ages. Often people don't have time to read a book, but they can listen to Atlas Shrugged as they walk, drive, or wait in line."

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and weighing only two ounces, Playaways are perfect for an active, on-the-go person. They have a universal jack that works with almost any type of mobility accessory. Just plug in your connector and listen to your favorite audiobooks in the car or on your home speakers. You can even take it jogging or hiking at any of Austin’s many greenbelts. For more information on Playaway, visit www.playaway.com.

For more information about these new audiobooks at the Austin Public Library please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

About the Library CollectionThe Austin Public Library has movies, music, audio books, novels, and fun events to entertain you and your family year round. We have nearly 54,000 DVDs, over 56,000 music CDs, more than 14,000 audio books, and close to 300,000 novels in our system of 21 library locations.

Consumer Help for the Economic Downturn @ APL

A new guide, Consumer Help for the Economic Downturn, to help people survive the economic downturn has been added to the Library's Research Guides. Find information on credit, budgets, health insurance, investments, and much more.

Oak Springs Chess Club

Join us for chess every Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Oak Springs Branch of the Austin Public Library, 3101 Oak Springs Drive. The Oak Springs Chess Club is open to beginner through advanced level players, adult and youth ages 8 and up. Historically women have been underrepresented in the chess world, so we especially encourage women and girls to join in the game. People think you need to be smart to play chess, but it turns out that playing chess actually develops thinking skills that can make you smarter. It hones strategic planning, spatial analysis, and non-verbal reasoning. Studies show that there is a strong correlation between academic achievement and the ability to play chess, but most importantly, chess is fun. So, what are you waiting for? We provide the chess boards, all you need is a desire to play. The Oak Springs Chess Club is free and open to the public. For more information please call 512- 926-4453 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Purchases Pease Papers

The Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, announces the acquisition of 269 letters and documents relating to the life and career of former Texas governor Elisha Marshall Pease and his family. The collection includes personal letters, campaign correspondence, business records from Pease’s legal practice, and even an early sketch of the Pease Mansion on Niles Road. These papers were purchased, with funds from a grant from the Summerlee Foundation and from private donations to the Austin History Center Association, a private, non-profit support group of the History Center. This purchase represents about one-fourth of the collection being offered by a private seller, and the seller has agreed to hold the remainder of the collection to allow the History Center time to seek additional grant support for this project.

Pease, born and raised in Connecticut, came to Texas in 1834 and established a legal practice in Brazoria County. He quickly became involved in the Texas Revolution and early Republic/State politics, including writing portions of the Texas Criminal Code. He was elected Governor in 1853 and served 2 terms. A moderate Democrat, Pease supported many governmental reforms, including balancing the budget, while also initiating public and social improvements, including the creation of the Texas School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf. Pease, though a slaveholder, was Unionist and opposed Texas’ secession in the Civil War. After the War, Pease was appointed governor in 1867, but resigned in 1869 in opposition to Reconstruction policies. He resumed his private law practice in Austin until his death in 1883.

The Austin History Center holds the largest collection of Pease papers in a public archive. The AHC holdings total 209 document boxes of letters and printed material relating to the Pease and Graham families, Pease’s career as governor, and these families’ impact on Austin. The Niles-Graham-Pease collection was the first major archival acquisition for the AHC and continues to be the flagship collection of the AHC. The addition of this new collection of documents and letters adds substantial research value to this already rich collection. The strengths of the AHC Pease papers are the personal correspondence between family members and Pease’s governorship. This purchase adds depth to the collection by illustrating Pease’s extensive professional career and contacts as a lawyer and landowner in Texas. The correspondents in these letters include Republic of Texas and US Congressman Timothy Pillsbury, Guy M. Bryan, nephew of Stephen F. Austin, and Edward Clark, who served as Texas Governor during the Civil War. These letters cover the time period from Pease’s arrival in Texas in 1834 to family correspondence from the early 20th century.

For more information about the Pease papers, please contact AHC Manager Mike Miller at 512-974-7436. For more information about how you can help the Austin History Center Association acquire the remainder of the collection for the History Center, please contact AHCA Executive Director Jeff Cohen at 512-974-7499.

PressDisplay

Read today’s newspapers from around the world in full-color, full-page newspaper format with the PressDisplay database from the Austin Public Library! Browse selected news, editorial, business, sports, and entertainment stories from around the world on the home page or select a paper to read cover to cover.

PressDisplay provides online access to today's newspapers from more than 80 countries in more than 35 languages. The collection includes over 800 U.S. and international titles. Just like reading the familiar print edition, you can browse articles, pictures, comics, advertisements, classifieds, and notices.

PressDisplay provides up to a 60-day backfile and the ability to perform keyword searches across all titles and the entire backfile. Read today’s Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Irish Times, or La Jornada with your morning coffee!

You can select titles by language or country. More than 35 newspapers are available in Spanish from Latin America, Europe, and the US. Titles are available in Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, and Tamil, as well as in French, German, Italian, Russian, Hungarian, and many other languages.

Major US newspapers available include the Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times. Also available are the Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Nashville Commercial Appeal, New York Daily News, New York Post, Oklahoman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Richmond Times-Dispatch, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Seattle Times, Tampa Tribune, and the Washington Times. Some small town newspapers are available including the Dripping Springs Century News, Kyle-Buda Eagle, and Wimberley View. Many more English-language papers are available from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and from non-English speaking countries. Check the title list online at PressDisplay for the most current listings since new papers are added frequently.

PressDisplay is available to everyone at all Austin Public Library locations. APL cardholders can access the database 24 hours a day from home or office computers. To find out more call 974-7400 or stop by and ask any of your neighborhood librarians for more information.

Watch our Music Video and See What Austin Public Library Can Do For You

Please visit our database page to access over 80 different resource databases at www.cityofaustin.org/library/databases.htm

Thank you to our production Donors:
Hair and Make-up by:
PINK SALON
www.pinkaustin.com

Wardrobe by:
Amelia's Retro Vogue & Relics
www.ameliasretrovogue.com

Segways Donated by:
Austin Segway Tours
www.glidingrevolution.com

Production by:
Seabrooktv.com

For additional information call (512) 974-7400

Song adapted from “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” written by Harry M. Woods and originally recorded by Billie Holiday.

Library lyrics by Reference Librarian Bonnie Brzozowski, edited by Teen Librarian Alison O’Reily,
video coordinated by Reference Librarian Jennifer Connor

Libraries More Important Than Ever

Libraries are more important than ever, according to a new statewide survey by the Texas Library Association.

Search APL’s catalog and selected online databases with one search with FindIt Plus!

Featured Database: FindIt Plus

FindIt Plus, APL’s new integrated search engine, lets you browse APL’s online catalog and selected databases at the same time with one query! FindIt Plus links to full-text articles from periodicals and electronic books, as well as APL catalog records. If you are outside the Library you will need to enter your Austin Public Library card number to search FindIt Plus.

Search by subject or by database. Limit your query to selected subjects or databases or browse them all. Use the basic search page to get quick results. Use the Advanced search page for expanded options.

As FindIt Plus gathers your results, you will see the resources at work. Results are sorted by source and you can select to view results from a particular resource.

Clustered results sort your search results into subject categories and will help you narrow your query. Click on a topic to see the indexed articles.

To get results to you as quickly as possible, results are returned in small batches. When you reach your final page of results you can click on the "Next Results" link to see the next batch of results from the providers. This increases the cluster categories, too.

You can email, export, or save selected results.

See the “Search Tips” for help using FindIt Plus.

FindIt Plus is available to everyone at all Austin Public Library locations. APL cardholders can access the database 24 hours a day from home or office computers.
To find out more call 974-7400 or stop by and ask any of your neighborhood librarians for more information.

Start the New Year fresh. Access your local library’s resources to help you find that perfect job.

Resources for job seekers:

• Public workstations at 21 library locations with Microsoft Office 2003 for creating and printing resumes.
• Internet access for online job searching. Use the Job Searching Research Guide to find job postings.
• Free computer classes that teach Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Business databases (Reference USA and Factiva) for finding companies by industry, size and location.
• Don’t forget to access our online catalog FINDIT to access the library’s selection of books and materials.
• If you need assistance while in the library or outside the library just Ask a Librarian

Lifelong Learning @ APL & KLRU

Reference Librarian Bonnie Brzozowski talks about how the Austin Public Library and local PBS affiliate KLRU share a commitment to lifelong learning in this PSA.

Budget need trimming? Use the Library

Does the recession have your pocketbook in a vice? Looking for smart ways to cut your budget? The average American household spends $2,698 a year on entertainment according to a 2007 study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ouch! That line item needs some trimming. Wouldn’t it be cool if you had access to a wealth of entertainment for free? It turns out, you do.

The Austin Public Library has movies, music, audio books, novels, and fun events to entertain you and your family year round. We have nearly 54,000 DVDs, over 56,000 music CDs, more than 14,000 audio books, and close to 300,000 novels in our system of 21 library locations. Are you too busy to browse the stacks? Get online and use FindIt to locate the items you need. With one click you can place materials on hold for pick-up at a branch near you. We also host film screenings, book signings, book clubs, travel presentations, writing workshops, computer classes, language classes, gaming tournaments, children’s storytimes, puppet shows and more.

At APL everything is free and open to the public. All you need to access our abundance of community resources is your Library Card. If you don’t have one yet, just complete an application and present it at the circulation desk of any Austin Public Library location with a current photo I.D. and proof of your current residence address. For more information about the Austin Public Library please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Austin City Council Selects Design Team for the New Central Library

Austin, Texas (December 11, 2008) Today the Austin City Council selected a team to design the new Central Library located on the site of the Seaholm Substation plot at 704 W. Cesar Chavez Street. The chosen design team is Lake/Flato Architects and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott. In November 2006 voters approved to construct a new $90 million 250,000 square foot new Central library to replace the current 1979 John Henry Faulk Central Library which has 110,000 square feet. The City Council selected Lake/Flato Architects and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott out of two other teams, Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects and Taniguchi with Holzman Moss and Page Southerland Page / Patkau Architects. The City of Austin will execute a contract with the selected design team and once complete the Austin Public Library in conjunction with the Library Commission and the Austin Public Library Foundation will hold a series of public design charrettes to get community input on what citizens of Austin would like to see in their new Central Library.

Below is an estimated timeline for the new Central Library project:

• May 2009 ~ Citizen/Stakeholder input meetings –Co-sponsored by Library Commission and Library Foundation
• June 2009 ~ Design phase begins
• Spring 2011 ~ Design development completed
• Winter 2011 ~ Construction begins
• Fall 2013 ~ Construction complete
• Spring/Summer 2014-Grand Opening

In tandem with the design and building phases the Austin Public Library Foundation will begin a capital and endowment campaign to raise additional funds for Central Library enhancements, as well as, to match funds from the City of Austin’s sale of the downtown Block 21 (future site of the Austin City Limits studio) to offset operational costs of the new Central Library.

About the Design Team

Lake/Flato

Established in 1984, Lake|Flato Architects has gained national recognition for architecture that is rooted to its place and successfully merges with the landscape. In collaboration with our clients, Lake|Flato creates buildings that are tactile and modern, environmentally responsible and authentic, artful and crafted. Lake|Flato has received wide critical acclaim. The American Institute of Architects selected Lake|Flato as the Firm of the Year in 2004. In 2006, Lake|Flato was the only firm to have two projects selected as Top Ten Green Projects by the AIA Committee on the Environment. A third was a 2007 Top Ten Green Project. In all, Lake|Flato's work has been recognized with 37 national awards (including the AIA's Honor Award in 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2007) and 51 state awards. For more information on this firm go to www.lakeflato.com.

Shepley Bulfinch (Library Consultant)

Shepley Bulfinch offers clients innovative design solutions in architecture, planning, and interior design. We give them an edge by drawing on the insights we have gained through our experience with leading academic, healthcare, research, and civic institutions. Together we develop design solutions to achieve our clients' visions and reflect economic, environmental, programmatic, technical and social concerns. The firm was established in 1874 by Henry Hobson Richardson. "Richardsonian Romanesque", though now in the pantheon of architectural styles, was a dramatic break from the works of his contemporaries. We carry forward his vision of innovation and his legacy of design excellence. In doing so, we draw on our nationally recognized expertise in the design and construction of sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. Shepley Bulfinch has been honored with countless awards for the firm's design excellence as well as our achievements in innovation, sustainability, and building envelope technology. For more information on this firm go to www.sbra.com .

Completion of the Oldest Asian American Archive at the Austin History Center

The Austin History Center is proud to announce that staff have completed processing the Sing Family Papers (AR.2008.002), the first archive collected under the Asian American Neighborhood Liaison program, and it is now available to researchers. The goal of this program is to collect and preserve historical documents, photos, and records related to Asian Americans and their history in Austin.

Items in the Sing Family Papers were donated by Mary Frances Aguallo, granddaughter of Joe Sing, a Chinese immigrant who came through Louisiana in 1897 and settled in Austin. Sing owned Hong Lee Laundry on 5th Street and had 4 children with his wife, Francis Moreno. This collection includes correspondence with relatives and business contacts, family photos, business receipts, advertisements, and a book from China. The collection includes the oldest Asian American documents in the archives. The finding aid with a description of these items is available through the Texas Archival Resources Online website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/aushc/00025/ahc-00025.html

“This is a landmark moment for the neighborhood liaison program,” says AHC’s Director, Mike Miller. “Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing populations in Austin, but their history here goes back well over a hundred years. It is important that this history is preserved so it becomes part of the greater Austin story.”

Esther Chung, the Asian American Neighborhood Liaison, states, “The Sing Family Papers is significant because it provides a glimpse into the lesser known history of early Asian residents in Austin. Also, this collection will help stress the importance of preservation to the current Asian American community.”

To learn more about Joe Sing and other Asian Americans in Austin, visit the Austin History Center at 810 Guadalupe St, or contact Esther Chung, Neighborhood Liaison at esther.chung@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-974-7394 or visit our website at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/asianamerican.htm.

Photo of Joe Sing, Sing Family Papers (AR.2008.002) (1). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.
Document, Sing Family Papers (AR.2008.002). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.

Prepare for Tests Using the Online Databases!

Taking a big test like the GED, SAT, or Advanced Placement but you can’t make it to the library, and you don’t want to spend money on expensive test prep books? No problem, you can do all the work from home and for free with a library card and the online databases.

Follow these easy steps:

1. Begin your preparation by studying helpful handbooks and test guides to bulk up on test taking skills. These books contain useful strategies and best practices for taking exams. Check out an eBook from NetLibrary. You must create an account to use netLibrary at home. Search netLibrary by author, subject, title, or keyword. Try the subject headings “examinations – study guides,” “test-taking skills,” and “study skills” for starters.

2. Look for books specifically about your test using the LearningExpress eBooks database. This database provides access to test preparation books for school, licensing, certification or competitive entry-level exams. Books are grouped into 13 categories or you can search for books by topic.

3. There’s no better way to prepare for a test than to take a sample test. LearningExpressLibrary.com offers a number of free practice tests for academic, civil service, GED, military, and professional licensing and certification exams. Check the database for a complete list of tests. Immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and individualized analysis of your score are provided. Before using the database you must create a user name and password. The database saves your tests under your logon ID, so you can return to your tests at your convenience.

Now you’re ready to ace that exam!

All the databases mentioned are available at all Library locations and from computers anywhere to Austin Public Library cardholders. Search from your home or your office! To find out more call telephone reference at 974-7400 or stop by any APL location.

Why buy when you can DIY?

Austin has never had a shortage of innovative artists, makers, crafters and creative types with a DO IT YOURSELF attitude. As the economy becomes bleaker by the minute, more and more Austinites are embracing the DIY credo. It not only saves money, but it feels good too.

Whether you are new to the game or an old hand looking for new ideas, the Austin Public Library has an incredible selection of How To and Do It Yourself books and magazines to help you master any project. Be your own wedding planner, landscaper, and interior designer. Install your own appliances. Make your own clothing, crafts, gifts, and more.

Too busy to browse the stacks? Get online and use FindIt to locate the books you need. With one click you can place materials on hold for pick-up at a branch near you.

Once you have the books you need for reference, throw a DIY party. Invite your friends to share their know-how with the group. Ask each participant to bring a few supplies. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish when you pool your resources!

The Austin Public Library regularly hosts workshops for writing, jewelry making, gardening, knitting and other DIY oriented endeavors. Call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library to find out about upcoming events.

If you don’t have a Library Card, just complete an application and present it at the circulation desk of any Austin Public Library location with a current photo I.D. and proof of your current residence address.

The Austin History is searching for archival materials documenting Asian-Americans in Austin and Travis County

The Austin History Center, Austin Public Library is looking for historical documents and other records on Asian Americans in Austin and Travis County. This includes any individual, family, business, organization, or entity that represents Asian heritage. The intent is to collect and preserve materials related to the history of Asian Americans in the local community for research purposes.

Collection areas include: Architectural Archives, Biography Files, Photographs, Maps, Periodicals, Recordings, Books, published documents and many others.

If you have any documents, photos, or other items you would like to donate to the Austin History Center or have any questions, please contact Esther Chung, Neighborhood Liaison, at (512) 974-7394 or esther.chung@ci.austin.tx.us

About the Asian American Neighborhood Liaison

Esther Chung has recently joined the team at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library as the Neighborhood Liaison to the Asian-American community. Esther joins the existing staff which include; Karen Riles, African-American, and Irene Gonzales, Mexican-American, Neighborhood Liaisons to these respective communities. Ms. Chung has a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Along with her expertise in project management and program development, Esther has experience in group facilitation, volunteer coordination, and community outreach. Esther has lived in Austin for ten years and has been a volunteer at Central Texas Red Cross, Capital Area Food Bank, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, and SAHELI for Families.

Read, Recycle, Rock On!

Turn your *trash* into library book *cash*. You can raise money for the Austin Public Library by recycling your empty inkjet and toner cartridges at any of the 21 Austin Public Library locations or at Megabyte Express, 6500 Burnet Rd.

Since the program's inception in 2002, the Austin Public Library and Megabyte Express have collected and recycled over 10,000 used inkjet and toner cartridges that would have found their way into the Austin landfills. That means thousands of dollars in library resources!

Companies who would like to participate in raising funds for the library can request their own recycling bins by contacting Bill Breed. For additional information call (512) 974-7379 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Please click here to view a PDF file that lists the cartridges that can be recycled in this program.