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On November 13, 1925, Grace Delano Clark persuaded the Austin Branch of the American Association of University Women to take on the project of establishing a library for Austin. On February 16, 1926, the Austin Public Library opened in a rented room at 819 Congress with 500 donated volumes. Grace Delano Clark served as volunteer Librarian. On December 23, 1926, the first Austin Public Library building opened at West 9th and Guadalupe, with 1,800 square feet, at a cost of $4,190 (since moved to become the first branch library and currently the Carver Museum).
In 1933, a second 36,000 square-foot structure replaced the building at 9th and Guadalupe at a cost of $145,000 (currently the Austin History Center). Miss Darthula Wilcox was appointed the first Library Director. In 1944, Mary Rice became the second Director, in 1967 David Earl Holt the third, and in 1991 Brenda Branch the fourth. In 1979, the current Central Library opened adjacent to the 1933 structure with 110,000 square feet at a cost of $6 million. In 1994, the City Council voted to rename the Central Library after John Henry Faulk, well-known Austin writer and humorist. In 2001 the Austin Public Library celebrated 75 years of service to the Austin community. On November 7, 2006 Austin voters overwhelmingly approved Bond Proposition 6 to build a new Central Library. Projected opening date of the new Central Library is 2012.
- The Austin Public Library has 20 branches, the John Henry Faulk Central Library, and the Austin History Center.
- The Library's current budget is $21.1 million, with 331 FTE staff members employed throughout the System.
- 456,009 are registered card holders (66% of Austin's population).
- Systemwide holdings are 1,705,805.
- Customers visited the Austin Public Library 3,264,727 times last fiscal year and checked out a total of 3,373,408 items.
- 119,398 volunteer hours were donated in 2005/2006.
- 898,204 customers used the public Internet computers in 2005/2006.
- 5,664,817 virtual visits were made to Austin Public Library's Web site in 2005/2006.
The Library supports its motto of "Lifelong Learning" by offering citizens the information and material necessary in a variety of formats to enable them to continue their learning experiences. In addition to books and magazines, services available through the Library include:
- Videos, audio cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs
- Reference assistance at the Faulk Central Library and the Austin History Center
- Telephone Reference: (512) 974-7400
- Spanish Information Hotline: (512) 974-3637
- Business Information Center at Faulk Central Library
- Adaptive equipment for people with disabilities
- Tax forms available electronically at all locations; in paper format at some locations
- Online reference assistance
- Computer training centers at Faulk Central, Little Walnut Creek, Ruiz, and University Hills branches
- Public Internet computers and wireless Internet access at every location
- Youth programming (puppet shows, storytimes, summer reading programs)
- VICTORY homework centers (Carver, Howson, Little Walnut Creek, Milwood, University Hills, and Windsor Park branches)
- Reference databases (searchable databases ranging from the arts to science and technology)
- ebooks (online books and resource materials)
- Book clubs: Mayor's Book Club; Little Walnut Creek, Milwood, and Windsor Park branches
- Michael & Susan Dell Wired for Youth Centers at Faulk Central Library and 9 branch locations
- Large type books
- Magazine exchange tables at many locations
- Online reserves and renewals
- Interlibrary loans
- Free meeting rooms
- Local history collection and archives
- Reproduction of historical photos
- New Immigrants Project centers at Faulk Central Library; and Cepeda, Little Walnut Creek, Ruiz, St. John, and Terrazas branches
- World language collection at Faulk Central Library
- Library tours (512) 974-7400
- Ongoing book sales at most locations
- Proctoring by appointment at some locations (512) 974-7400
- Everything Austin: selected links to key Austin topics
- Austin Treasures: online exhibits of historical Austin topics
- Express Check Out machines at Faulk Central Library and 4 branch locations
- The Friends of the Austin Public Library sponsor the Monster Book Sale Store, ongoing book sales and author programs, the proceeds of which provide the Library with much-needed supplemental funding.
- The Austin Public Library Foundation raises funds from individuals, community groups, foundations, and corporations to support Library programs that would otherwise be out of reach. Recent successes include the Buy One for the Library campaign, the Storytime outreach program, and the Michael & Susan Dell Wired for Youth Centers.
- The Austin History Center Association is the citizens' support organization for the Austin History Center.
For information on how to join these groups, call (512) 974-7528.
Recent awards include:
- 1994
- Texas Library Association Project of the Year for "Pepe's Magic Tales" Saturday morning television show about books, a joint venture between KVUE-TV, Fiesta, and the Austin Public Library.
- 1994
- VICTORY Program is recognized by the American Library Association as one of 50 outstanding programs for youth in schools and public libraries in the U.S.
- 1994
- Austin Urban League names Carver Branch's Homework Center as Project of the Year.
- 1995
- Texas Library Association Project of the Year for VICTORY Program, an after-school tutoring program using VISTA volunteers.
- 1995
- Recognition of APL by the American Library Association as a model multicultural organization.
- 1995
- VICTORY Program receives National Achievement Citation from the Public Library Association.
- 1998
- City of Austin & AISD receive Collaboration Award for Community Excellence for the VICTORY Tutorial Program.
- 1999
- VICTORY Program Finalist for Governor's Volunteer Awards.
- 2000
- Highsmith, Hotho, and Mora Awards for Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros Program.
- 2000
- Austin Collaboration Award for Star Card Outreach Project, and Cepeda Hands on Science.
- 2000
- L. PeRCy Award for Web Page design.
- 2000
- Giant Step Award for Youth Star Card outreach.
- 2003
- Wired for Youth selected by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) as an Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults Project.
- 2004
- Texas Library Association Project of the Year for “The Blue Bellies are in Austin: Readings from the Travis County Slave Narratives”
- 2005
- Texas Library Association Hotho Award for Second Chance Books: Gardner Betts Outreach Program
- 2006
- Texas Library Association Project of the Year Award for Second Chance Books: Gardner Betts Outreach Program
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