Tag Archives: Austin Public Library
Austin Public Library prepares for First Amendment auditors
The Austin Public Library is busy with summer reading programs, passport services and book ban resistance. Newer to the list? Trying not to go viral. Library staff recently received a briefing on First Amendment audits, in which citizen journalists and…
Austin • By Emma Freer • Jun 29, 2023
A new plan for libraries calls for expansion
City Council approved a plan for Austin Public Library last Thursday that features a new set of strategic goals and calls for the expansion of libraries across the fast-growing city. In early 2022, a Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) started assessing…
City Council • By Ava Garderet • Mar 31, 2023
Library legislative working group gets update on ‘bills of concern’
The Library Commission spent the majority of its regular meeting on Monday discussing proposed legislation viewed as potentially harmful to the mission of libraries in Austin and statewide. Commissioner Courtney Rosenthal, who is leading the commission’s legislative working group that…
Texas State Legislature • By Ava Garderet • Mar 3, 2023
Austin leaders brace for state lawmakers to take up bills restricting library content and resources
After Texas lawmakers placed limitations on how Texas teachers approach lessons on history and racism and passed anti-trans legislation in recent sessions, Austin leaders are preparing for further action on these fronts when the Legislature convenes for its 88th session…
Education • By Andrea Guzman • Nov 30, 2022
Council opposes book banning, adopts Freedom to Read resolution
Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday promoting the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read declaration and opposing book banning. According to the resolution, the city supports the Austin Public Library’s materials selection process, recognizing the work of the library and the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Sep 2, 2022
City working toward enhanced library cards as a form of ID
The city of Austin has begun working on a way to use a souped-up library card as a form of identification, which is a service that would be particularly helpful for those who might not have an official ID, like…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Jul 1, 2022
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Recycled Reads seeks to branch out from books to tools
The Austin Public Library system is the go-to for most Austinites who want to rent books free of charge. But APL also has a lesser-known service for those who want to buy books at affordable prices: Recycled Reads, the public library’s used…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Mar 3, 2022
Amid push to ban books, library commissioners brush up on the basics
With efforts to take books off library shelves ramping up in some parts of Texas, Austin’s Library Commission took the timely step of reviewing the city’s policies to see how our public collections are protected. The commission and the Austin…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Mar 1, 2022
Austin joins growing list of cities eliminating library late fines
An ordinance eliminating late fees at the Austin Public Library has received unanimous approval from City Council, making Austin the latest of nearly 400 cities across the country to adopt such a policy. The ordinance, sponsored by Council Member Kathie…
City Council • By Kali Bramble • Feb 22, 2022
Library Commission pushes for fine-free books
Austin librarygoers may be in luck: The Library Commission unanimously voted Monday to do away with late fees for overdue library books. While City Council still has to approve the resolution in order for fine-free libraries to become the new norm,…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Jan 26, 2022
In push to raise funds, History Center makes a bid for formal partnership with the city
The Library Commission has postponed the decision to officially recognize the need for an agreement between the Austin History Center Association and the city of Austin. According to the proposed agreement from the association, the group would have a seat…
City Hall • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • May 7, 2021
Libraries set to begin reopening in May, despite City Council resolution
Amid concerns about vaccination rates, City Council has pushed back the day Austin Public Library employees will return to their physical workplaces. The change is not expected to impact a plan to begin reopening public libraries on May 10. “I…
City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 2, 2021
