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PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
April 17, 2001
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528, or
Ben Sorrels, Twin Oaks Branch (512) 442-4664.
Fax: (512) 974-7442

Deep in the Heart of South Austin, Twin Oaks Library Celebrates the Austin Public Library's 75th Anniversary

The "Other Austin" and "Deep Bubba" are slang names given to South Austin, which geographically covers any area south of the Colorado River. Embedded amongst the eclectic shops and restaurants of South Congress is Austin Public Library's Twin Oaks Branch, 2301 South Congress. On Saturday, April 21, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., the Twin Oaks Branch will celebrate 75 years of building community. Entertainment and refreshments will be part of the celebration, featuring folklorist Jim Gramon, singer/songwriter LeAnn Atherton, and Francisco Chavez. Max Nofziger, South Austin dignitary, and Brenda Branch, Director of Libraries, will be kicking off the celebration with a brief introduction and history of the Library.

The Twin Oaks Branch sits in a strip mall near the intersection of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street. It is an integral part of the South Congress subculture, with its indefinable charm, which community groups and merchants want to maintain and preserve. Twin Oaks is the third oldest branch in the Austin Public Library System, serving South Austin since 1954. Today, the Twin Oaks Branch serves an extremely diverse and multi-ethnic community. More than one third of the community is Hispanic and many of the Library's customers use Spanish as their primary language. There are six elementary schools in the Twin Oaks area, as well as two middle schools and one high school. As a result, the Library's collections and services are highly geared toward the educational needs of young people. The Twin Oaks collection also helps to support the educational needs of area students from St. Edward's University, the Texas School for the Deaf, the Southern Careers Institute, and St. Ignatius Martyr Church parochial school.

"Our goal," says Branch Manager Ben Sorrels, "is to help to raise a new generation of library users." Active, unassuming, and distinctively charming, the Twin Oaks Branch is truly a gem of a library positioned strategically in the heart of the South Austin community.

Come celebrate the South Austin way. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

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