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PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
June 13, 2001

MAD SCIENCE DEMONSTRATION AMAZES CHILDREN
AT AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM

The Austin Public Library on Wednesday held a special event at Faulk Central Library as part of the summer reading program for children with a live demonstration by "Mad Science of Austin" using dry ice to explore the three states of matter. Children from area schools and day camps were enthralled with the demonstration as they discovered learning is fun.

The mission of the Austin Public Library's science program is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children by providing them with fun, entertaining and educational activities that instill a clear understanding of what science is really about and how it affects the world around them.

The program was sponsored by AMD. Mayor Kirk Watson and Brenda Branch, Director of Libraries, thanked AMD for its donation of $50,000, which was used to purchase 2,500 books on science and technology. The AMD grant is the largest corporate contribution ever received by the Austin Public Library. It will allow the library to provide up-to-date information and books in areas of critical importance to kids in this age of technology. The technology books will be available at the Central Library, as well as the 19 branches. Each of the books will be designated with a special bookplate.

"AMD is committed to making strategic investments in the education of our future workforce and providing students the opportunity to succeed and lead productive lives," said Ed Crump, AMD Human Resources Director, Texas Site Human Resources Leader.

The Austin Public Library has focused efforts to increase use of the library by youth in the Austin area and to promote reading and lifelong learning. Outreach efforts have resulted in more than 40,000 youngsters obtaining the youth Star Cards.

About AMD
AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia. AMD, a Fortune 500 and Standard & Poor's 500 company, produces microprocessors, flash memory devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, California, AMD had revenues of $4.6 billion in 2000. (NYSE: AMD).

About Mad Science of Austin
The Mad Science Group® is the world's leading fun science provider and delivers exciting, hands-on and educational science experiences. Each year we spark the imagination of millions of children through an established, global distribution network with offices in every major market in North America and many overseas.

About the Austin Public Library
This year the Austin Public Library is celebrating 75 years of service to the Austin community. Today, the Austin Public Library has 19 branches plus the Central Library and the Austin History Center. The AHC is the local history (current events/activities of the City of Austin and Travis County) collection of the Austin Public Library.

The Austin Public Library serves over 391,922 cardholders and others. In 1999-2000, customers visited the libraries over 2.8 million times and checked out over 3 million items. In 1926 (75 years ago) the Library opened with a collection of 500 donated books; today the system holds over one million.

Programs of the Austin Public Library are frequently recognized with state and national awards. In January 2001 the Library's Youth Star Card outreach program won the first Giant Step Award, a national honor. The goal of this program is to put a Library Card in the hand of every child in Austin.

About the Austin Public Library Foundation
The Austin Public Library Foundation was founded in 1995 to increase public awareness about the Library and its importance to the community, and to enhance Library collections, programs and services through financial support. The Foundation has raised approximately $1 million from individuals, foundations and corporations.

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Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library
(512) 974-7528
Fax (512) 974-7403
patricia.fraga@ci.austin.tx.us