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PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
September 11, 2001
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442

Cepeda Branch to Hold Jubilee Celebration on September 15

The Cepeda Branch of the Austin Public Library, located at 651 North Pleasant Valley Road, will hold a Jubilee Celebration on Saturday, September 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., to celebrate APL's 75th birthday.

Features include live entertainment by The Three Volkanos band (from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.), the bilingual puppet show "Beauty and the Beast/Bella y la Bestia" (at 11:30 a.m.) face painting, and arts and crafts. Refreshments will be provided by Serranos Restaurant.

This event is free and the public is invited to attend.

About the Branch
Although the Cepeda Branch is only three years old—having opened on June 20, 1998—the branch itself has a history in East Austin that spans over 26 years. The branch officially began back in 1975 as the Rosewood-Zaragoza Branch, at 2808 Webberville Road, and filled an important service need along the area's "eastern neck." In 1978, the branch was moved to a neighborhood shopping center at 2745 E. 7th Street, and renamed the Govalle Branch. A few years later, the growing neighborhood branch was moved again—this time to a leased facility on E. César Chávez, where it remained for the next ten years.

But by the late 1970s, a citizen movement was already afoot to have a new, permanent branch facility built in East Austin. That movement—championed by area resident and political activist Alicia Garcia—continued through the 1980s and into the early 1990s. Finally, in 1992, a City bond issue passed that appropriated funds for six new branch buildings in Austin over the following 6-10 years, including one for East Austin. In the spring of 1997, groundbreaking ceremonies were carried out for the new branch. While initially the branch was to be named the Zaragoza Branch, a decision was soon made (with City Council approval) to name the new facility the Cepeda Branch in honor of Eustasio Cepeda, the community leader and spokesperson for the Latino community in the 1930s and 1940s.

Opening ceremonies for the new Cepeda Branch were held on June 20, 1998. Today, the Cepeda Branch not only serves its surrounding neighborhoods, but also lends support to its three "neighbor branches"—Carver, Terrazas, and Oak Springs. In fact, the four branches together form a complete "service square" in central East Austin. Cepeda currently houses a collection of over 50,000 items and is equipped with six public access computer-Internet stations. The branch is also well known for its community programs. For instance, in April of 1999, the branch hosted the first "Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros" celebration in Austin, bringing together 14 local organizations in support of literacy. This unique cultural celebration is now an annual event at the branch.

Though much has changed since the first incarnation of this East Austin branch in 1975, much has remained the same. As in the early years, the branch today serves as a gathering place for families, an activity center for children, a study hall for students, and an educational and informational resource for the East Austin community. It is a modern, service-oriented facility with a large and loyal neighborhood following.

Please join us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Austin Public Library at Cepeda Branch.

Visit the Library's Web site at http://www.cityofaustin.org/library/ for additional information about APL services.

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