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PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
November 5, 2001
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442

Photo Exhibit at Yarborough Branch
November 1-26, 2001

Currently on view at the Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library, 2200 Hancock Drive, are magnificent photographs from the Austin Fine Arts Photographers. Over 30 color and black and white images are on exhibit from local photographers. The exhibit will run through November 26, 2001.

The photographers meet twice a month at Yarborough Branch—this is their premier exhibit at the branch.

About the Yarborough Branch
The Yarborough Branch Library opened at its present city-owned location in January of 1999. The current building is 12,500 square feet. The first floor houses the collections and public meeting rooms; staff work areas and mechanical rooms are upstairs. By request of one of the local neighborhood associations, the building was named in honor of the late Senator Ralph W. Yarborough and a display case is maintained at the branch as a memorial to the Senator. Monthly circulation averages 18,00 to 21,000. Yarborough has two public meeting rooms which are heavily used by community groups.

The branch's first incarnations were as rental facilities in several shopping centers: first, Allandale Branch in Allandale shopping center, 1956-1981; second as North Loop Area Branch in the North Loop shopping center on Burnet Road, 1981-1987; and at 2210 Hancock Drive, 1988-1998. The branch name changed to Yarborough when the City purchased and renovated Earl Podolnick's Americana Theatre for the library's present location. The branch is beautifully painted and enhanced lighting makes for a wonderful space to read and relax.

This branch makes a special effort to serve the senior citizens in the neighborhood. In the late 1980's the library received a grant to purchase large print books. For three years, a grant-funded program called Walking Books delivered these to home-bound persons. Although the delivery system ended, the collection has been expanded and Yarborough still has the most extensive large type holdings in the APL system. Additionally, Yarborough houses one of the largest collections of books on tape. For the sight-impaired, two reading machines are available; one is a reader-magnifyer, the other an audio-reader using head phones.

The branch has a strong collection of adult fiction, particularly mysteries and short stories; a solid history collection, especially covering World War II; and many good cookbooks. With the move into the present building, the youth holdings of both fiction and nonfiction were significantly augmented. Yarborough has recently started a collection of books in Chinese for adults and children. The library plans to expand this collection with magazines and newspapers.

Yarborough Branch has always been a neighborhood-oriented location, and offers events and services which the community desires. There are five Internet workstations for public use. Storytimes are offered twice a week. Income tax assistance is available each winter. Many author visits occur throughout the year, local art exhibits, and in December the branch hosts a Winter Holiday Party with live music, crafts for children, good food, and multicultural displays.

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