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PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
November 20, 2001
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442

Old Quarry Branch Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Lonestar Yesterdays

The Old Quarry Branch of the Austin Public Library, 7051 Village Center Drive, will hold its Jubilee celebration in honor of APL's 75th anniversary on Saturday, December 1, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Themed Lonestar Yesterdays, the branch will feature Carol Padgett Ph.D, author of KEEPING HEARTH & HOME IN OLD TEXAS: A PRACTICAL PRIMER FOR DAILY LIVING. Dr. Padgett will dress in 18th century women's fashion and discuss her "how-to" book. It's like the book your great-great-grandmother grabbed off the shelf when she was entertaining a person of high degree, or when she required directions for canning okra. It provides a delightful yet highly informative glimpse into the daily tasks and concerns of the late-Victorian lady. The advice and voice are quaint now, and sometimes uproariously funny. You're sure to enjoy learning about the lives of the women who came before us, at a time when the country was just being introduced to so many of the inventions we take for granted today. The program will start at 2:00 p.m. and she'll be available to answer questions, as well as sign her book.

At 3:00 p.m. the infamous Hand to Mouth Puppet Theatre will feature "Why Cowboys Sing in Texas." Robbie Lueth and APL youth specialist Ellen Scott have been amazing thousands with the art of puppetry, performing at festivals, museums, clubs, schools, libraries, and in the middle of windy fields.

Texas-style refreshments will be available—so come join Old Quarry Branch in a good old-fashioned roundup!

The event is sponsored by the Austin Public Library Foundation. The events are free and the public is invited to attend.

About Old Quarry Branch
The Old Quarry Branch of the Austin Public Library system opened with great fanfare on January 15, 1976 in the Northwest Hills Shopping Center in Northwest Austin. Among the honored guests attending the opening ceremonies were members of the Austin City Council and Library Commission, and City Manager Dan Davidson.

The branch was designed by architect Charles B. Croft and built on property that once held a 100-acre, 30-foot-deep limestone quarry—hence the name "Old Quarry." Equipped with 8,300 square feet of floor space, the new branch replaced the Highland Park Branch, which had faithfully served the Northwest Austin area from 1958 until its closing in 1975.

Old Quarry has seen two major renovations in recent years. The most extensive one occurred in 1992 when the branch received a head-to-to "makeover" complete with new carpeting and furniture, a new roof and floor plan, and an updated color scheme. Then in 1999, in response to the Americans With Disabilities Act, additional modifications were made to the Library to make it and its resources more accessible to persons with disabilities.

Today, approximately 10,000 customers visit Old Quarry each month, including around 250 children who come to the Library for its storytimes and other special programs. In addition to its Internet services and on-line databases, the Library offers a collection of over 50,000 books, including materials for the young people who visit the Library, such as those from nearby Doss Elementary School and Murchison Middle School. The Library also has a growing collection of foreign language books and ESL (English as a Second Language) materials for the many foreign nationals who live in the area.

True, a lot has changed since Old Quarry opened 25 years ago. But much has remained the same! Today, the Old Quarry Branch continues to provide its community in Northwest Austin with good old-fashioned personal service, varied collections, and family-oriented programs, all within its warm and friendly "vintage 1970s" environment.

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