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PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
December 10, 2001
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442

North Village Branch Library to Close on December 17 for Re-labeling

The North Village Branch of the Austin Public Library located in North Austin, 2139 West Anderson Lane, will close on Monday, December 17, to complete their barcode re-labeling project. The reopening date is Wednesday, December 26, 2001. APL branch libraries have closed at various times through out the year to do re-labeling.

Re-labeling will allow customers to use self-checkout stations-presently the Austin Public Library has one self-checkout machine at the Will Hampton Branch at Oak Hill. The Library Foundation and Library are looking for possible grants or donors so other library locations will be equipped with this new technology. Self-checkout machines provide an easy and convenient way for customers to check out items from the library.

Additionally, the new labels will allow the Library to use new scanning technology. This will allow the Library to efficiently and effectively track and inventory the entire collection of the APL system. At North Village Branch the closing will allow them to complete this timely project. Once completed the Library will have an easy way to inventory and track books, videos, tapes and CDs/CD-ROMs.

If you have items that need to be returned during this timeframe they may be returned to any Austin Public Library location. Please call (512) 974-7400 with questions regarding the labeling project.

About North Village
On August 2, 1971, the Austin Public Library officially opened its North Village Branch in storefront property within the North Village Shopping Center at 2135 W. Anderson Lane. The conveniently located 3,000 square-foot facility replaced an APL mobile station (trailer) that for some time had been busily checking out books from the shopping center's parking lot.

The new branch took hold almost immediately. In its first five days of operation, the branch checked out over 5,000 books, and at year's end, led all city branches in total items circulated for December. When formal dedication ceremonies were finally held for the branch on January 23, 1972, the event drew a crowd of over 300 people, which at the time, was the largest group to attend a branch opening in Austin.

The library has moved only once in its 30-year history-in 1990-when it shifted a few doors down to a larger space within the Center, expanding to 5,000 square feet. Currently, the branch is equipped with four public access computer-Internet stations and houses a collection of over 36,000 items, including materials in Spanish, Korean and Chinese.

Certainly things have changed a bit since the branch first opened back in 1971, but much as also remained the same. Today, as in years past, North Village serves as a gathering place for families, a study hall for students, an activity center for children, and an educational and informational resource for its diverse community of citizens. Active and accessible, the branch is truly a gem of a library strategically located in the heart of North Austin. Here's to 30 more great years, North Village!

Visit our Web site at www.cityofaustin.org/library for additional information about APL services.

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