CALENDAR
In Conversation: Katie Gutierrez and Rubén Degollado
7 p.mm June 21
Austin Public Library - Central Library
Free
The Library Foundation and Texas Book Festival launch a new author series!
In Conversation pairs writers for intimate discussions of their work. The inaugural event features Katie Gutierrez and Rubén Degollado whose novels explore families encountering folkloric curses, secret double lives, and the generational passage of time.
Gutierrez's debut literary novel, “More Than You'll Ever Know,” follows a woman caught leading a double life after one husband murders the other, and the true-crime writer who becomes obsessed with telling her story. Degollado's debut, “The Family Izquierdo,” weaves together the lives of three generations of a Mexican American family bound by love, and a curse.
The authors will sign books following the program. Books will be available for purchase thanks to Black Pearl Books.
APL After Dark: Summer Camp
7 to 10 p.m. June 30
Austin Public Library - Central Library
Admission: $10
Get tickets here
Your favorite after-hours event at Austin Central Library is back! APL After Dark is an adults-only (21+) evening in the Austin Central Library that explores a fun theme. Come out for entertainment, games, storytelling, music, drinks & more — inside your favorite library!
This June, come for an evening where we celebrate all things Summer Camp. Explore the outdoors and learn about local wildlife with activities from our local favorites, the Parks and Recreation Department and their rangers. Learn about the conservation, care, and history of Texas bats from Austin Bat Refuge, who will bring in live bats for attendees to meet. Create campfire songs with South Austin Ukulele and their incredible instructors. Enjoy crafts, games, light snacks, and cocktails!
Kids Block Party
Saturday, April 29th
Austin Public Library - Central Library
The Kids Block Party is the Austin Public Library's annual celebration of learning through play. Kids of all ages are invited to the Central Library for family-friendly activities. The party includes musical artists, yoga, story walks, crafts, tech activities, multi-language storytimes, goody bags, and more!
atCentral: Living a Committed Life with Lynne Twist
Tuesday, February 28th | 7PM
Austin Public Library - Central Library
Author Lynne Twist reads from and discusses her new book, Living a Committed Life, with moderator Emily Ramshaw.
Mayor's Book Club: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev with Dawnie Walton
Thursday, November 17th | 7PM
Austin Public Library - Central Library
Join us for an evening with Dawnie Walton, the author of the 2022 Mayor's Book Club selection, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Walton will read from and discuss the novel.
Stories
Thursday, November 10th | 6PM
Austin Public Library - Central Library
Join the Library Foundation in supporting the Austin Public Library and its commitment to the freedom to read. This year's Stories Gala features special guest Jacqueline Woodson, the award-winning author of more than two dozen New York Times-bestselling books for readers of all ages, including Red at the Bone and the National Book Award-winning Brown Girl Dreaming.
Austin Youth Poet Laureate Reading
Sunday, October 23rd | 1:00 PM
Austin Public Library - Central Library
Come celebrate with us as we announce Austin's 2022 Youth Poet Laureate, Zachary Suri! The five finalists will also join Zachary in a reading of their original poems.
Austin Youth Poet Laureate Chapbook Launch and Reading
Saturday, June 25th | 1:00 PM
Austin Public Library - Central Library
The Austin Youth Poet Laureate and the finalists invite you to join them in celebrating Ireland Griffin's chapbook launch at the Austin Public Library. The youth poets will each read an original poem, and then the inaugural Austin Youth Poet Laureate will read from her chapbook, A Miracle Goes Through You.
Austin Youth Poets: National Poetry Month Reading
Saturday, April 30th | 12:00 PM
Austin Public Library - Pleasant Hill Branch
The Austin Youth Poet Laureate and the finalists invite you to join them at a reading at the Pleasant Hill branch of Austin Public Library. The youth poets will each read an original poem in celebration of National Poetry Month. This reading is free and open for all, regardless of age or experience in poetry.
National Poetry Month takes place during every April, and is meant to celebrate one of the most open forms of expressions. We can think of no better ambassadors for this month than the Austin Youth Poet Laureate and the cohort.
The Pleasant Hill branch of Austin Public Library is located on 211 E. William Cannon Dr. in Austin, Texas. Parking is available onsite for anyone who will attend.
Open Mic with Austin Youth Poets: Love Poems
Saturday, February 19th | 12:00 PM
Online
The Austin Youth Poet Laureate and the finalists invite you to join them in reading poems that celebrate love in its many forms. The youth poets will each read an original poem, and they invite you to read one of your own as well. If you are new to poetry, don't worry! This reading is free and open for all, regardless of age or experience in poetry. We're here to share our hopes for the new year and any resolutions you might have.
The youth poets hope to inspire you with this prompt: "Write a poem about love. You can interpret this as broadly or as literally as you want. Think of love in all of its forms: romance and desire, friendships both new and old, self-love, familial love, bonds with animals, and odes to the objects that bring you joy. Do you have a love poem to share? We would love to hear it at our open mic."
This is a virtual event, and you will receive a Zoom link a few days before the event.
How to Find Time and Inspiration to Write
Saturday, February 19th | 3:00 PM
Online
In celebration of Dana De Greff's new book, Words and Wonder: A Guide to Becoming a Creative Writer, we are offering workshops to adults who want to break into writing. Whether this is your first time coming to the page, or you are trying to reinvigorate an old practice, we can all explore ways to find time to write. At this workshop for adults, we’ll discuss what it means to create your own writing practice and how to work through obstacles to begin a new project.
How to Write Through Fear
Saturday, February 26th | 3:00 PM
Online
In celebration of Dana De Greff's new book, Words and Wonder: A Guide to Becoming a Creative Writer, we are offering workshops to adults who want to break into writing. Whether this is your first time coming to the page, or you are trying to reinvigorate an old practice, we can all explore ways to find time to write. At this workshop for adults, we’ll discuss how to work through emotions that keep us from starting new projects.
Open Mic with Austin Youth Poets: New Year's Poems
Saturday, January 29th | 1:00 pm
Online
In celebration of the new year, the Austin Youth Poet Laureate and the finalists invite you to join them in reading poems that celebrate the new year and a new relationship to writing poetry. The youth poets will each read an original poem, and they invite you to read one of your own as well. If you are new to poetry, don't worry! This reading is free and open for all, regardless of age or experience in poetry. We're here to share our hopes for the new year and any resolutions you might have.
The youth poets hope to inspire you with this prompt: "Write a poem about new beginnings. You can interpret this as broadly or as literally as you want. Think of old friends, rites of passage, changes, growth, rebirths, transformations, and resolutions. Have regrets from the old year and hopes for the new? We would love to hear these poems at our open mic."