What you can find at the Carver Branch:

1. Access to over 49,000 titles, magazines, and periodicals
2. Access to over 5,000 African-American titles, magazines and periodicals
3. Public Internet computers, wireless access, and a limited number of electrical outlets and Ethernet ports
4. Comfortable reading areas
5. Meeting room space for public use
6. Children’s Programs
7. Books in Spanish
8. Computer training center by fall 2007
9. Virtual Book Club
10. African and African-American art and reading collections from Susan McBee, Marian Michael, Freddie McCoo, Larry Wilkinson, John Fisher and Jay Paul Montgomery
11. VICTORY Tutorial Program, an after-school tutorial program
12. Access to over 1,000 LPs
13. Book Sale area
14. Connected Youth Center providing programs and computers for youth from 8-17 years of age.
15. Snack bar area with vending machines
16. Express Check-out system

About the Carver Branch

The George Washington Carver Branch has a unique place in Austin Public Library's history. The building which is now the Carver Museum was the original Carver Branch Library. In 1933 when a 26,000 square foot Italian Renaissance building replaced the original 1,800 square foot wooden frame building as the new Central Library, the wooden frame building was moved to 1165 Angelina, was resurfaced with brick and became the first branch library, and the first branch to serve black citizens. Black citizens in East Austin had advocated strongly for a library in their community.

Carver Branch today

In 1979, after more citizen input, a new 10,000 square foot facility was built to better serve the multipurpose needs of the community. The original Carver Branch Library then became the Carver Museum. In the 1998 City of Austin Bond Election, voters approved the funds to expand the Branch Library to more than 15,000. The new Carver Branch opened, October 30, 2004 with expanded space for adult and youth computers (including a state-of-the-art Michael and Susan Dell Wired for Youth Center); a collection of more than 75,000 volumes (including books, periodicals and audio-visual materials); four public meeting rooms (three of which can be opened to form one large auditorium); a large, separate youth area; VICTORY Tutoring study rooms; ports for laptop computer hook-ups; wireless internet access,and art exhibit space.

Inside The Library

As part of an Austin Public Library Foundation grant, LCRA provided support for Carver?s furniture and fixtures for the new Branch Library. Additionally, the City of Austin Art In Public Places program selected local artist Freddie McCoo, who created a brightly colored and beautiful interior mural in the adult reading room. This art complements the 1979 exterior landmark mural created by John Fisher. The new 30,655 square foot Carver Museum and Cultural Center was built in conjunction with the expansion of the Carver Branch Library. Today, the Carver Branch continues to be an integral part of the community, and is considered an East Austin institution.

The Carver Branch has two permanent art collections on Display. One is the Sue Brandt McBee Collection of African American Culture. It features many historical and contemporary pieces relating to the culture, art and social life of African Americans. The other is a collection of African masks and figurines donated by the late Larry Wilkinson, former VICTORY Tutoring Program Coordinator at the Austin Public Library.

Wired for Youth Center Wired for Youth gives youth ages 8-17 Opportunities to use computers for homework, personal interest, research and leisure. Classes and programs are offered along with one-on-one assistance. wiredforyouth.com/acb