What you can find at the Terrazas Branch:
- Access to over 49,000 books, magazines, recorded books, DVDs, and music CDs
- Public Internet computers, wireless access, and a limited number of electrical outlets and Ethernet ports
- Meeting room space for public use
- A wide selection of 3,000 Adult and Juvenile DVD’s, including many Foreign language titles, documentaries, TV series, and music/concert videos.
- One of the most comprehensive juvenile and adult Spanish-language collections, with an emphasis on Mexican and other Latin American authors.
- New Immigrants Center (NIC), featuring 2 computers for with interactive programs for English practice, plus a variety of DVDs, VHS, CDs, and tapes for ESL practice.
- Talk Time: English conversation sessions offered every Wednesday evening.
- Youth programs and storytimes.
- Connected Youth Center providing programs and computers for youth from 8-17 years of age.
- Convenient location, nearby downtown, in the heart of the East Austin/Cesar Chavez neighborhood.
- Express Check-out system
About the Terrazas Branch
Although the Terrazas Branch of the Austin Public Library opened its doors over 30 years ago on January 15, 1976, the branch itself has a history that spans over 40 years.
The East Austin branch officially began back in 1961 with the opening of the Pan-American Station in a small room within the Pan-American Recreation Center on E. Third Street. Then in 1969, having well outgrown its space at the Center, the branch was moved to a 2,000 square-foot storefront facility (formerly a furniture store) at the corner of Canadian and E. First Streets, and renamed the Canadian Street Branch.
Seven years later, the branch moved again-but this time to its own, spacious 5,400 square-foot building on E. César Chávez Street. The new branch was named “Terrazas” in honor of Henry S. Terrazas, a young Marine from East Austin who died in 1966 while fighting a forest fire. The branch took hold almost immediately, and over the years, Terrazas has steadily expanded its role in East Austin by offering varied collections, helpful resources, and unique programs aimed at meeting the needs of its community.
Terrazas Branch today
Today the branch now is double in size. In the 1998 City of Austin Bond Election, voters approved the funds to acquire the necessary land to design and construct an expansion of the Terrazas Branch Library from its original 5,400 square feet to 10,000 square feet. The Lawrence Group Architects oversaw the expansion design of this important library project.
After a ceremonial community grand opening on May 6, 2006 the new Terrazas Branch opened with expanded space for adult and youth computer usage (including a state-of-the-art Michael and Susan Dell Wired for Youth Center), a collection of almost 50,000 volumes (including books in both English and Spanish, periodicals and audio-visual materials), a large public meeting room, a children’s library area, an Immigration Center, and art exhibit space.
Named “The Best Little Library in Texas” by School Library Journal (January 2001 issue), the Terrazas Branch is truly a gem of a library strategically located in the heart of East Austin.
