
New Central Library Opens Its Doors
After four years of construction, Austin’s new Central Library at 710 Cesar Chavez Street opened its doors to the public on Oct. 28.
The 200,000 square-foot library replaces the former Faulk Library on Guadalupe, and offers a community-oriented space that goes beyond books.
Books there are, however – more than 350,000 of them with room to add more. That’s more than the 300,000 available at Faulk (this library is also double the size of the Faulk library.)
The six-story library also features a rooftop garden, community and event space, a café, cooking demonstration space, dedicated teen and children spaces, reading porches, and lots of seating and meeting space. There’s also a “tech petting zoo” that lets library users try out gadgets like virtual reality goggles and a 3D printer.
Austin’s #NewCentralLibrary is, reportedly, the best “day-lighted” library in the world. Get a sneak peek: https://t.co/22gpmo0yX6 pic.twitter.com/r4tBeOrFLi
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) October 24, 2017
The café, which is set to open in early 2018, is being run by Elm Restaurant Group, which also operates Easy Tiger and 24 Diner.
There is parking for cars, and a planned bike valet, with room for up to 200 bicycles.
The library came in at $125 million, an increase from the original $90 million that voters approved in 2006.