Austin Public Library Locations

Terrazas Branch

512-974-3625
Monday - Wednesday10am - 9pm
ThursdayClosed
Friday10am - 6pm
Saturday10am - 5pm
SundayClosed

Although the Terrazas Branch of the Austin Public Library opened its doors over 30 years ago on January 15, 1976, the Branch has a history that spans over 40 years. It 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 at the corner of Canadian and E. First Streets, and renamed the Canadian Street Branch. Seven years later, the branch moved to its own, 5,400 square-foot building on E. César Chávez Street. The 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.

What you will find at the Terrazas Branch:

  • a meeting room
  • a New Immigrant Center with computers and materials for to learn English and study for the US citizenship exam
  • three Spanish speaking staff members
  • outstanding collections of graphic novels for youth and adults
  • a Teen Center Computer lab and regular programs for youth
  • a large collection of books and audio-visual materials in Spanish for children and adults
  • a large collection of DVDs for adults including classic films, cult favorites and recent releases

 

Eric Travis, Managing Librarian (512) 974-3636

Gustavo Soto, Librarian I (512) 974-3630 

Upcoming Events at the Terrazas Branch

Tuesday, May 28

7:00pm Talk Time

Tuesday, June 4

7:00pm Talk Time

Tuesday, June 11

7:00pm Talk Time

Tuesday, June 18

7:00pm Talk Time

Friday, June 21

Tuesday, June 25

7:00pm Talk Time

Friday, June 28

Tuesday, July 2

7:00pm Talk Time

Friday, July 5

Terrazas Branch Blog

Friday, May 3

On Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m., UT's Butler School of Music is sponsoring a Texas Music Panel in room MRH 2.634 at the School of Music. The room is on the first floor, near the Trinity Street Entrance (see this map on the UT website). The scholar for the series, Dr. Caroline O'Meara will moderate a panel with the following members:

The America's Music series of music documentaries explores the history of music in America. We want to conclude the series with a closer look at the history of music in Texas. Come hear how Texans have contributed to the history of music in America.

America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway is a project of the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. America’s Music has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.” 

Thursday, April 25

Our six-week journey through America's Music ends on Tuesday, April 30, with a look at how Latin rhythms have affected American popular music in general, then we will hear how Puerto Rican immigrants and African Americans created hip hop music during the 1970s, in From Mambo To Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Terrazas Branch Meeting Room.

In addition to being the birthplace of Hip Hop, the South Bronx also was the place where salsa music came into being in the 1960s. One generation of musicians played salsa and the next generation developed hip hop. Of all the genres of music covered so far, these are the ones I know the least about. I also know very little about the actual life and culture of the South Bronx. Like many Americans, my images of the South Bronx are shaped by films like The Warriors and Fort Apache: The Bronx and by crime dramas on television.  Join me and UT musicologist Caroline O'Meara as we get a clearer picture of how people from this part of New York City made musical history.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming program and related media. We also have a display of related books, CDs, and DVDs at the Terrazas Branch. I have also included a couple of suggested resources below, which can be found at Austin Public Library.

America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway is a project of the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. America’s Music has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.”

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