Join us for the inaugural Greater Austin Book Fest at the Central Library on Saturday, May 11th, from 10 AM - 5PM! Meet the 80+ participating authors, get your books signed, shop with local booksellers, and enjoy a full day of panels, workshops, and programs.By Austin Public Library

Welcome to Season 3 of APL Volumes! Hosted by Genn Mehalik, avid reader and admin senior in APL’s Customer Access division, this is our Book Banter season. Genn and their guest, Jana, kick it off with an episode about celebrity memoirs, talking about why memoirs are a status symbol for stars, how memoirs can be used to tell larger stories, and whic…

In this scrumptious episode, Leticia and her guests, Rachele and Katie, discuss the joy of cooking for friends, failed (and very salty) experiments, and all the delightful food programs – from candy sushi to recipe swaps – at APL. A transcript of this podcast episode is available on the APL Volumes website. Follow the Austin Public Library on insta…

In this episode about crafts, Leticia and her guests, Jennifer and Claudia, get inspired as they talk about community crafters, niche crafting interests, and how you’re NEVER too old for arts, crafts, and creation. A transcript of this podcast episode is available on the APL Volumes website. Follow the Austin Public Library on instagram, and find a…

In this rockin’ and rollin’ episode, Leticia and her guests, Anthony and Patrick, discuss the music scene in Austin and at APL, the future of music production, and how Kenny Loggins truly is one of the best singers of our time. A transcript of this podcast episode is available on the APL Volumes website. Follow the Austin Public Library on instagra…

This episode is for all the green-thumbs (and wannabe greenies)! Leticia and her guests, Kate and Monica, dig into a conversation all about the joys of being a lazy gardener, the APL seed libraries and gardening programs, and some light plant theft. Got seeds or need seeds? Come to the SEED SWAP at APL Central Library on Saturday, October 28 from 1…

In this episode about board games, Leticia and her guests, Jace and Tina, explore the idea of board games a community-building activity, reveal what the future of games at APL could be, and accept their true alignments. WANT TO PLAY A GAME IN PERSON? We've got a bunch of board game events coming soon to an APL location near you. Check out the sched…

Welcome to Season 2 of APL Volumes! Hosted by Leticia Leal, a Teen Program Specialist at APL, this is our “everything but the books” season. Leticia and her guests, Frida and Jennifer, kick it off with an episode about zines, talking about unexpected collaborations, why zines defy definition, and how the Austin History Center is looking to zines as…

Get ready for SEASON 2 of APL Volumes with your new host, Leticia. This season, we are going beyond books and checking out EVERYTHING ELSE you can find at APL. Stay tuned!By Austin Public Library

APL Innovate is Austin Public Library’s digital makerspace for collaboration and creation. Located on the 5th floor of the Central Library, we are providing community access to state-of-the-art computer hardware and software to create digital content such as podcasts, videos, 3D renderings, music, and more. Open to the public on July 5th, 2023! Lea…

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! On June 30th, explore the outdoors and learn about local wildlife with activities from our local favorites, the Parks and Recreation Department …

In this episode about Visceral horror and Tender Is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica, Maddy and her guest, Hannah, try not to lose their lunch as they discuss the most stomach-turning moments of the book, their own relationships to gory horror, and what and who they’d most like to see in the upcoming TV adaptation. You can find a list of books, sh…

In this episode about Psychological horror and The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay, Maddy and her guest, Dale, talk about the influence of Shirley Jackson on their lives, what happens when horror isn’t scary, and how many bands you can get kicked out of before you realize you’re the problem. You can find a list of books, shows, movies, and other …

In this episode about Paranormal horror and The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, Maddy and her guest, Mike, discuss SGJ’s evocative writing style, what scenes are burned into their brains, and their vastly different middle school biology class experiences. You can find a list of books, shows, movies, and other podcasts we mention here. Fo…

In this episode about humor horror and 'John Dies at the End' by Jason Pargin, Maddy and her guest, Bryce, talk about what makes horror so relatable, the interesting choices of the movie adaptation, and why they’ll never look at Ronald McDonald the same way again. You can find a list of books, shows, movies, and other podcasts we mention here. Foll…

This episode is all about Gothic horror and the books “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe and What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. Join Maddy and her guests, Kelly and Kathleen, as they discuss the mysterious powers of mushrooms, their ideal retelling of “Usher”, and why Gothic is obviously the best horror subgenre. You can find a …

In this episode about Cosmic horror and The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, Maddy and her guest, Genn, explore the power of reclaiming stories, the human and eldritch monsters in Ballad, and H.P. Lovecraft’s long-enduring legacy. You can find a list of books, shows, movies, and other podcasts we mention here. Follow the Austin Public Library…

Welcome to APL Volumes! The first season of this new podcast from the Austin Public Library is a deep-dive genre study into Horror. In this episode, APL librarian Maddy and her guests, Jesus and Nancie, talk about the history of horror and its subgenres; Stephen King’s role as the modern, well, king of horror; how The Shining shaped their relations…

In a new season of APL Volumes, we dig up the history of the horror genre! Join host and APL Librarian, Maddy Newquist, as she breaks apart the ingredients of a truly frightening tale, and discusses books (and movies) like The Shining, Tender is the Flesh, John Dies at the End, and more with fellow horror fans. Episodes will be available starting i…