Looking to find fun, free, and educational entertainment for your kids? What better place to go than to a public library? Austin is blessed with a phenomenal library system that consists of the Central Library on Cesar Chavez Boulevard as well as twenty branch libraries.
Check out what these Austin library branches offer for your children.
Carver Branch
The Carver Branch library, located at 1161 Angelina Street, offers a wide variety of events for babies, toddlers, children, and teens. These include “Books and Babies,” a story time for lap children, a music and movement program for active toddlers to age five, an “Animanga Club” for teens who enjoy anime and/or manga, and a video game coding workshop.
Howson Branch
Located at 2500 Exposition Boulevard, the Howson Branch offers a rich variety of free kid events, such as a Minecraft club, Sensory Story time, an “Art Smart” Story time that combines a story with a related art project, and a science enrichment program called “Neighborhood Science.”
Cepeda Branch
Located at 651 North Pleasant Valley Road, the Cepeda Branch library offers story time for all ages and, on the 26th of the month, a Lego Lab for ages 5 and up.
Manchaca Road Branch
There are plenty of events to keep kids entertained at this branch, located at 5500 Manchaca Road. Along with toddler, preschool, and pajama story time, this branch offers a Spanish-English story time for kids five years old and under. Teens can check out the knit and crochet club or take up strings in the ukulele club.
Millwood Branch
The Millwood library on 12500 Amherst Drive offers a Chinese Mandarin-English story time for children under the age of five. Also check out the Bow Wow Reading With Wrangler The Dog program, where the Austin Dog Alliance volunteers bring along trained therapy dogs for story hour.
Old Quarry Branch
Check out the Free Friday Matinee for all ages at this library, located on 7051 Village Center Drive.
Pleasant Hill Branch
Children and tweens may enjoy the events at the Pleasant Hill Branch, located at 211 E. William Cannon Drive. These include the Mother and Daughter book club and this month’s paper quilt-making program to celebrate African American Arts & Quilts.
Ruiz Branch
Among other story times and events, the Ruiz Branch, located at 1600 Grove Boulevard, offers a free-wheeling “Crafternoon.” They provide the materials, your kids provide the creativity.
Spicewood Springs Branch
If your kids like to build things, check out the STEM builder lab at the Spicewood Springs Library, located at 8637 Spicewood Springs Road. The library provides the Legos, straws, and other building materials. This branch also hosts Literature Live! where puppeteers present live shows for children of all ages.
Note that many of the programs mentioned above are presented on a rotating basis through the branch library system. Check what your local library branch offers by checking the Austin Library Event Calendar for program dates and times.
