Carver Branch — Austin Public Library
🏢 Austin Public Library · East Austin, Texas
Carver Branch — Austin Public Library
Named for pioneering scientist George Washington Carver, this East Austin branch traces its roots to 1926 — the city's original public library building — and has served the community from its current Angelina Street home since 1979, steps from the national-landmark museum that honors the same legacy.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1161 Angelina Street, Austin, TX 78702
Phone: (512) 974-1010
Website: library.austintexas.gov
Plus Code: 8624779G+R9 (Austin, TX)
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📖 About Carver Branch — Austin Public Library
The Carver Branch opened in its present building in 1979, directly adjacent to the historic 1926 wood-frame structure that was Austin's very first public library. That original building was relocated from Ninth and Guadalupe Streets to East Austin in 1933 to provide library services to the African American community, and in 1947 it was officially renamed the George Washington Carver Branch Library — honoring the celebrated agricultural scientist and inventor. When the collection and patronage outgrew the historic structure, the city built the current modern facility next door; the 1926 building was then reimagined as the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, which opened in 1980 as Texas's first African American neighborhood museum and now stands on the National Register of Historic Places. Today's Carver Branch serves Council District 1 with broad programming for all ages — from Books and Babies storytimes and a Chess Club for tweens and teens to Yoga with Patti, Animanga Club, and Senior Social Hour — continuing a nearly century-long tradition of community learning in the heart of East Austin.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Successor to Austin's first public library building (1926), relocated to East Austin in 1933 to serve the African American community — renamed after scientist George Washington Carver in 1947
- Opened in its current modern facility in 1979, next door to the landmark 1926 structure that became the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center (National Register of Historic Places)
- Located in Council District 1 / Central East Austin, serving one of the city's most historically significant neighborhoods
- Rich programming across all ages: Books and Babies, Chess Club, Animanga Club, yoga, drumming, and environmental talks for adults
- Full TexShare member: access to Libby eBooks, Ancestry, Brainfuse tutoring, Britannica, and more than a dozen research databases — all free with a library card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Carver Branch cardholders access books, films, and research databases free through Austin Public Library and the statewide TexShare network:
📚 Services
- Public computer access with internet, word processing, and printing ($0.20/side, black-and-white, letter-sized)
- Device printing via file upload or email to branch print station
- Meeting room reservations for community groups
- Free library card for Austin and Travis County residents
- Interlibrary loan through TexShare member network
- Access to Austin History Center Digital Collections and Electric Lady Bird (Central Texas music archive)
🎸 Programs
- Books and Babies — storytime for lap children (ages 0–1)
- Toddler Storytime — stories, songs, and movement for ages 1–3
- Chess Club — Wednesdays 3–4pm for tweens (9–12), teens, and adults
- Animanga Club — for teens who enjoy anime and manga
- Senior Social Hour @ Carver — Thursdays 10am, community gathering for adults 55+
- Stay Smart Brain Games — cognitive activities for adults 55+
- Yoga with Patti — drop-in wellness class for adults
- Your Role in Caring for Our Urban Canopy — nature and environment talks for adults
📍 Nearby Austin Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was George Washington Carver, and why is this branch named after him?
George Washington Carver (c. 1864–1943) was a renowned African American agricultural scientist and inventor whose research at Tuskegee Institute transformed Southern farming — most famously through hundreds of practical uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. In 1947 the Austin Public Library renamed its East Austin branch in his honor, recognizing both his scientific legacy and his significance to African American history. The original 1926 branch building next door is now the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, a National Register of Historic Places landmark.
What is the relationship between the Carver Branch library and the Carver Museum next door?
They are sister institutions sharing a campus on Angelina Street. The 1926 wood-frame building — Austin's first public library, relocated from Ninth and Guadalupe to East Austin in 1933 to serve the African American community — operated as the Carver Branch Library until 1979. When the current modern library opened adjacent to it, the historic structure was converted into the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, which opened in 1980 as Texas's first African American neighborhood museum. Today the two institutions stand side by side as anchors of the East Austin community.
What programs does Carver Branch offer for children and teens?
The branch runs Books and Babies storytime for infants (ages 0–1), Toddler Storytime for ages 1–3, a Wednesday Chess Club for tweens and teens (ages 9 and up), and an Animanga Club for teen fans of anime and manga. After-school STEM workshops and arts-and-crafts programming are also offered. Check the Austin Public Library events calendar at library.austintexas.gov for current schedules.
Can I use TexShare databases and borrow digital content from Carver Branch?
Yes. An Austin Public Library card (free for Austin and Travis County residents) gives you access to the full TexShare database suite — including Ancestry Library Edition, Britannica, Gale academic and business databases, and more — both in-library and remotely. You can also borrow eBooks and audiobooks via Libby and cloudLibrary, stream films on Kanopy, read digital magazines, and get free live tutoring through Brainfuse HelpNow, all at no charge.
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