University Hills Branch
🏢 Austin Public Library · Austin, Texas
University Hills Branch
Opened in 1987 on land donated by developer Walter Carrington, the University Hills Branch has served northeast Austin's diverse, mid-century neighborhood for nearly four decades — offering bilingual storytimes, creative programs, and three bookable meeting rooms at the corner of Loyola Lane and Springdale Avenue.
🕑 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: 4721 Loyola Lane, Austin, TX 78723
Phone: (512) 974-9940
Website: library.austintexas.gov
Plus Code: 8624885M+F9 (Austin, TX)
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📖 About University Hills Branch
The University Hills Branch traces its roots to 1983, when local developer Walter Carrington donated land at the intersection of Loyola Lane and Springdale Avenue to the City of Austin as the site for a new public library. The Austin City Council unanimously accepted the gift, and the branch opened with a formal dedication ceremony on March 7, 1987, bringing an 8,000-square-foot community library to Council District 1. It serves the University Hills neighborhood — a 1960s subdivision in northeast Austin where every street is named for a college and where, unusually for its era, racial equity was a founding principle of development. The branch is part of Austin Public Library, one of Texas's largest urban library systems, and shares the BiblioCommons catalog and the full APL digital collection with 19 other locations across the city. Three meeting rooms are available for community reservation, and the branch remains a neighborhood anchor alongside the adjacent Dottie Jordan Recreation Center and Little Walnut Creek trails.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened March 7, 1987, on land donated by developer Walter Carrington — the first public library in the University Hills neighborhood of northeast Austin
- Located in Council District 1 at the corner of Loyola Lane and Springdale Avenue, within walking distance of the Dottie Jordan Recreation Center and Little Walnut Creek trail corridor
- Three bookable meeting rooms available for community events and group gatherings
- Regular bilingual programming including Cuentos con Señora Lili (Spanish storytime) for children ages 0–10
- Full TexShare member: access to Ancestry Library Edition, Brainfuse tutoring, Gale databases, Libby eBooks, and more — free with an Austin Public Library card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Austin Public Library cardholders access books, films, and research databases free through APL's digital collection and the statewide TexShare network:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and word-processing software
- Printing at $0.20/side (black-and-white, letter-sized) — print from in-branch computer, upload, or email
- Three meeting rooms available for community reservation
- Free Austin Public Library card for Travis County residents (online application at library.austintexas.gov/mylibrarycard)
- TexShare Borrower Card for reciprocal borrowing at member libraries statewide
- Interlibrary loan via the APL/BiblioCommons network
- Wi-Fi available during library hours
🎸 Programs
- Come Build with Us! (Lego Lab) — Thursdays 4–6pm, all ages, drop-in
- All Ages Storytime — Mondays 11am–12pm, for preschoolers through adults
- Cuentos con Señora Lili (Spanish Storytime) — Wednesdays 10–11am, ages 0–10
- Puzzlepalooza (speed puzzling competition) — monthly Saturdays 2–4pm, teens and adults
- Dinovember Movie Screenings — Wednesday afternoons in November, all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Austin Area
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who donated the land for the University Hills Branch, and when did it open?
Local Austin developer Walter Carrington donated the corner of Loyola Lane and Springdale Avenue to the City of Austin in 1983 specifically as a site for a public library. The Austin City Council voted unanimously to accept the gift, and after construction the branch opened with a formal dedication ceremony on March 7, 1987 — becoming the first public library in the University Hills neighborhood.
What is the University Hills neighborhood, and what is distinctive about its history?
University Hills is a 1960s mid-century subdivision in northeast Austin where every street is named for a college or university. At a time when redlining was common practice in Austin real estate, the neighborhood was developed with a commitment to racial and social equity — an unusual distinction for its era. The branch library on Loyola Lane reflects that community-first tradition and serves one of the city's most diverse northeast Austin ZIP codes (78723).
Does the University Hills Branch offer programs in Spanish?
Yes. Cuentos con Señora Lili is a bilingual Spanish storytime held on Wednesday mornings at 10am for children ages 0–10. The branch also gives access to Spanish-language digital resources through Austin Public Library, including Centro de Referencia (Spanish encyclopedias), Ciudadanía Americana (U.S. citizenship course), and Brainfuse HelpNow en Español (Spanish tutoring), all free with an APL card.
What meeting rooms are available at University Hills Branch, and how do I reserve one?
The University Hills Branch has three meeting rooms available for community reservation. You can view availability and book a room through the Austin Public Library website at library.austintexas.gov — navigate to the University Hills Branch page and follow the Meeting Room Reservation link. Rooms are subject to APL's standard meeting-room use policy.
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