The Tobin Library at Oakwell
🏢 San Antonio Public Library · San Antonio, Texas
The Tobin Library at Oakwell
The Tobin Library at Oakwell stands on land donated to San Antonio by arts patron Robert Lynn Batts Tobin in 1969, evolving from the original Oakwell Branch into a 13,000-square-foot community hub renowned for one of the largest media collections in the SAPL system and a robust Spanish-language collection serving northeast San Antonio's 200,000 residents.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 10am–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 4134 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 207-9040
Website: mysapl.org
Plus Code: 76X3GH68+6F (San Antonio, TX)
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📖 About The Tobin Library at Oakwell
The Tobin Library at Oakwell traces its roots to March 23, 1969, when the Oakwell Branch Library opened on land donated to the City of San Antonio by Robert Lynn Batts Tobin — arts visionary, theater design collector, and philanthropist — in memory of his grandfather, Judge Robert Lynn Batts. The original structure, designed by architect Gerald M. Sellinger, cost $181,324 and was funded through city bond and Texas-Federal funds. After a major renovation completed January 6, 1996, the branch was transformed again with a 2007 renovation and reopened on December 3, 2007 as The Tobin Library at Oakwell, bearing the Tobin family name. Today the 13,000-square-foot branch holds 68,170 volumes including audiobooks and offers one of the largest media collections in the San Antonio Public Library system alongside a robust Spanish-language section that reflects the diverse community it serves in northeast Bexar County. The library sits within the historic Oakwell Farms tract — once part of the Tobin family's estate, now a mixed-use neighborhood of homes, offices, and green space adjacent to Garner Middle School.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened March 23, 1969, as Oakwell Branch Library on land donated by arts patron Robert Lynn Batts Tobin in memory of his grandfather, Judge Robert Lynn Batts
- Renamed The Tobin Library at Oakwell on December 3, 2007 following a comprehensive renovation honoring the Tobin family's lasting civic contribution
- Houses 68,170 volumes and one of the largest media collections in the 29-branch San Antonio Public Library system
- Robust Spanish-language collection serving northeast San Antonio's diverse Bexar County community
- Open seven days a week, with extended evening hours Monday–Tuesday until 8pm and outdoor Wi-Fi available 7:30am–10:30pm
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Tobin Library cardholders access eBooks, films, courses, and research databases free through SAPL and the TexShare statewide network:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet, word processing, and printing
- Free outdoor Wi-Fi accessible 7:30am–10:30pm daily
- Strong art and reference collection with extensive media holdings (DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks)
- Robust Spanish-language print collection
- Free library card for all Bexar County residents
- Interlibrary loan via TexShare statewide network
- Study and reading space for all ages
- Storytime and youth programming for families
🎸 Programs
- Storytime — weekly sessions for young children (stories, songs, and activities)
- Arts and crafts programs for kids and teens
- Movie screenings for community members
- Chess club and strategy game meetups
- Teen volunteer opportunities
- Senior and adult programming including community events
📍 Nearby Libraries in San Antonio (SAPL)
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Robert Lynn Batts Tobin, and why is the library named after him?
Robert Lynn Batts Tobin (1934–2000) was a San Antonio arts visionary and philanthropist who donated the Oakwell Farms land to the City of San Antonio in 1969 for a public library branch, in memory of his grandfather, Judge Robert Lynn Batts. Tobin was renowned for amassing one of the most important theater-design collections in the United States — more than 14,000 objects now held at the McNay Art Museum — and for co-underwriting Metropolitan Opera productions alongside his mother, Margaret Batts Tobin. When the branch was comprehensively renovated and reopened on December 3, 2007, it was renamed The Tobin Library at Oakwell in honor of the family's lasting civic contribution.
What makes the Tobin Library's media and Spanish collections distinctive within SAPL?
The Tobin Library at Oakwell holds one of the largest media collections in the 29-branch San Antonio Public Library system, spanning DVDs, music CDs, and audiobooks alongside its 68,170 volumes. It also maintains a robust Spanish-language print collection that serves the bilingual community of northeast Bexar County. Digital resources extend these holdings: SAPL cardholders can access Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, Kanopy for films, and MakeMake for Latin American children's content in Spanish — all free.
What are the Tobin Library's hours, and is Wi-Fi available outside opening hours?
The Tobin Library at Oakwell is open Monday and Tuesday noon–8pm, and Wednesday through Sunday 10am–6pm. Free outdoor Wi-Fi is available daily from 7:30am to 10:30pm — well beyond the building's opening hours — making it a convenient spot to connect before or after the library opens.
How do I get a free library card, and who is eligible?
Any Bexar County resident can register for a free San Antonio Public Library card at any SAPL branch — including Tobin — or sign up online at mysapl.org. Your card unlocks borrowing from the full system of 29 branches, plus digital access to Libby eBooks, Kanopy streaming, the New York Times, Gale and EBSCO research databases, and the statewide TexShare database suite from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
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