ESB-MACC offers a free kids’ cultural arts & crafts program with a reading of Daniel’s Ride/El Paseo de Daniel by Michael Perry and illustrated by Lee Ballard, along with a paper lowrider craft.

Sábados en Familia

Avid readers can clear out some space on the bookshelf for some new printed materials.

Community Swap: Books & Magazines

Join Shoal Creek Conservancy for a fundraising event with family-friendly games, giveaways, and outdoor fun along the Shoal Creek Trail. Find them on the library patio.

Shoal Creek Social: Creekside Hangout

Every month the group will dive into a different aspect of one of the most popular tabletop role-playing games of all time, and you can join online or in person.

Guide to Dungeons and Dragons

Teens interested in music are invited to a series with Girls Rock Austin, who'll cover a variety of topics from songwriting and instrument basics to audio engineering and booking your band for events.

Teen Central Music Lab With GRA

Latin Dukes

The Austin Hip Hop Honors Awards w/ Pat G & the Justice League, TJ the DJ

Austin Public Library and the Economic Development Department partner to present a series of live music performances at the scenic rooftop garden. Performers are Julian Acosta, Cast Iron Shoes, Marco Antonio Santos, then Noa Belillti.

Live From the Library

Yuliya Lanina’s exhibition delves into the Austin-based artist’s complex and personal relationship with the war in Ukraine. Through animation, sculpture, and installation, Lanina continues her introspective exploration of the emotional and physical impact of war and trauma.

Austin Central Library: Mother/Land

Join APL’s Innovation Lab in creating 8-bit self-portraits inspired by retro games. The library provides access to computers with Photoshop as well as instruction; just bring yourself and a picture to pixelate!

Adobe For All: 8-Bit Pixel Portraits

Nature and anti-nature collide at an educational walk to identify plants and animals found around the library using AI software. A limited number of iPads will be available, or you can use your own device. A free app called Merlin Bird ID will be used, and can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.

Digital Nature Walk

Yuliya Lanina’s exhibition delves into the Austin-based artist’s complex and personal relationship with the war in Ukraine. Through animation, sculpture, and installation, Lanina continues her introspective exploration of the emotional and physical impact of war and trauma. See our cover story on this powerful work right here.

Native American music & storytelling w/ Aaron Pyle

The city is considering changes to the Land Development Code, which could affect how your property or properties near you may be developed or used in the future. Get more info at this open house.

Land Development Code Updates: Open House

Celebrate the unveiling of "The Truth Is I Love You," a sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas that will be on permanent display outside the Austin Central Library. The sculpture will be unveiled at 7pm; the artist will give a public talk at 7:30pm.

Hank Willis Thomas: The Truth Is I Love You

Author Hernan Diaz and journalist Eli Saslow wdiscuss the craft of storytelling in different genres through their Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism and historical fiction, in a conversation moderated by Marjorie Miller, administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes.

Pulitzer on the Road: American Stories Then & Now

SOCO Women's Chorus

Join Austin Forum for a presentation and networking event showcasing ways technology can contribute to your health, happiness, and ability to help others.

Tech for Health, Happiness, and Helping

Learn how to develop and train employees and get coaching on what to do and not do.

HR101: Maximizing and Managing Employee Performance

Internationally acclaimed Ukrainian novelist and public intellectual Andrey Kurkov discusses his work.

Andrey Kurkov

Enjoy an afternoon of free programming exploring Austin's rich international community through live performances, interactive games and crafts, and more celebrating our sister cities. Volunteers are needed if you'd like to contribute.

Passport to the World Festival

Conspirare presents Holiday Big Sing

An opportunity to build community through writing with other writers by choosing a prompt or exercise, writing, and sharing.

Write Club

Sarah Oliver & Jaleen Seshadri

Community members are invited to meet up to give away items they don't need and acquire things they do to participate in sustainable living.

Community Swap: Boxing Day Edition

Here's a solo art exhibition by Fort Worth's Ivette  Levy, showcasing mixed-media paintings that delve into her personal journey, merging past experiences with present realities.

Time Bubbles: Crossing of Realities

Come together for a youth-led event with fun & therapeutic activities like tea light decorating, rock painting, cookie decoration, and more. Recycled/reused materials and supplies available.

BRAVE Communities Connections: Dream More In 2024

Enjoy a bilingual storytime and hands-on activities, perfect for families with children of all ages. This month the group will read Bright Star/Lucero by Yuyi Morales, then create a clay cactus plant and decorate a paper cup to plant it in.

Sabados en Familia

Austin-based artist Pepe Coronado brings together two bodies of print, both of which explore the ever-evolving nature of journeys and exchanges. The “Apertura” series comprises large black-and-white monotypes that explore spaces both transitory and evolving; the "Mapping" series points to the history of relations between the United States and the Dominican Republic as long, complicated, and in constant flux.

Pepe Cornado: Traces

Among the Austin Public Library’s storytelling segments and spoken-word workshops, this year’s Black History Month celebration spotlights the melodic R&B cohesion of Alesia Lani. Velvet vocals ebb and flow between thudding basslines on her 2023 sophomore album Self-Titled, where Lani’s neo-soul meets heartfelt lyricism. A funk-fueled force to be reckoned with, “I Don’t Mind” piles stark harmonies against infectious grooves. The nine-track project also features notable collaborations, like the electric-addled “Breaking Me Down” with Jackie Venson and the beat-driven, piano-accented “Big Shot” with Magna Carda. Lani’s library performance is free and open to the public. – Miranda Garza

Black History Month celebration w/ Alesia Lani

Chorus Austin

United States Air Force Band of the West Clarinet Quartet

On the third Wednesday of every month, the Austin Public Library’s central location turns its Innovation Lab – a free-to-the-public podcast, video, and music studio – into a movie theatre. March’s movie is Moonage Daydream, Brett Morgen’s 2022 ode to David Bowie. More visual experience than talking-head documentary, Morgen – who offered a tragically revealing look into Kurt Cobain’s life with 2015’s Montage of Heck – uses personal archival footage and live shots to tell his subject’s story, creating a fittingly immersive, impressionistic look at one of the 20th century’s most alluring stars. – Carys Anderson

Lounge Movie Night: Moonage Daydream (2022)

SoCo Women's Chorus

Where does the kitty keep all her zines? Her purrse. And where does she learn how to make her own zines? At the Austin Paw-blic Library. You can be just like her by attending this free and fun night where you’ll make zines – short for magazines, they’re handmade and highly visual – along with other creative folks. Purr-haps try one on the theme of Bike to Work Month or contribute to APL’s collaborative zine, CATegories PURRsonality, which focuses on beloved pets. Meet on the sixth floor for the workshop, and stop by the fifth floor to check out the library’s extensive collection of zines for inspo. – Kat McNevins

Zine Night: CATegories PURRsonality

Nischal Ananda

Did you know the Austin Public Library had a Digital Makerspace? Well, it does, and they want to help anyone try out this recent technological advancement with a two-hour, hands-on course. Learn the basics of how 3D printers and the software behind their creations work before playing around in Tinkercad to help draw up something printable. Leave those designs with your instructor and within a few weeks you can pick up the physical manifestation of your idea. Maybe not quite Frankenstein-levels of creation power, but we’re getting there. – James Renovitch

Intro to 3D Printing

Tuneful Tales w/ Austin Symphony Orchestra

Conspirare Symphonic Choir

Accenting soft, blurred pastels with sharp acrylics, Yamin Li’s “Gnortsma” exhibit reflects the uncertainty of life as an immigrant. Nothing is quite right in the series’ 20 paintings; the Chinese artist blends “habitual objects” – houses, trees, toys – with more unexpected ones, like a figure rendered with childlike collage bearing a medieval spear and sword. Li debuts her works at a May 2 opening ceremony, which runs from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Afterward, the Central Library will display the exhibit until July 14. – Carys Anderson

Yamin Li’s “Gnortsma”

As Amy Poehler’s character Susie advises about musical theatre in Wet Hot American Summer, “Your craft is a muscle; you have to exercise it.” If your craft is writing, consider Write Club your gym sesh. At this monthly meetup, participants are given a prompt or exercise, then everyone will write and share. Don’t be shy; this is a supportive environment filled with folks who are also writers, aka some of the most insecure people on the planet. Have a stretch, crick your neck, and get those writing muscles absolutely ripped. – Kat McNevins

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is still under construction, but they are continuing their programming at alternate locations. This free cooking demo with Common Threads, a nonprofit with a mission to improve community health through nutrition, offers a chance to learn about some nutritious and tasty snacks while meeting some neighbors. Make chili-lime popcorn, sweet plantain chips, and watermelon agua fresca at this one, and register by Friday, July 12, so they’ll know how many supplies to bring. – Kat McNevins