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and gathering spaces because that is what people are using the library for in 2023, Westbank Public Relations Librarian Maureen Carey said. The two libraries had 15,596 attend- ees for Westbank Community Library District programs in 2022. The pandemic also taught the importance of usable outdoor spaces for gatherings, Carey said. The Westbank Community Library, located in Westlake, will also undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation proj- ect next year. BEE CAVE PUBLIC LIBRARY 4000 Galleria Parkway, Bee Cave Project : $17.2 million renovation Timeline: 2025 completion Library cardholders : 32,000 Items checked out in 2022: 100,000
WESTBANK COMMUNITY LIBRARY 1309 Westbank Drive, Austin Project: TBD Timeline: TBD
LAKE TRAVIS COMMUNITY LIBRARY 1938 Lohmans Crossing Road, Austin Library cardholders : 14,156 Items checked out in 2022: 386,453
Community support The Spicewood Community Library, serving western Travis and Burnet counties, is in the preliminary stages of building a new 3,000 square-foot, $1.5-2 million library. The library is outgrowing its space as developers keep building in Spice- wood, library board-member-at-large Jane Gannaway said. In 2022, nearly 5,000 people vis- ited the library to check out just shy of 3,000 items and attended 822 pro- grams, according to library documents. LAURA BUSH COMMUNITY LIBRARY 9411 Bee Caves Road, Austin Project : $2.3 million renovation Timeline: March 31-fall 2023 Library cardholders : 9,231 Items checked out in 2022: 525,420
Library visits in 2022 : 159,699 Program visits in 2022: 15,596
Library visits in 2022 : 159,147 Program visits in 2022: 10,396
New amenities The Laura Bush Library o Bee Caves Road is undergoing a $2.3 million reno- vation. The library, which is part of the Westbank Community Library District that serves Westlake, Steiner Ranch and West Austin patrons, closed March 31 for construction through fall 2023. Renovations will include moderniz- ing the library’s amenities, Finch said. “We are developing our backyard areas as play, programming and gath- ering spaces,” she said. It is vital to focus on programming
The library’s only source of income is the thrift shop, which is attached to the library. Funding and support from the community, through dona- tions, fundraising and yard sales, will be needed for the new library, Gan- naway said. “Community members will inform the future of the library,” Gannaway said.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION • APRIL 2023
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