Old Quarry Branch – Austin Public Library

Haven’t been yet but kids story time is wed at 10:15 for toddlers and at 11am for preschoolers (more for a reminder for myself :).
Austin has so many story times for the kiddos :)

Yes, it’s smaller than most. Yes, that means they don’t have room for every book ever written. Yes, the limited computers are usually in use. Yes, sometimes the patrons are not completely cooth.
It’s a LIBRARY.
LIBRARIES ARE AWESOME.
And FREE.
Quit it with the lame «reviews» already.

The few times I’ve been here was smooth sailing. Its never been crowded. There’s only 4 computers in he front with 30 minute limits. I’ve been to locations with more and an hour limit. The stations are kept clean. Parking is plentiful. This library works for my simple needs come in and do use the computer and get a book or two.

kind of creepy library. probably just because it is old. they have a limited book supply but that is okay because I just request books from other libraries to be sent to this location since it is in my neighborhood.

The staff here is always so nice, I bring the children I nanny for here for story-​times which is ran smoothly and is such a fun educational experience for the little ones.

PROS:
+ I love the Austin library system and this branch works well in that wheel. The service is friendly and it is located across the street from me. The online selection and reservation process is excellent. Rarely ever have to stand in line to checkout.
CONS:
— It can take a while for you to get a new release tho (took me 2 months to get the Everything Store aka «the Amazon book» when it was first released which doesn’t bother me but I know it will irk some people).
— Another downside is the onsite selection. This branch is small, maybe the smallest library in Austin. Most of the books I reserve online has to be sent from the Faulk Central Library.
— I notice that the computers here are almost always taken every time I visit. Lots of senior citizens using the computers so hopefully you have your own in your apt with internet… cause these folks don’t and they are surfing the net here.
JUSTINI$M:
$ check out their website and book all your books online for pickup at this location.
$ keep in mind that they are closed Fridays and Sundays.
$ get the gold card and show your support!

Old Quarry Branch is a little run down but the services here are great!
You can go online and reserve books and then just run in and pick them up.
They have great titles and a nice selection when you look at the full catalog.
We are definitely regulars and this branch for kids books.
The staff are very friendly and helpful.
The reason for the 3 stars is because it is dated and it does get noisy — I tried to take my laptop and get some work done here and it was horrible I had to leave after about 5 minutes because people were being so loud.

This place sux balls! Aren’t libraries supposed to be quiet? And I’m sorry but could you get up from your seat… Miss Librarian & help me with my inquiry? Or is that too much to ask for? There was Asian guy who kept on burping really loud… nice. Two people were taking up one huge section of laptop workstation… Just so unorganized, busy & noisy.

Free «holds» and «reminders» and you can drop anything off at any location. Free price and generous limits on # of books and/​or DVDs that can be out a time. On line renewals for books. Clean. Public meeting space available. Genuinely nice people with good attitudes who seem eager to help and please. Not sure what else you can expect, but chances are, if we think of it, they’ll respond. It definitely feels like a «branch» — small, not a lot of computers, etc., but then hey, it IS a branch and is within walking distance for a lot of folks, and within «HEB/​CVS/​etc.» distance for a bunch others.

Library employee: I’m sorry ma’am, but if you wear a hat or cap that obscures your face, our policy is that you have to remove it or turn it around.
Me: Are you kidding?
Library employee: I’m serious. It’s been a policy since October and we are now required to enforce it. It’s a safety issue and also includes hoodies and sunglasses.
Me: So how stupid will I look with my baseball cap turned around?
Library employee: Some people remove them.
I turn my cap around and then realize I look like a rapper lost in time and genre. I take my cap off and expose my unwashed head of hair and take my book to check it out.
Me: I’m sure the library has good reason but this is a strange policy.
Library employee: The camera can see your face now. We had someone attack one of our employees with a chair and a taser and he was wearing a cap. He could not be identified and was never arrested.
Me: Things like that happen in a library?
Library employee: You would be surprised what happens in libraries. We are open to the public which includes homeless people and other sorts.
I decide not to ask about «other sorts», take my book and leave with cap in hand.

Poor Old Quarry library… my heart goes out to it because it reminds me of a neglected fairy tale stepchild.
It’s nothing much to look at. It’s an older branch located in a very small space. I can tell they are running out of room as books are now stacked on rollaway carts pushed up against the wall, taking up aisle space and making things feel even more cramped. And after all these years, they still do not have a «recent» section for their youth fiction — something I find invaluable at other branches it helps me very easily find books that my children haven’t yet read.
Nonetheless, I’m thankful that it exists because that means that we can indulge in our book habit whenever we’re in this part of town (as happened yesterday). And because it’s between a post office and an HEB, this means a one-​stop errand run as well.
Hurray for public libraries!

I was initially surprised at the presence of a public library in a small neighborhood plaza. What with the post office, Wells Fargo, and H-​E-​B nearby, I thought I had everything I needed within walking distance from my apartment, but a library too? Of course, I didn’t expect much from such a small establishment, but I walked in one day to sign up for a card and did it easily. The staff members were very friendly and helpful.
The selection was always sparse, but if there was a title I was looking for in particular, I would usually request it online, and if this branch didn’t have it, they would just simply get the books from another branch and notify me when it was in. It was all fairly simple. Since I’ve moved, I don’t visit this branch anymore, and my library card’s expired. I should really renew it and look into the other branches!

I admit I was a little disappointed to see two reviews for a library that started out critiquing its printing capabilities and internet access.
I have no idea if this place will print things for me. I also felt no need to hop online.
However, I can tell you this: within four minutes of approaching the front desk, I had the first library card I’ve gotten in 15 years. This includes the time to a) ask how to get one, b) fill out a brief application, and c) have the application validated, show ID and electric bill, and have the woman behind the counter write my (long) name in sharpie.
The book selection isn’t huge, but I came home with two books and have about two dozen more I want to check out. There were three staff members, all of whom were at least polite and two of whom who were actively friendly. You get a little receipt when you check out a book that clearly lists what you got, when, and when it’s due back. A boon for people like me that constantly forget.

I don’t like this branch. I think its because I found the much cooler branches. Where, you ask? Almost everywhere. I think I should talk about the new computer printing system that most of the Austin Libraries have going on. It involves buying a card, selecting a bunch of buttons, printing, logging onto the printer, signing in with a member number, pushing some more things. When it doesn’t work, curse, yell a little and start over. No wonder I buy my books or read em for free at Barnes and Noble. Libraries give me a headache.

My first months in Austin were spent in Far West. Before I got wired in my apartment (and not cool enough for a laptop) I would often search for internet outlets. I found one behind the post office on Far West at the Old Quarry branch of the Austin Public Library.
Now, let me preface this by saying I was pretty damn desperate. As most of us are (whether by choice or necessity), I’m an internet junkie. This library has four public computers. Four seemed like a meager number to me, but again, let me stress the desperation. You have to sign up in order to get an account, and the connection is incredibly slow. But, if you’re stuck in a crunch on Far West, head on over for your email fix.
Maybe I should talk more about the actual purpose of a library. This particular location is petite in size and offers a minimal selection of books. Don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking for obscure or specialty books. Leave that for the downtown library.
Staff is nice, but a bit indifferent toward patrons (strange for a library). They have a decent kids section, and the to-​be-​expected story-​hour corner. If you’re looking for a quiet place to study, I wouldn’t come here. The limited study space neighbors the kids section.
Bookworms Beware.