City Of San Antonio: Central Library To Undergo Transformative Renovations

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

December 15, 2021

CONTACT: Victoria Villarreal, 210-207-2614
Victoria.Villarreal2@sanantonio.gov

SAN ANTONIO (December 15, 2021) — San Antonio’s iconic Central Library (600 Soledad St.) is going through a major renovation that will result in important improvements on the first and third floors. The $3 million project, funded through the City of San Antonio’s 2017-2022 Bond Program, will create safe, functional, welcoming, and accessible new environments for visitors to the San Antonio landmark.

The first-floor renovation will redesign the building’s main entrance for improved security and accessibility. The project will also result in a customer-friendly materials area and a complete redesign of the main service desk.

On the third floor, a transformation of the children’s area will create a destination for the youth of San Antonio and their caregivers. The children’s area will feature a new story room and early literacy play area. It will include brand new flexible programming space and a new computer lab designed for families called Family Connect.

“Our services extend far beyond the walls of our Libraries, but our facilities are the home base,” said Ramiro S. Salazar, Library Director. “For over 25 years, Central Library has been the crown jewel of our Library system. These facility improvements will maintain Central Library’s status as a dynamic destination for information, imagination, and ideas for everyone.”

While work is underway inside the building, Central Library’s exterior is getting a fresh coat of paint for the first time in 11 years. Painting the library’s façade is a technical process that must be completed with a high level of precision to ensure the building is restored to its original brilliant red hue. The facility’s color is one of its most recognizable architectural details. The distinctive color has led many to refer to Central Library by the nickname “The Big Enchilada.”

The repainting was funded as part of the City of San Antonio’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget process. Repainting is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2022, while work inside the building on the first and third floors will be finished later in the year.

The 2017-2022 Bond Program also includes funding for improvements to the existing Texana / Genealogy Department on the sixth floor of the Central Library. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022. The project will improve public access to the library’s significant holdings of cultural, historical, and informational items. The center will engage San Antonians with their history and culture through programming, research, and exhibits. Additional funding for the Texana Resource Center project is provided by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation.

Throughout construction, Central Library will continue to be open to visitors via a select browsing collection and computer access on the first floor. Teens can also visit the Teen Library on the third floor and the Friends of San Antonio Public Library’s Book Cellar used book store is open in the basement. Parking is available at Central Library’s attached parking garage, and visitors can have their parking ticket validated for up to three hours of free parking.

For more information about Library services call 210-207-2500, chat with library staff at ask.mysapl.org, or visit mysapl.org.

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.