News Flash

Access New Virtual Classroom Topic

Did you know that in 1666, London experienced one of the worst disasters in its history? The Great Fire of London, which raged on for four days, destroyed over 13,000 homes and buildings, but began at a humble bakery on Pudding Street?

In this Virtual Clas...

Seek Out Family-Friendly Halloween Activities

It’s that time of year again. No, not for pumpkin spice everything, even though pumpkins will play a big part in what we’re discussing. It’s October and that means fall is here, pumpkins are all around us, but it’s ...

Book a Meeting Room @ Your Library

If you’re in need of a space to rent for a meeting for your group or organization, your Abilene Public Library would like you to take advantage of booking one of our meeting rooms. Each location offers a space that can be reserved for use by the community...

Noah Project to Lead New Storytime Series

Storytimes at your Abilene Public Library are more than just youth services staff sharing stories with your children. It’s true that libraries value literacy and instilling a love of reading and books in youth to serve them well throughout their lives, bu...

Join Us for October's Cover-to-Cover

If you’re an avid reader in the community, we invite you to be a part of the library’s Cover-to-Cover Book Club.  Each month this group meets to discuss a wide range of titles covering all genres, time periods, and subject matter. Our next meetin...

Family Board Gaming Coming in October

Technology has come a long way in the last 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. Computers have become faster, phones are smaller, we can access the Internet wherever we are, it’s changed the face of how we view content, and it’s created the m...

Join Us at October's Art Book Club

Did you know your Abilene Public Library offers a new club that joins a passion for reading along with a love of the arts? It’s called the Art Book Club, and this is a joint venture with our friends at the Center for Contemporary Arts. Having st...

Nominate the 2023 Librarian of the Year

Now's the time to submit your nominations for the 2023 Ricki Brown Librarian of the Year Award, made possible thanks to the family of Ricki Brown and the Friends of the Abilene Public Library. This award was established in honor of Ricki V. Brown...

Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

National Hispanic Heritage Month is near, running September 15 to October 15 in the U.S. to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements for the U.S. Your Abilene Public Library will recognize s...

Lib-Con 2023, October 5-7

Get prepared to Geek Out @ Your Library as Lib-Con is just around the corner, running October 5-7 across all three public library branches. Lib-Con is the annual event that brings you a host of programming and activities all centered around anime, manga, ...

Help Build the Amigurumi Aquarium

The Main Library has a new growing display featured in our basement and we’re asking the community to help it grow. This display is an Amigurumi Aquarium filled with ocean life and items donated to us by our patrons. It all coincides with the ne...

Project STEAM Heats Up Mockingbird Branch

STEAM activities are a popular type of programming aimed at school-aged children to help reinforce the learning of principles related to science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. As a school-based theory, curriculum and programming cent...

Register for Annual Mini Art Exhibit

Calling all local artists and enthusiasts, from amateur to professional…if you’re into creating art, you’re invited to be a part of the South Branch Library’s annual Mini Art Exhibit! In honor of National Arts and Humanities Month in October, we’ll be cel...

Growing Readers: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Your Abilene Public Library is a huge proponent of early literacy in youth and starting September 1 we're launching the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative as a means of Growing Readers at an early age. All families who frequent the librar...

Holiday Closing & Book Donations, Sept. 1-4

All Abilene Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, September 4 in observance of Labor Day. With the upcoming holiday, the Friends of the Library will not be accepting book donations from Friday, September 1 through Monday, September 4. You may...

Growing Gardens with the Seed Library

Have you taken advantage of the Seed Library? Housed at your Main Library (202 Cedar St), we offer a great collection of seeds for you to checkout, take home, and grow, we make available only those seeds that are best for growing during this time of year....

View Mobile-Friendly Events Calendar

Now that we have the Internet in the palm of our hands, thanks to the affordability, accessibility,  and availability of smartphones, more of us are searching online via mobile devices. If you have tried to access the Abilene Public Library&r...

Yo-Yo Club to Continue Through Winter

Have you ever walked the dog, rocked the baby in the cradle, or gone around the world? I’m sure many of us may have done some of these, but in a continuing library program you can do them all, and more. The South Branch Library will be continuin...

South Branch to Host Stuffie Sleepover

Did you have a favorite stuffed animal growing up? One that you couldn’t part with, especially during bedtime? If your child has a stuffed animal that’s just as precious to them, we invite you to bring them to a special Stuffie Sleepover event at your Sou...

Let's All Go to the Movies!

We all enjoy the experience of going out to see a movie with friends & family. Did you know your South Branch Library offers a monthly movie day for all to enjoy? Playing popular flicks from the present and past, we invite you to join us on the second...

Get Bonus Borrows on Hoopla

Hoopla is a digital service is a popular streaming service containing audiobooks, eBooks, movies, music, comics, and more, offered through your library for FREE with a valid library card. Throughout the month of August, Hoopla is bringing back its popular...

Barbie Now On Display @ Your Library

Barbie has taken the world by storm with the release of the feature film starring Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie and directed by Greta Gerwig. Receiving mostly positive reviews from critics and fans alike, it has already grossed more than $780 mill...

Join Library's New Art Book Club

ArtWalk Night in Downtown Abilene draws a crowd of Abilenians each month to engage in a host of wonderful activities. Viewing art galleries, listening to live music, checking out vendors and performers, doing some shopping at local businesses, making and ...

Dive Into an Amigurumi Ocean Build

If you’re a crafty adult who enjoys crocheting, your Abilene Public Library is here to challenge you to be a part of a new community build group. Starting Wednesday, August 2 at 10:00AM at your Main Library, and continuing on the first Wednesday...

Celebrate Final Week of Summer Reading Club!

The Summer Reading Clubs at your Abilene Public Library are drawing to a close this week, and what an exciting summer it has been. We appreciate everyone who has come out to support our summer programming, but there's still a ton of activities sc...

Youth to Go Solar for Art Project

Local youth have the opportunity to participate in one final Art in the Park session with your South Branch Library before the Summer Reading Clubs draw to an end. Meet up with library staff this Friday, July 21 at 10:00AM at Redbud Park, across from the ...

Imagination Library Books Arrive in Taylor County

Families in Taylor County are now receiving their first free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Funded by the United Way of Abilene, as part of their Built by Books initiative, households with young children are being gifted with ...

Access AISD Summer Reading List

The Abilene Independent School District offers a College Prep Summer Reading List for their students, and your Abilene Public Library would like to connect you to those items if you’re looking to check them out this summer. Below is the reading ...

Explore Literature with Fairytale Princesses

Youth services staff love to lead programming for youth to get them excited about literature. One unique program brings out fairytale princesses to lead magical storytimes through the Once Upon a Storytime series at your South Branch Library. At each sess...

Celebrate the Summer in Global Book Club

If you’re looking for an entertaining beach read for the summer, your Abilene Public Library has a book you might want to checkout. Available through the Libby app, powered by OverDrive, the Big Library Read event is running from July 13-27. Ava...

CALF Gifts Great Summer Prizes

The Summer Reading Clubs at your Abilene Public Library are drawing to a close at the end of July. Those who have submitted their completed summer activity sheets will have the chance to win one of many summer gift bags. A special thanks goes to our frien...

Snag Some Bat Swag at Storytime

The Summer Reading Club at your Abilene Public Library has focused on celebrating the works of author/illustrator Brian Lies. Local youth and families are encouraged to attend a special storytime event on Monday, July 17, from 3:00PM-5:00PM as we welcome ...

Reading Club Winners Pop-Up at Library

This year’s Summer Reading Club is bigger and better than ever offering participants with a new summer challenge of activities to complete for a chance at winning some prizes. A total of 93 youth completed the initial challenge before the end of...

Takeoff with Launchpads for Kids

Your Abilene Public Library is thrilled to announce the introduction of a new set of digital learning tools for youth to take advantage of...Launchpads. These brightly colored tablets are a product of Playaway, the same company the brought you the Wonderb...

Now Available: The Lactation Lounge

We’re pleased to announce the addition of a Lactation Lounge at your Main Library located at 202 Cedar St. Available to nursing mothers, we now offer a private room to breastfeed or express milk as needed. This lactation room is available for us...

Stock Up Your Libraries at the Sale!

“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy books, and that’s kind of the same thing.”

A quote any bibliophile can relate to, but it can be difficult to keep up with that attitude without breaking the bank right? Well,...

New Home on YouTube

Your Abilene Public Library has had a presence on YouTube since November 2017. Although our beginnings in the world of diving into video sharing was…a bit rough, we got the hang of it and amassed a great library of 600 videos which saw over 1.6...

Come Grow with Library's Seed Library

The Main Branch of the Abilene Public Library (located at 202 Cedar St.) is proud to announce the addition of a new collection to our lineup. You may now visit the basement and check out the new Seed Collection at your library. Available to all local grow...

Come View New NCCIL Collection

Abilene is truly a community that values reading, art, and literacy, especially when it comes to serving youth and families. The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature has been a staple in Abilene for connecting the community with ...

Celebrating National Library Week, April 23-29

Your Abilene Public Library encourages the community to visit us during National Library Week, running April 23-29!

Libraries are welcoming spaces that bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, ...

Join the Library's Summer Quilt Project

Your Abilene Public Library is looking for help in the community, especially youth! We invite you to be an integral part of our upcoming Summer Reading Club by helping us to decorate the Main Library with an art project inspired by the book, “Wo...

Meet Author Jen Eikenhorst, Mar. 10

The community is cordially invited to attend the next author talk program at your Main Library (202 Cedar St.) featuring Jen Eikenhorst, author of Left Turn: Life Unimagined. This free event will be hosted on Friday, March 10 at Noon and you won&rsquo...

Tax Help Starts Feb. 8, Appointment Only

Need help filing your taxes, but it’s not in your budget to pay for professional tax services? The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will host their annual Free Tax Help program at your Main Library (202 Cedar St.) beginning Februar...

Big Day of Minis Takes Over Library

Your Abilene Public Library is set to celebrate the world of miniatures in a full-day event for all ages. Join your Main Library on Saturday, January 28 where we’ll offer something for you to watch, participate in, learn about, compete in, and m...

New Library Cardholder Services

The Abilene Public Library would like to announce new services for our cardholders.  Effective Thursday, December 15, three new services will be available.  These new services include a Restricted Access Juvenile Library Card option, a K...

Don't Be Absent When Miss Nelson is Missing

Local youth and families have the unique opportunity to attend some great programming this week featuring the cast and crew from Herman’s Ghostlight Theatre. Two events will be hosted at your Main Library (202 Cedar St.). First, on Thursday, Dec...

Holiday Book Donation Schedule

The Friends of the Abilene Public Library will temporarily stop receiving donations for the book sale November 19-27, over the week of Thanksgiving. They will resume their regular donation schedule of Mondays and Thursdays from 10AM to 2PM, Saturdays from...

New Holiday Hours for South Branch

We'd like to inform everyone that, starting with Thanksgiving, the South Branch Library will follow the City of Abilene's holiday schedule. This means this location will close on the same days as the remaining library branches when holid...

Miss DFW Visit Library for Youth Events

During the annual Mall-O-Ween festivities at the South Branch Library, we received a special visit from Gabriella Collins, the current Miss DFW for 2023. While visiting, she took photos with guests, greeted fellow trick-or-treaters, and helped to pass out...

Participate in Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest

The community is invited to participate in the South Branch Library’s Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Designed for all ages, contestants may enter the contest solo, or as a team/family. Then by visiting the library, everyone will get the chance to vote...

Find us at the Business Mercado, Oct. 8

The Annual Business Mercado is headed your way, running from 9:00AM to 3:00PM at the Abilene Convention Center (1100 N. 6th St.) on Saturday, October 8. Free for the community to attend, this annual event is hosted by the Abilene Hispanic Council to showc...

Meet Author Kate Anger, Oct. 14

Your Abilene Public Library cordially invites you to attend a FREE author talk featuring Kate Anger from Riverside, CA, who will be speaking on her latest novel (with Texas ties) titled The Shinnery, released last month. Anger will be on hand at your Main...

See Us at National Night Out, Oct. 4

Your Abilene Public Library is pleased to be partnering with the Abilene Police Department to attend National Night Out, running on Tuesday, October 4 from 5:30PM to 8:00PM in the police department’s parking lot located at 4565 S. 1st St. We had...

Watch Past Programming Online

Throughout the years your Abilene Public Library has done many things. We’ve hosted countless programs, storytimes, workshops, events, and more and much of them are just a memory for those who were there…and even then, those memories begin to fade. Thanks...

Find Us at the Buddy Walk, Sept. 17

Your Abilene Public Library looks forward to participating in events being hosted in our community. It’s a great opportunity for staff to leave the confines of our buildings and meet you where you’re gathering to help tell you about wh...

Learn About: Monarch Butterflies, Sept. 23

Mark your calendars to take advantage of the next program presented by the Big Country Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists on Friday, September 23 at 4:00PM at your Main Library (202 Cedar St). Designed for all ages to enjoy, local professionals within th...

Participate in Read to a Dog Day

Literacy is important and libraries are certainly a place you can visit that understands the importance of reading and trying to build lifelong readers at an early age. We try to do our part to foster a love of reading by offering a great collection of bo...

STEAM Turns to Solar Power, Sept. 17

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it's difficult for parents to pass up on available opportunities to help strengthen their child’s love for learning. Your local library may not be a school, but we do offer activities ...

Register for Annual Mini Art Exhibit

Back for round two, the South Branch Library will be hosting a Mini-Art Exhibit in October for National Arts & Humanities Month. To make that possible, we’re going to need a little help. If you have some artistic abilities, feel free to stop...

Sign-Up for Your Smart Card!!!

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, when libraries nationwide join the American Library Association (ALA) to remind parents, caregivers, and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement an...

Learn More About: "Fall Gardening"

Fall is just around the corner and we can all agree that it will be a relief leaving behind one of the hottest Texas summers we’ve had in a while. During this time, our lawns and gardens certainly took a beating from the blistering heat and now ...

Show Off Your Costuming Skills at Lib-Con!

The premiere event hosted at Lib-Con each year is the Cosplay Contest. Designed for all ages to participate, we want you to get your costumes and characters ready to be able to present to a packed audience at your Main Library (202 Cedar St.) on Saturday,...

Lead a Panel/Event @ Lib-Con, Oct. 8

Lib-Con is headed your way at your Main Library on Saturday, October 8. Celebrating fandoms, gaming, anime, manga, superheroes, and more, staff has planned a great series of events and activities for the community to enjoy. 

Did you know you can c...

Learn More About: "Preservation for Non-Professionals"

The Abilene Public Library hosted a great workshop teaching adults the basics in preservation, without needing to be a professional to get started. Led by librarian Jay Smith, we had a great group of participants who came to learn from this introductory c...

B.Y.O.H to Makerspace Workshop, Aug. 24

If there’s one area of the Abilene Public Library we’d like to spread the word about, it’s our makerspace at your Main Library (202 Cedar St). Dubbed The Creation Station, this is a community workspace offering a variety of t...

Discover the Art of Papercrafting, Aug. 27

Your local library enjoys planning great events for the community to take advantage of. Nowhere else will you find a lineup of activities that are all available for you to attend free of charge. While we offer staple programming each month, we also like t...

Celebrate Lib-Con's Return Oct. 8

We're pleased to announce Lib-Con is returning after quite the hiatus. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8 as your Main Library will offer a full day of activities for the community to take advantage of. Come celebrate fandoms, gaming, comics, ani...

Participate in Preservation Workshop, Aug. 19

Your library is gearing up for a series of workshops for adults designed to teach you ways to help preserve the keepsakes in your life to be able to pass down to others in your family, or simply to extend its longevity. Join us on Friday, August 19 at 10:...

Learn More About: "Reptiles of the Big Country"

The Abilene Public Library hosts a variety of events for the community to attend. One of our most recent events featured Chris McCartor, from the Big Country Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, who spoke to a group of 45+ people (half of which were youth...

Learn More About: "Firewise Landscaping"

The local chapter of the Texas Master Gardeners presented another informative workshop for the community on Friday, July 8. The subject of this month's session was Firewise Landscaping, which is another way of people incorporating fire safety int...

Suspending Digital Purchase Requests

Libby has been our leading digital service for years, and we appreciate all of our patrons taking advantage of being able to checkout and download eBooks and eAudiobooks. Part of the growth of the collection has come directly from you, our patrons, throug...

Register to Attend Free Legal Clinic

Your Abilene Public Library is partnering with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas to host a Free Legal Clinic on Thursday, August 11 from 4PM to 7PM at the Mockingbird Branch Library. This clinic is designed to assist low-income people and households in obtaini...

Access Abilene Historical Newspapers 24/7

Your Abilene Public Library is thrilled to announce the addition of a new database that will forever change your ability to search through the Abilene Reporter-News. Available now, for all library cardholders, we invite you to take advantage of the Histor...

Complete the Summer CALF/Library Challenge

Your Abilene Public Library is partnering with the Children’s Art & Literacy Festival (CALF) to offer youth another special challenge to participate in during the Summer Reading Club. We’ll have six buttons for you to earn througho...

Get Ready for the Dog Days of Summer

If there’s one thing libraries across the nation wish to promote, it’s the joy of reading and literacy for everyone. It’s always great to see patrons visit the library and devour the books we have on our shelves…es...

Outdoor Summer Series for Youth

Update: The June 3 session of Stories in the Garden has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

It’s become a tradition with the South Branch Library to host activities outdoors when the weather is nice. We're pleased to announce Storie...

Beyond the Books with New Collections

Since the beginning of libraries, we’ve had a reputation for providing the public with access to the written word in books. It’s been a staple at public libraries and has served us well with offering great materials to borrow for the c...

Friends' Updated Donation Schedule

As the Friends of the Library’s Annual Book Sale approaches, we’d like to make you aware of some changes to the donation schedule coming soon.  The Friends’ will temporarily stop receiving donations starting Friday, ...

Summer Reading Clubs Starting Soon

Summer is just around the corner and so is the start of the Summer Reading Clubs at your Abilene Public Library. Mark the day for Wednesday, June 1 as that’s when we’ll be celebrating with this year's summer theme of Oceans of...

Friends Seeking Volunteers for Book Sale

The Friends of the Abilene Public Library are gearing up for their Annual Book Sale, running June 16-19 at the Abilene Convention Center. As one of their major fundraisers for the Abilene Public Library, the entire community is invited to be a part of one...

New Display: "Reading, It's Your Only Hope"

Each month the Main Library sets up a new display of books to promote on the first floor near the circulation desk. What makes it unique is not only will you find a new theme promoted each month, you’ll also find a great selection of books and movies to c...

Our 'Friends' Reach Record High for Abilene Gives

When provided with the means to better nonprofit agencies within the community, none reaches them more than the Abilene Gives initiative started by the Community Foundation of Abilene. This initiative provides a 24-hour giving event where people are asked...

AISD Students Get Peek Into Summer Fun

The Abilene Public Library’s Summer Reading Clubs are headed your way next month. We have an exciting lineup of programs and activities planned for the community to take advantage of.

We’ll be spreading the word to our local elementary schools in AISD by d...

'Connect with Us' for National Library Week

This week, your Abilene Public Library (APL) encourages the community to come visit us in person, or online, to explore and access services and programs. APL offers a wide array of programs, classes, and resources available in person or from the comfort o...

Don't Miss Next Big Library Read, Apr 4

Your Abilene Public Library is exploring recent American history through a musical lens with a New York Times bestselling novel during Overdrive’s next Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club. Just in time for the National Library Week, fr...

City of Abilene Service Award

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Marianne Vadney was recognized at a library staff meeting for 15 years of employment with the Abilene Public Library in a full-time position. However, like many city employees, her work with the Abilene Public Library began a...

Virtual Reality to Offer Career Training

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to work a certain type of job before you apply for it, or go to school for it, we’ve got a program for you. Partnering with Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas, the South Branch Libra...

Spring Break Activities @ Your Library

It’s Spring Break, the kids are out of school, and parents are starting to look for activities to keep them entertained and busy (without breaking the bank of course). If that sounds like you, we invite you to take advantage of your library&...

Libraries to Close at 6PM; 02-24-22

All Abilene Public Library locations will be closing at 6:00PM on Thursday, February 24 due to inclement weather.  All regularly scheduled programming and events have been cancelled.

If you must get out, please drive safe and take extra time getti...

New STEAM Kits Heating Up the Collection

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities are a great way to stimulate a child’s critical thinking and creativity skills.  Incorporated into the classroom many years go, this type of learning encouraged youth to...

Read What Your Library Did in 2021!

The Abilene Public Library has released our Annual Report for FY2021, providing a summary of what we’ve accomplished over the past year. Copies of the report are available to be picked up at all library branch locations, or you may view the Annu...

Find Money for College with the FAFSA

A primary deterrent for many who wish to go to college is “how am I going to pay for it?” It’s a valid question as many don’t have families that can afford to fund a higher education and trying to work your way thro...

Participate in Nationwide Digital Book Club, Feb. 7

Your Abilene Public Library is joining over 16,000 public libraries and colleges, along with tens of thousands of readers across the U.S., in offering the latest award-winning Together We Read digital book club selection. From February 7 to 21, our librar...

Learn Irrigation Tips in Next Workshop Series

If you’ve been following our regular events being hosted at the library, you may have noticed a monthly series of workshops led by Texas Master Gardener John Geib. Sharing his knowledge with our patrons, he’s been hosting monthly progr...

Make the Switch to Libby in February

Effective February 23, 2022, the OverDrive app will no longer be available through any of the app stores for patrons to install and use for downloading eBooks and audiobooks. This is being done to push the Libby app as the primary app for use with the Ove...

Participate in Blind Date with a Book

Have you ever perused the library stacks in search of a book to read and found yourself doing that one thing we’re told not to? Judge a book by its cover? It’s hard for us not to because some books can have a cover that draws you in, b...

Snag a Study Room @ Your Library

Did you know your library offers study rooms and quiet spaces for you to study, host a small group for discussion, use our Wi-Fi for a Zoom meeting/interview/call, or any number of reasons? These spaces are available for adults to use, and they’...

e-File Your Taxes for Free @ Your Library

UPDATE: As of February 17, sessions will now run Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9:00AM to 2:00PM.

Your Abilene Public Library is pleased to be partnering again with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to offer the Free Tax Help program at you...

Book Meeting Room Space @ Your Library

Did you know all library branches offer spaces for groups to meet? Although we do not rent out our spaces for parties, birthdays, baby showers, etc., our rooms are available (when not in use by the library) for community-sponsored programs and meetings th...

Friends Temporarily Suspend Book Donations

Effective, Tuesday, January 11, the Friends of the Abilene Public Library will suspend receiving book donations for the Annual Book Sale. 

Volunteers are taking precautions due to the rise in COVID variants and numbers in the nation. They anticipa...

Crafting Made Easy with CreativeBug

The Pandemic. It kept many people around the world homebound and left many with more time on their hands than they ever had before. While many worked on their sourdough starters (so not me) others looked for hobbies they could do to occupy their time. &am...

Learn to Grow Vegetables in Free Workshop

After a successful presentation in December on Getting Started with Composting, Texas Master Gardener John Geib will return to the library to host a workshop on Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening.  Mark your calendar for Friday, January 14 ...

Personalize Your Mug with New Equipment

The Creation Station makerspace at your Main Library (202 Cedar St.) is picking up in its use by the community based on all the wonderful projects you can make utilizing our equipment.  One of the most popular tools we offer is the Cricut. As a c...

Get Footloose in New Library Series

Get ready to kick up your heels for an exciting new series coming to your Mockingbird Branch Library (1326 N. Mockingbird Ln.) in January as we launch Beginning Line Dance Lessons.  Sessions will be offered twice a month on the second and fourth ...

Introducing Changes to Libby Service

OverDrive has been the library’s most popular digital service for downloading eBooks and audiobooks. Having been introduced in 2008, we created our collection as a joint initiative with Tom Green County Library in San Angelo. This provided a col...

Foodies Unite with New Databases

Foodies of the world unite! The Abilene Public Library has purchased subscriptions to two new databases available for all library cardholders to use at no charge.  AtoZ Food America and AtoZ World Food are perfect for people of all skill levels. ...

Holiday Library Schedule

Please make note of the following changes to our hours of operation during the upcoming holidays.

The Main Library and Mockingbird Branch locations will be closed December 24-27.  The South Branch Library will be open from 10:00AM to 2:00PM on Dec...

New B.Y.O.Book Club Strikes in January

If you’re looking for a new book club to join, which will also get you out and about in our community, we’re pleased to announce the B.Y.O.Book Club starting in January. This club will not meet at the library each month, but instead, m...

Borrowing Extended to Dyess AFB

Borrowing privileges for Abilene Public Library cardholders had been extended, yet again, thanks to the Dyess Air Force Base Library.  With their own collection of titles for lending, they are now allowing public library cardholders to have acces...

Holiday Donation Schedule in November

As many of you know, your Main Library is your official drop off location for books you'd like to donate for the Friends of the Library's Annual Book Sale. We appreciate your donations as over 90% of what goes into the sale comes directly from the communi...

Be a Master Pumpkin Decorator

Your South Branch Library will be hosting its Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest, and now’s the time to start planning your pumpkin creations. So get out to your local store or pumpkin patch, and while you’re picking one up to carve lat...

Join Us at Business Mercado & More

Mark your calendars and attend the Business Mercado (Market), happening at the Abilene Convention Center (1100 N. 6th St.) on Saturday, October 9 from 9AM to 3PM.  This annual event showcases businesses and services in the community, with the aim...

Celebrate TeenTober @ Your Library

October is TeenTober in the nation, an initiative started by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to encourage teens to visit their local libraries to discover what they have to offer....

Vote for 2021's Teens' Top Ten!

It's time to vote for this year's Teens' Top Ten, a "teen choice" list where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous years. This list is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American...

Join Library in Celebrating National Night Out

If you’re looking for a great community event to attend with your family In October, look for attending the city’s National Night Out event, brought to you by the Abilene Police Department and running on Tuesday, October 5 from 5:30PM ...

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read: Banned Books Week!

Get ready for Banned Books Week, running September 26 through October 2, and this is the time where we, as readers, can come together to celebrate our simple freedom to read what we want.

Sponsored by a coalition of organizations dedicated to free expressi...

Register for Book-A-Librarian Online

In August, the library discontinued its popular TECH Time program, which connected the public with the library's technology staff to assist with troubleshooting issues with their smartphones, tablets, and laptops.  It was a great service...

Nominations Open for Librarian of the Year Award

Now's the time to submit your nominations for the 2021 Ricki Brown Librarian of the Year Award, made possible thanks to the Friends of the Abilene Public Library. This award was established in honor of Ricki V. Brown, former City Librarian who le...

Adopt a Pet at Your Library, Sept. 11

UPDATE 09-07-21: This event is no longer being hosted on September 11 at the Mockingbird Branch. We apologize for the inconvenience and will hopefully be able to reschedule this event for in the future.

If you’re looking to expand your family wit...

Storytime Lineup Changes on Sept. 1

School has started, Fall is just around the corner, and today is when your library will switch back to our regular storytime schedule. Storytimes are a staple part of the library programming for youth and local families, and our youth department staff wor...

National Library Card Sign-Up Month

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time when the Abilene Public Library joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers, and students that signing up for a library card is the first step...

Stories & More, Live on TV Channel 2

For regular viewers of the City of Abilene’s government channel, you may have noticed content airing from your library ending up on TV.  Such includes our popular Crafty Creations shows for youth and original programming hosted at your library an...

Cosplay Contest Arrives on October 9!

Lib-Con will make its return to the library after a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19. As we’ve gone so long since hosting this popular series, we wanted to jump on the opportunity of hosting a teaser event as soon as people started venturing out...

Cookbook Club Expands in September

The Cookbook Club at your Mockingbird Branch Library made its debut Tuesday, August 10.  Under the direction of branch manager Amy Watterman, 16 guests flooded the library’s activity room with dishes of appetizers. In no time, waves of ...

New Library Service: Book Club in a Box!

Janet Bailey, Technical Services & Interim Information Services Manager, has created a new service that makes its debut today, June 1, on the start of the Summer Reading Clubs at your library.  This new service is titles "Book Club in a ...

Harry Potter and the Summer of Fun

We have a summer full of Harry Potter fun planned at the Abilene Public Library! First up, the Main Library (202 Cedar St.) is showing all eight Harry Potter films, one each week (except for CALF week).  Accompanying the movies will be Harry Pott...

World's Largest Digital Book Club Adds Humor to Reduce Stress

Your Abilene Public Library is helping readers embrace humor to reduce stress during the next Big Library Read, the world's largest digital book club. From April 5-19, readers can learn stress-managing techniques from psychologist and stand-up co...

Dive Deeper Into National Library Week!

We're in the second day of National Library Week and there's still much more information to share than was first provided in the initial post.  Running April 4-10, the theme for this year is "Welcome to Your Library," ...

Celebrate National Library Week 2021!

Libraries are storehouses of information and knowledge, having been erected over time to spread information and access to that information through the written word. Dating back to 2600 BC, the public libraries we've come to know today have been v...

Library to Participate in Tornado Drill, March 31

The City of Abilene will issue a mock tornado warning through CodeRED® (free telephone emergency notification system) at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

Staff at your Abilene Public Library will be reviewing our own best practices in what ...

Main & South Branch to Resume Regular Services March 10

The Main and South Branch locations of the Abilene Public Library will return to pre-COVID-19 operating hours beginning Wednesday, March 10. At that time, all library operational practices and services will return to normal. 

The Mockingbird Branc...

Get Crafty @ Your Abilene Public Library

The start of the New Year brings the usual start of resolutions and challenges. People look at things they want to start or stop in order to improve themselves. 

A brand new year is also a great time to try out and start new hobbies. Your Abilene ...

Fold Origami @ Your Library in New Monthly Series

For thousands of years, people have been folding paper into strange and wonderful shapes.  Each generation learning the old patterns and creating new ones.  You can be a part of this grand tradition by participating in the art of Origami...

Library Remains Closed, Feb. 16

UPDATE 02-18-21: The Main Library and South Branch locations will resume their regular hours of operation on Saturday, February 20.  The Main Library will operate from 9AM to 1PM, South Branch from 11AM to 6PM.  If you've had ho...

Promoting Diversity in Reading for Young Children

One thing you will always hear from librarians is how reading is fundamental. It's one of the staple accomplishments we can make in our early lives to set us on the road for being successful for the rest of our lives and it does so much for us. I...

Display Your Collectibles @ Your Library

Many of us collect items throughout our lives. Whether passed down to us by others, or picked up by ourselves, we collect antiques, tea sets, movie memorabilia, baseball cards, snow globes, spoons from around the world, the possibilities are endless.&...

Library Offers New Interactive Reading Collection

Libraries have always supported literature and literacy, and one of the main ways we foster that is by trying to reach youth while they're young.  We offer a wonderful collection of books and resources for families to utilize to help sup...

Tax Help Arrives Feb. 10

Update 01-28-21: The hours of this program has changed with sessions being offered Wednesdays through Fridays from 9AM to 3PM, Saturdays from 9AM to 12:30PM.

There aren't too many people around that jump at the opportunity to filing their taxes ea...

South Branch Closed, Jan. 10, 2021

Due to inclement weather, the South Branch Library, located in the Mall of Abilene, has closed for Sunday, January 10, 2021.  With more snow expected in our forecast for today, we'are asking that our patrons stay home and keep warm.

While...

Learn a New Language in 2021

2020 may have been a year many of us would rather forget, it did provide many of us with the opportunity to get healthy, learn a new skill, pick up a hobby, invest in DIY projects at home, and more. Well, we may not have all capitalized on this, but that ...

Library Maintaining COVID-19 Safety Measures

As a nation, we all have been following the progression of COVID-19. With numbers on the rise, as of recent, health officials are stressing the importance on ways to keep yourself safer when it comes to being exposed to the coronavirus.

When the Abilene Pu...

Library Annual Report Now Available

Each year your Abilene Public Library produces an Annual Report providing you with a recap of our activities over the course of the previous year.  We have put together our latest report and it is available for viewing online.  In this r...

Meet Library Director Julee Hatton

Julee Hatton is the City of Abilene's new Director of Library Services.  Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, as the former Assistant Director of the Lincoln City Libraries, she arrived in Abilene, TX and was ready to serve in the middle of a...

Bonus Borrows Returns from Hoopla!

Wonderful news all you users of Hoopla Digital, the streaming service we offer to connect you to a wonderful library of eBooks, movies, eAudiobooks, comics, music, and...even better, the materials are always available.  The great news is...

Get Car Repair Help Online with Chilton Database

Your library subscribes to a number of respected online databases available to all library cardholders at no charge.  Each month we will highlight a different database for you to get involved in using, to show you the wealth of information at you...

Join the Library's Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom (www.abilenetx.gov/apl/class) is a new feature found on our digital webpage on the Abilene Public Library’s website.  It made its debut introducing our Axolotl, Sir Lancelotl.  The Virtual Cl...

Strike a Superhero Pose to Win Cash Prize!

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, encouraging everyone to visit their local library to register for a library card and take advantage of the great services they offer.  As a national campaign, library cardholders across the nation...

Celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time when your Abilene Public Library joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers, and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the ...

Teens Vote for Top YA Reads!

It’s that time of year again, when the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA, a division of the American Library Association), seeks out the input of teens to vote on the best YA reads from the previous year.  Known as the Tee...

rbDigital eAudiobooks Moves to OverDrive

Downloadables and streaming content are popular services at your Abilene Public Library, and free to all library cardholders.  rbDigital was a great service we offered that provided you with a selection of eAudiobooks that couldn’t be f...

Meet Sir Lancelotl the Axolotl (Video)

If you may not already know, your Abilene Public Library has a new pet.  Allow us to introduce you to our new axolotl, currently available to see at your South Branch library, but will later be moved to the Mockingbird Branch Library once it reop...

Library Gets a New Pet...See What It Is!

If you have been by the South Branch Library lately you might have seen our new friend, the axolotl.  Currently our axolotl does not have a name but anyone may suggest their favorite names and the top picks will be voted on later this month.

You m...

The March Continues, Legacy of John Lewis

When it comes to the names of the most influential people involved in the Civil Rights Movement, you’d be hard-pressed not to come across the name of John Lewis.  As one of the "Big Six" leaders, along with Martin Luther King ...

Farewell to "The Magic School Bus" Creator

The American writer of more than 250 books, however best known for The Magic School Bus series, Joanna Cole, has passed away on July 12, 2020 at the age of 75.  Her beloved series, illustrated by Bruce Degen since its creation, was what the autho...

Abilene Hunger Coalition to Provide Meals at Mockingbird

For the second year, the Mockingbird Branch Library will participate in the Free Summer Lunch program offered by the Abilene Hunger Coalition.  With the mission of providing food for Abilene during the AISD summer feeding gap, this year will be d...

Choose Your Own Adventure at the Library

Choose Your Own Adventure Books are a unique series of books where the reader chooses what happens next in the story.  These books are great for reluctant readers because of how engaging the stories are and how they immerse the reader.  ...

Annual Mini-Con Pushed to 2021

Lib-Con has been an annual event at your Abilene Public Library for years, offering the community with a series of events and activities celebrating anime, manga, fandoms, comics, and more.  After much discussion, the Lib-Con committee is saddene...

Library Welcomes New Director, Julee Hatton

The City of Abilene is excited to announce the hire of Julee Hatton, Abilene’s first Library Director. Ms. Hatton joins the City’s executive management team from Lincoln, Nebraska, where she most recently served as Assistant Director o...

Summer Reading Club Fun Kicks Off Today!

The Summer Reading Clubs kick off today, Monday, June 15 at your Main Library and South Branch Library locations.  As a reminder, the Mockingbird Branch Library will remain temporarily closed throughout the reading club months.  ...

Virtual Club to Offer More Summer Fun at Your Library

COVID-19 has changed the way public libraries had to offer services.  Even now when our facilities are open, we’re still not back to our regular hours and services quite yet. There are still guidelines we must follow when facing how to ...

Weekly Storytimes Returning in July!

The Summer Reading Club is approaching, running June 15 - August 8 at your Main Library and South Branch locations.  At that time, feel free to stop by your library to start picking up your reading club packets, or start viewing summer activities...

Abilene Public Library Enters Phase 2 of Services

The Main Library and South Branch locations re-opened its doors on May 18 after our closing due to COVID-19.  At that time we opened to limited to services to adjust to a "new normal" to practice social distancing and clean high-use are...

Welcome Back to Your Library!

Two locations of your Abilene Public Library are opening their doors today as we welcome our patrons back under a limited service plan. The Main Library will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 6:00PM and 9:00AM to 1:00PM on Saturda...

2020 Friends of the Library Book Sale Postponed

The Board of the Friends of the Abilene Public Library have made the difficult decision to postpone their 2020 Annual Book Sale until June 2021.  The 31st annual sale, which would have been held on June 18-21, was determined to be too logisticall...

Library to Open May 18 with Limited Services, Reduced Hours

Monday, May 18, the Main Library and South Branch locations will open their doors to the public.  We appreciate everyone who has taken advantage of our digital services during our COVID-19 closure, but now you’ll have the opportunity to...

Record Numbers are Checking Out the Library Online

Abilene Public Library has great online resources, and the citizens of Abilene have apparently enjoyed having them during the month of April! Our digital circulation has far surpassed any other month in our history, with more than 23 thousand circulations...

Future Abilene Heritage Square Brightens Up as Crew Power Wash Exterior

As Published on the Abilene Reporter-News on Wednesday, May 6 by Brian Bethel

The future looks bright for the future site of Abilene Heritage Square, and now so does the exterior of the former Lincoln Middle School/Abilene High School.

The building&rsqu...

Learn Skills at Home with Your Library's Help

As we all stick closer to home these days and with so many ‘normal’ activities limited until further notice, many people are taking the time to brush up on old skills, or learn new things. Cooking is now a must-have skill, exercise rou...

Travel the World from Comfort of Home

This time of year is often when families begin to plan their summer vacations - what exciting destinations can be picked? What will appeal to everyone? Staycation, or go somewhere you’ve always wanted to go? Unfortunately, COVID-19 may squash th...

Let the Abilene Public Library Help with Homeschooling

With the uncertainty over whether schools will reopen before the end of the semester, parents and teachers are working hard to make sure their K-12 children have the resources they need to keep up to grade level. Your Abilene Public Library can help! We h...

Learning is at Your Fingertips with a Library Card

Last time we talked about some of our leisure reading online resources for all ages, but your Abilene Public Library has much, much more than that! Students of all ages have access to online courses that can earn Continuing Education Units, as well as tes...

Not Accepting Purchase Requests At this Time

Update May 16, 2020: The Abilene Public Library will no longer be accepting requests for purchasing materials for the remainder of our fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2020.  This includes requests for purchases of books, a...

Get Live Help with Library Lessons Online Series

The physical collection at your Abilene Public Library may be closed to the public, but that doesn’t mean you’re without access to great resources.  As long as you have a valid Abilene Public Library card, we encourage you to ...

Enjoy Live Online Storytimes During Library Closure

Social distancing is a common phrase we’re hearing often due to the fast spread of COVID-19.  Your Abilene Public Library will close its doors to the public, effective Monday, March 23, in the city’s attempt of lessening the p...

Abilene Public Library Closed to Limit Potential Spread for COVID-19

UPDATE 4-3-2020: Limited staff will operate out of the Main Library (202 Cedar St., PH: 325-677-2474) only effective Monday, April 6.  Staff will operate out of this location Mondays through Fridays from 8:00AM to 5:00PM.  If you are in ...

Pre-Construction Happening at Future Abilene Heritage Square

As Published in the Abilene Reporter-News on Sunday, March 15, 2020 by Brian Bethel

Contractors’ trucks have been surrounding the entrances of Abilene Heritage Square for a several days as pre-construction activities commence.

Housed in t...

AARP Suspends Tax Aide Until Further Notice

Abilene Public Library has been informed by the AARP that the Tax Aide programs at our Main and Mockingbird libraries have been suspended indefinitely due to COVID-19.  The statement on their website www.aarp.org reads, in part: "As...

Digital Bookmobile Tour Abilene Stop Canceled

The Digital Bookmobile Tour event scheduled for the South Branch of the Abilene Public Library on Tuesday, March 17 has been canceled. Library staff were informed around 3:30 p.m. this afternoon with the following statement from OverDrive. 

&l...

Newly Visible Changes at Abilene Heritage Square

Covered by BigCountryHomepage on Thursday, March 6, 2020

Contractors’ trucks have been surrounding the entrances of Abilene Heritage Square for several days now.

Here’s a rundown of the activities going on inside and outside the project:...

The Robots are Coming...to the Abilene Public Library

Don’t be alarmed folks; there is no impending danger from Skynet or other sapient machines. But the library has received an awesome set of Cue robots by Wonder Workshop as well as several sets of the award winning electronic learning tool, Snap ...

Participate in Run4Reading Fundraiser

The Abilene Public Library and Chick-fil-A have had a great and growing partnership over the past few years.  We’ve conducted regular storytimes at their restaurants while they’ve provided children with treats and incentives f...

Reserve This Week's Best Sellers

Everyone always looks out for popular reading material at the library, and each week we like to put a spotlight on the popular materials from the week compiled from the New York Times Best Sellers lists for Hardcover Fiction and Nonfiction titles. &nb...

View 2019 Annual Report from Your Library

The Abilene Public Library’s Annual Report is now available for the public to view.  It’s a great way to chart our progress over the past year, and what an exciting year it was.  Within the report you’ll rec...

Calling All Local Performers to Open Mic Night Series

If you have a talent you’ve been waiting to showcase before your friends and neighbors, your Abilene Public Library has just the thing!  We are hosting monthly open mic nights where you can show off your skills onstage at the South Bran...

All Library Locations Closed February 5-6

Update 02-05-20 at 5:00PM: All library locations will remained closed through Thursday, February 6, as well as City Hall and city offices with the exception of essential personnel.

All Abilene Public Library branch locations will be closed on Wednesday, Fe...

Read the Book Before You See it on Screen

I hope you enjoyed the column last week, and since 2020 will be chock full of book-to-movie adaptations, here are even more titles. So take a quick look at some more offerings and check in with your Abilene Public Library to start reading, since we all kn...

See If the Book Was Better at Your Library

Unsurprisingly, 2020 holds an avalanche of books being adapted for film and television. So take a skim through some of the new year’s latest offerings and check in with your Abilene Public Library to decide if, indeed, the book is better than th...

Construction Work Begins on Former Lincoln Middle School Building

As covered by Joey Hollingsworth of KTAB/KRBC on Tuesday, January 22, 2020

Work has begun on the old Lincoln Middle School in Abilene, as crews prepare to transform the building into a new, high-tech hub.

According to a social media post from Abilene Herita...

Learn to Make Lunch on the Go

Everyone’s busy, especially during the school year.  Because of this, school lunches for the kids may consist of a lunchmeat sandwich with chips, an apple or snack cake and a soda.  The same may appear in the lunchbox of any adult who ta...

Abilene Wide Open: Fandom Dance Party

You know, it's fine that the librarians danced the most. After all, Friday evening was the first after-hours Fandom Dance Party at the Abilene Public Library's Main Branch.

Not everyone knew what to expect, so hesitancy at cutting the rug in a new environm...

The Baker Street Irregulars are on the Case at Your Abilene Public Library

Your Abilene Public Library is beginning the new year with a new club for fans of one of the English speaking world’s most beloved literary figures. On Thursday, January 9, the Baker Street Irregulars: Abernetty Family of Abilene, Texas will hold their fi...

Find a New Hobby with the Abilene Public Library's Help

No matter how young we are, or how old we get, taking the time to relax with a favorite hobby, crafting activity or recreational pastime is something all can benefit from.  These things help us to reduce stress, spend time with family and friends...

Dance the Night Away in After Hours Library Event

If you enjoy any fandom, cosplay, geeky, or nerdy things - and you love to dance and meet new people - join us at your Main Library (202 Cedar St.) for our first ever Fandom Dance Party.  We'll host the event in the auditorium, located on the sec...

Perform in Library's New Open Mic Night Series

Are you a singer, poet, comedian, musician, or performer with the urge to entertain a captive audience?  If so, we incite you to you join in on the South Branch Library’s new Open Mic Night series where you can share your talent with others. &...

Broaden Your Holiday Horizons at Your Library

The Holiday season is a time when cheer and goodwill abound.  All things seem possible, perhaps because it brings out the child in all of us.  We once again feel capable of the creativity, the imagination, and the joyful, courageous aban...

Register for Conversational Spanish Series

Start the new year off right by signing up for a free, six-week class titled Let’s Talk: Conversational Spanish, hosted at your Mockingbird Branch Library.  Did you know over 400 million people worldwide speak Spanish?  That ma...

Abilene Council Cements Agreement for Heritage Square, New Library

The Abilene City Council Thursday approved an agreement to donate the former Abilene High School/Lincoln Middle School property on South First Street to a nonprofit that plans to renovate the structure.

Once that project is done, expected to be around 2023...

New Abilene Librarian Needs to be Creative, Passionate, People-Oriented

Abilene City Manager Robert Hanna says he plans to start the search for a new city librarian in the new year. 

Hanna is looking for the right person who can take the Abilene Public Library to the next level, someone to shepherd the transition from...

Council to Vote on Abilene High/Lincoln Middle School...

The Abilene City Council will vote to donate the former Lincoln Middle School to the Abilene Heritage Square project at its regular evening meeting Thursday.

The council plans to also vote on a lease agreement with the new owners to use space within the re...

Cook Up Some Fun with a Culinary Mystery

Good books and good food can go hand in hand, particularly during the holiday season, and books that mesh the two together have created a niche in the  mystery genre that continues to be popular at your Abilene Public Library.  I’m refer...

Catch a Dream at Your Abilene Public Library

These days everyone "knows" what a dream catcher is.  It's that hoop with webbing and feathers that people use to decorate their homes or put on their keychains.  Actually it is a Native American craft with meaning attached to ...

Remember Your Downtown Library this December

December is a wonderful time, full of holiday cheer and sooooo many things to do!  Your Abilene Public Library has many great programs all across our system, but I'd like to draw your attention to some we'll be hosting at the Main Library downtow...