Best Stairways to Heaven
Austin Central Library
There's much to treasure in the city's new Central Library, but the thing that gives us the most joy, that taps our childhood love of libraries, is the immense six-story atrium crisscrossed with bridges and staircases. The manner in which the Lake|Flato firm designed these walkways to cut through this vast expanse of space, awash in natural light from the roof skylights and east windows, gives new meaning to the term "flight of stairs." Added to the trippy magic of their look – like M.C. Escher studied architecture at Hogwarts – just the climb from floor to floor is an adventure, a quest for literary enchantment in a bibliophile's paradise.
Austin Public Library
Cepeda Branch Library, 651 N. Pleasant Valley, 512/974-7372
Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez, 512/974-3625
Willie Mae Kirk Branch Library, 3101 Oak Springs, 512/974-9920
Twin Oaks Branch Library, 1800 S. Fifth, 512/974-9980
University Hills Branch Library, 4721 Loyola, 512/974-9940
Windsor Park Branch Library, 5833 Westminster, 512/974-9840
Spicewood Springs Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd., 512/974-3800
Little Walnut Creek Branch Library, 835 W. Rundberg, 512/974-9860
Menchaca Road Branch Library, 5500 Menchaca Rd., 512/974-8700
Pleasant Hill Branch Library, 211 E. William Cannon, 512/974-3940
Howson Branch Library, 2500 Exposition, 512/974-8800
Old Quarry Branch Library, 7051 Village Center Dr., 512/974-8860
Milwood Branch Library, 12500 Amherst, 512/974-9880
Yarborough Branch Library, 2200 Hancock, 512/974-8820
Hampton Branch Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., 512/974-9900
Ruiz Branch Library, 1600 Grove, 512/974-7400
North Village Branch Library, 2505 Steck, 512/974-9960
St. John Branch Library, 7500 Blessing, 512/974-7570
Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez, 512/974-7400
Southeast Branch Library, 5803 Nuckols Crossing, 512/974-8840
Carver Branch Library, 1161 Angelina, 512/974-1010
library.austintexas.gov/cepeda-branch
