BOOK IT TO THE LIBRARY

Round Rock flips the first page on a brand-new public library

The brand-new Round Rock Public Library building will open January 28.

Photo courtesy of roundrocktexas.gov

After closing its Main Street location in December, Round Rock Public Library is opening a brand-new building on East Liberty Avenue with a celebration on January 28.

Located a block north from the original, 43,000-square-foot facility, the new library building is three stories tall and spans about 66,000 square feet. It was designed by international architecture firm PGAL, Inc. One of the goals with the new library was to expand its services to people of all ages. The first floor will have classrooms, the second floor will have study rooms, and the third floor will have areas for quiet working or studying. There will be additional space for activities and crafts, dedicated story time rooms, early learning areas, and spaces for programs and collections.

“This is truly a library for the community, intended to serve people from all walks of life,” said Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan. “This building, and the programming that will happen in it, will help shape the future of Round Rock.”

Significant thought was also put into the outdoor areas of the new state-of-the-art facility. The first-floor public courtyard will feature a flexible artificial turf lawn with fun lighting and outdoor furniture sets for all visitors to enjoy. The rooftop will spotlight a wood-decked discovery garden and artificial turf labyrinth, perfect for children. The library’s parking garage will have a screen for movie nights or community gatherings.

The grand opening comes a decade after the 2013 bond election where voters first approved funding for the project. Construction company Hensel Phelps spearheaded the project after breaking ground in June 2021. Round Rock’s General Self Finance Construction fund also helped pay for the new building, with Type B sales tax revenues funding the cost of the 289-stall parking garage. In all, the entire cost of the new library was $34.7 million, while the parking garage cost $13.4 million.

The general public can join the grand opening of the new Round Rock Public Library building, located at 200 East Liberty Avenue, from 2-6 pm on Saturday, January 28. Rain or shine, the outdoor ceremony will start at 2 pm, followed by the grand opening at 2:30 pm. Families are encouraged to attend to learn more about the new facility and to participate in family-friendly activities. More information about the Round Rock Public Library system is available at roundrocktexas.gov.

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GIVING TUESDAY

Austin's Sims Foundation restores some services thanks to local gifts

Sims Foundation Riders Against the Storm

Photo courtesy of Sims Foundation

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It may not be the tidy finale of a Hollywood holiday movie, but the Sims Foundation is rewriting its story. A critical cash infusion from two Austin groups will allow the nonprofit to continue to serve its most vulnerable clients as it grapples with a long-term plan.

On October 22, Board Chair Marissa Rivera announced that Sims would pause services for 90 days to restructure its service model. Although the foundation has traditionally kept operational costs lean, public funding shortages, a changing healthcare landscape, and the lingering aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic left the 30-year-old nonprofit shaky.

"The reality is simple," Rivera wrote in an open letter, "We need more funding to continue to operate at our current service levels, and we need to restructure our service model to ensure that we are maximizing all of the resources and efficiencies that are now available."

Although fundraising remains urgent, new funds from C3 Presents and charitable lifestyle brand Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) will allow SIMS to resume select mental health and addiction recovery services for Austin's musical community.

"Helping SIMS Foundation to continue to be able to serve our community was a no-brainer," said AWHQ spokesperson Nick Shuley via a release. "We deeply value the role SIMS plays in sustaining the health and vibrancy of our city's musicians and artists, and we hope other organizations are inspired to do the same."

Public support will remain a key part of the equation as SIMS navigates the future. The C3 and AWHQ monies helped the nonprofit reach 30 percent of its Restore the Rhythm campaign goals, but support from local individuals and businesses is needed to tighten the gap. Donations can be made online.

The need for care among Austin's musicians, industry pros, and dependents remains sharply felt. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans experiences a mental health condition each year. As Austinites wrestle with a high cost of living, The SIMS Foundations remains committed to removing barriers to wellness.

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