 "Photo: Andrew Rogers")
City officials have begun the search for a company that will design the preliminary layout for a new city library.
In 2006, Austin voters approved $90 million for the construction of a new central library on West Cesar Chavez Street between Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street.
More than 20 applications from design companies have been submitted to the city.
"A central library is iconic and will represent our city," said John Gillum, the city's facilities planning manager. "We want the architects to create a regional benchmark of architecture that will influence future development."
The new 250,000-square-foot central library will have designated youth areas, a 300-seat auditorium theatre, additional internet workstations, room for featured exhibits and an underground parking garage, said Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library spokeswoman.
The central library is the main resource and collection center for the Austin Public Library system, according to the city library Web site.
The John Henry Faulk Central Library on Guadalupe Street, which serves as the current central library, was built in 1979 when the city's population was less than half of what it is today. The library has reached the maximum capacity and no new books are able to fit on the shelves, Gillum said.
"The old library didn't anticipate the electronic age very well, but the new one will be technologically cutting edge and a wonderful meeting place," Gillum said.
In March, the Austin City Council approved the hiring of a design team for library, which is set to be completed in 2014. Once the new library's construction is completed, the Faulk library will close and the books will be transported to the new library, Fraga said.
Fraga said the main reason for the new library is space, but that the Faulk Library is in need of many new updates.
"In order to fulfill needs of this growing community, we need to increase capacity," Fraga said.
Public meetings will be held after a design team is hired so that Austin residents can give input as to what they would like to see in the new library. The public can also submit their requests for the new library's construction online at the city of Austin's Web site.
Louis Garcia, a frequent library visitor, said he often has a hard time finding a desk to work at or a computer to use because the library can be too crowded. He said he is excited about the new library and the additional space it will provide.
"Like most American cities, Austin deserves a large library that it can be proud of," Garcia said.
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