San Antonio Central Library
600 Soledad
San Antonio, TX 78205
Ph. (210) 207-2500

ARCHITECTS/CONTRACTORS | FINANCING | SCHEDULING | SITE | SIZE | BOOKS & OTHER MATERIALS | SEATING
SPECIAL FEATURES | ENTRANCES & ACCESS | TELECOMMUNICATIONS | PARKING

For Central Department information, click here.

 Central Library aerial shot

ARCHITECTS/CONTRACTORS

  • Legorreta Arquitectos - Mexico City
  • Project Manager - Milton Babbitt, 3 D/M
  • Johnson-Dempsey & Associates Inc.- Sprinkle Robey Architects San Antonio, Tx
  • General Contractor - H.A. Lott, Inc. Houston, Tx
  • Interiors - Ford Powell. & Carson, Inc San Antonio, Tx

Central Library postcard view

FINANCING

  • Construction of the new Central Library was financed by a $28 million bond issue approved by San Antonio voters in 1989. The bond issue also provides funds for library construction, equipment. and furniture/fixtures.

    A $10 million Library Foundation Enhancement campaign targeting private funding sources financed upgrades to the Library.

    Upgrades include:

    • Library Materials
    • Durable Furniture
    • Automation and Specialized Equipment
    • Building Efficiencies
    • Parking Garage
    • Murals and Art

Central Library aerial shot

SCHEDULING

  • Construction began: July 1993
    Open to the public: May 20, 1995

Central Library postcard view

SITE

  • 600 Soledad Plaza, former location of Sears Building, south of Romana Plaza.Site bounded by Soledad St. to the west. Navarro St. to the north. Augusta St. to the east. and Giraud St. to the south.

SIZE

  • Gross square feet: Approximately 240,000 SF.
    The new library is more than twice the size of the former Main Library.
    • Number of floors above ground: 6
    • Number of floors below ground: 1

BOOKS & OTHER MATERIALS

  • Former Main Library - 450,000
  • Capacity of New Central Library - 750,000

SEATING

  • Overall seating capacity: 1,300 (Includes staff and public seating)

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Centralized reference service
  • Expanded access to information
  • Popular browsing collection
  • Children's Story Hour/crafts room
  • Equipment for people with disabilities
  • Video & Media Collection
  • Computerized Catalog and electronic databases.
  • Texana & Genealogy Area
  • Auditorium/Multipurpose room seating 180 people.
  • Gallery
  • 9 Study rooms seating one or two people each.
  • 8 meeting/conference rooms seating 4 to 20 people each
  • 2 Round reading rooms seating a total of 18 people.

ENTRANCES AND ACCESS

  • Central Entrance off of Soledad with direct access to parking
  • Fully accessible and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Four passenger elevators
  • Escalator on first-through-third floors
  • Building directories
  • Directional graphics throughout building
  • Near VIA bus and trolley stops

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

  • The San Antonio Public Library seeks to be at the forefront of library technology serving as a model of outstanding service for other libraries across the country. The utilization of established, cost-effective technology to improve access to information and to enhance staff productivity is a key vision of the Library.

PARKING

  • Parking for approximately 400 cars is located directly south of the Library in a multilevel City operated parking garage. One hour free parking with validation.

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