Better get in those overdue books now. The Carver Branch Library at 3350 E Commerce St. in East San Antonio is closing August 11, part of a complete $12.8 million renovation that includes a new community meeting space, outdoor upgrades, an African American Resource Center, and the San Antonio Public Library system’s first dedicated tween space for children ages nine through 12.
Funding for the ambitious project, which also includes an allocation for $300,000 in public art, was approved in a 2022 bond package approved by San Antonio voters. The public also provided key insights into what improvements would best serve the 95-year-old institution.
“In the coming months, we will begin the process of renovating this beloved East Side asset into a state-of-the-art library that blends history and community connection with technology and thoughtful architectural design,” said Library Director Sukrit Goswami in an earlier release. “I am grateful to the Carver Branch Library community, who have provided feedback at each step of the process to help develop Carver’s future collaboratively.”
The tween space was designed with cheery colors.Rendering courtesy of Carver Branch Library
Carver was the first library to open on San Antonio’s East Side. Black soldiers stationed at Fort Sam Houston initially established the collection in a small wooden building during World War I. Later, it was moved to what is now the Carver Cultural Center on Hackberry Street before finding a permanent home in 1973. The current building was designed by Norcell D. Haywood, the first licensed African American architect in San Antonio and a champion of community-serving projects.
Rendering courtesy of Carver Branch Library
Upgrades to the Carver Branch Library include a new African American Resource Center
During the hiatus, library services will be available at Denver Heights Community Center at 300 Porter St., where patrons can pick up and return borrowed materials, use public computers, and browse an interim collection. Book lovers can also visit the following nearby locations:
- McCreless Branch Library, 1023 Ada St.
- The Tobin Library at Oakwell, 4134 Harry Wurzbach
- Central Library, 600 Soledad
- Schaefer Branch Library, 6322 US Hwy. 87 E.
But before the first board is laid, the Carver branch has a big birthday to celebrate. From 10:30 am-12:30 pm on August 2, the library will mark its 95th anniversary with a ceremony and free activities including a photo booth, community story hour, arts and crafts, a resource fair, and preservation demonstrations from the library’s Texana special collections staff.
