Three new community-designed Austin Public Library cards will be available at every library location from Tuesday, September 8, after residents cast 10,231 votes in the system’s centennial art contest.
The public vote selected one design in each of three age categories. The cards turn the library’s 100th anniversary into something readers can carry while giving work by Austin artists a place in daily public use.
Who designed Austin’s new library cards?
The winning designs are:
- Children aged 0–12: Ishana Jain, with The Library’s 100th Birthday Party;
- Teens aged 13–17: Yaretzi Nicole Cruz Santiago, with Austin Public Library’s Next Century; and
- Adults aged 18 and over: Lyle Lewis, with Inspiring All to Discover, Learn, and Create.
Austin Public Library says all three designs will be available across its locations on September 8. The announcement displays the winning artwork and identifies each designer.
How to get an Austin library card
The contest announcement confirms the date and system-wide availability, but it does not say whether an existing cardholder can exchange a current card for a new design or whether replacement conditions apply.
Anyone making a special trip for one of the centennial designs should therefore check the library’s current card guidance or contact their chosen branch first. New applicants should also review the library’s identification and eligibility requirements before visiting.
The September 8 release follows a public competition organised for Austin Public Library’s centennial year. Separate children, teen and adult categories allowed younger artists to appear alongside the adult winner, while the final selection was made through the public poll.
The designs are official library cards rather than limited prints or reproductions sold by Local Gazette. Austin Gazette has not reproduced the artwork; readers can see it and confirm current availability in Austin Public Library’s official contest announcement.
