The Austin Public Library is waving its environmental flag with the opening of their newly relocated Twin Oaks Branch.

The city of Austin of has teamed up with Hatch Partnership Architects to produce a building that sports some truly innovative ideas. The branch re-opened on Aug. 21 in what used to be the South Austin Post Office building.

The central concept behind the new Twin Oaks Branch, located at 1800 South Fifth Street, revolves around the rationing and recycling of both energy and resources.

“The library itself, by nature, is green,” said Kanya Lyons, spokesman for the Austin Public Library community.

The new establishment comes equipped with a new day lighting control system. which judges the amount of sunlight present and adjusts indoor light accordingly.

The library also put a 25.2-kilowatt solar energy system into use to help bolster its image of going green. The amount of power saved by use of this solar energy system is equivalent to the amount of energy necessary to power three large houses, according to Lyons.

“I just love how conscious Austin is becoming with energy issues,” Austin local Bridget Fisher said. “This building is proof that there are better, more efficient ways to expand our city and all it has to offer.”

The architects also implemented a rainwater harvesting system to take advantage of the rain. The built-in irrigation system can take a very limited amount of rainfall and distribute it amongst the plants and greenery decorating the outside of the building.

The consumption of building resources was also taken into consideration. Bricks brought in from the recently demolished South Austin Post Office were recycled for use in the library.

The building reinforces its structure with the addition of 15 timber trusses made up from a reclaimed Douglas fir. It is estimated that the use of these tree trusses has saved approximately 30 trees.

The Twin Oaks Branch Library kicked off its life cycle with an opening celebration that hosted more than 3,000 Austinites. Locals enjoyed access to more than 48,000 books, magazines, periodicals, CDs and DVDs. Food and beverages were also provided, along with some smooth, relaxing tunes courtesy of the Academy of Jazz Players.

Over 4,000 items were checked out on the opening day alone.

The Twin Oaks Branch was first opened in 1956. Its humble beginnings can be traced back to a tiny, 300 square-foot space outside an old shopping mall on East Oltorf. The branch has since moved three times before finding its current home at the much cozier, 10,000 square-foot location on  South Fifth Street.

If you’re looking for a wide array of books to peruse, or even a quiet, comfy couch to enjoy them on, this new library has you covered.   

From its green ideology to its quaint, charming appearance, the Twin Oaks Branch library has a little something for everyone.

P.S. Make sure to visit in your energy-efficient vehicle if you have one, because there’s a priority parking space for hybrid cars with your name on it.