Austin Public Library's used bookstore, Recycled Reads, is anticipated to close in December or January with plans to expand bookselling operations across all library branches.

At a glance

At the Austin City Council meeting on July 15, city officials discussed the closure of Austin City Library’s used bookstore as it was outlined in the 2025-2026 city budget proposal.

In the meeting, Hannah Terrell, interim director of Austin Public Libraries explained the Recycled Reads inventory would be distributed throughout library branches to expand the book sales already present in all locations.

“The mission of [Recycled Reads] was to continue to divert from the landfill,” Terrell said. “It will be more equitable, economical and efficient by having it in all of our locations.”


What they’re saying

Communications Manager Baylor Johnson said the city manager’s office asked all city departments to identify areas of consolidation to make operations more economical without cutting core services.

“What is in the proposed budget is a decision not to renew the lease on the privately owned commercial storefront that the Recycled Reads bookstore currently operates out of and to pivot Recycled Reads to a city-wide service rather than just the one single storefront,” Johnson said.

With the storefront’s lease ending on March 1, 2026, Johnson said they are hoping to give community members as much time as possible to continue shopping at the location with an anticipated closing date in December or January.


“Having these materials accessible, having them all over the city in all of our 20 branches and at the central library, instead of all being routed to one location, gives more people in the community an opportunity to access these materials, to give them a second life and keep them from ending up in a landfill,” Johnson said.

Johnson said renovations have already been taking place to make sure all branches have space for the change so individuals should not expect disruptions to services or access as a result of the transition.

Also of note

Recycled Reads staff will all be transferred to equivalent positions in the library system, Johnson said.


Additional Recycled Reads services such as library programs, classes and passport services will still be available to the community at other branches.