December 2023

Celebrating

Hank Willis Thomas' "The Truth Is I Love You"

In mid-November, we gathered on the east side of Central Library to celebrate the unveiling of Hank Willis Thomas' engaging sculpture, "The Truth Is I Love You."

Standing at a location intended for a prominent public art installation but left vacant since Central Library's opening in 2017, this 15-foot tall steel artwork was gifted to the Austin Public Library by the Library Foundation.

The tree-like sculpture, with cartoon word bubbles spelling out "The Truth Is I Love You" in both English and Spanish, draws its name from a collaborative poem crafted by Thomas and artist Ryan Alexiev. During the evening dedication, Brandee Benson, newly named 2023 Austin Youth Poet Laureate, eloquently recited the poem.

In Austin for the dedication and to deliver a public talk, the Brooklyn-based Thomas expressed the appropriateness of his sculpture finding a permanent home at a public library. "I believe libraries are among the few public spaces dedicated to our growth, and to finding the truth," he remarked.

Heartfelt thanks extend to donors Greg Wooldridge, Suzanne Deal Booth, and Kathleen Irvin Loughlin, whose contributions played a pivotal role in bringing this significant work by an esteemed Black artist to the Central Library and to the city of Austin.



Hank Willis Thomas during his November visit to Austin. Photos by Jack Plunkett

Jill Rossi, Austin Public Library's longest serving volunteer, named a 2023 Legend

For more than 20 years, Jill Rossi has volunteered at Austin Public Library's access department where she helps staff get library materials ready to be distributed to the many branch libraries. Every year, she sorts, documents, labels, packages and ships tens of thousands of books and other library materials.

Now, Jill's unwavering service has been recognized. Recently she was named a 2023 Legend by RecognizeGood, an initiative that identifies and rewards acts of kindness and unselfish charity. All Legends receive a pay-it-forward $1000 donation and Jill chose The Library Foundation as the recipient.

"She cares about the success of the library, the freedom to read, and that the public has access to materials," says APL volunteer coordinator Paul Lopez.

Jill has had a lifelong love affair with books and libraries beginning in childhood in Minnesota. Indulging her reading habit after early retirement here in Austin, she got hooked on a series of books and wanted to donate titles in the series that weren’t available in the APL collections. When she arrived at her local branch to donate the books, the librarian said that library system was so far behind in processing gifts that she should just sell them and donate the proceeds.

“I thought, I can do something to fix that," Jill recalls. “And thus began my volunteer career at the Central Library acquisitions department.”

And, she points out, it’s been a perfect match for many years.

“They've had tons of work that needed to be done and I've really enjoyed the challenge of getting it done. I don't think that the public has any idea about how much effort goes into preparing materials and making them available for their use.”

Thank you, Jill, for your unwavering effort to make books and other materials ready for readers. And much gratitude for your pay-it-forward $1000 donation. The Austin Public Library succeeds because of people like you.

Celebrating a busy 2023

This year proved a busy one for The Library Foundation. Our public programming returned to its pre-pandemic level, and even expanded. We launched In Conversation, a new author series with the Texas Book Festival. And just last month we debuted a collaboration with the Pulitzer Prizes, hosting an authors' panel.

More public programming all around also meant we've been busy supporting the Austin Public Library's needs, whether funding a book give-away or hiring local creatives like The Diversity Band to rock out at the Kids' Block Party.

Here's a look at how we tallied up in 2023.

The Library Foundation | austinlibrary.org