Today is Saturday, March 25, 2023, the 84th day of the year with 281 days remaining until the end of the year. Here is everything you need to know about today’s programs on KNCT, but first…
The Austin City Council voted yesterday to adopt the Austin Public Library Comprehensive Library Strategic and Facilities Plan. The plan lays out new strategic goals for the Austin Public Library, as well as recommends construction of new branch libraries along with expansion of many existing branches to keep up with population growth in the community.
“On behalf of everyone at the Austin Public Library, I am excited that the Council has adopted this vision for the future of our community’s libraries,” stated Austin Public Library Director Roosevelt Weeks. “This plan lays out a path for APL to continue to empower everyone in our community to discover, learn, and create for years to come.”
The facilities plan component of the document includes recommendations for increasing the footprint of library spaces in the city. The city’s rapid population growth has caused Austin to begin to lag behind peer cities in “library square foot per capita,” a metric used to calculate a library system’s capacity to serve the community. Further population growth absent the construction of new facilities will continue to drive the SF/capita ratio down, and population growth on the edges of the city is not currently well served by the existing branch network.
The facilities plan proposes four “net new” large library branches to address growth, as well as suggested projects to expand, replace, and/or relocate more than half of APL’s current branches in the years ahead.
“Five and a half years ago, Austin opened a new world-class Central Library in downtown, and that building remains the crown jewel of the city,” added Weeks. “However, our neighborhoods deserve world-class library facilities too. The plan adopted by the City Council today lays out a vision for growing and updating our entire library system to meet the needs of the rapidly changing, dynamic city we serve.”
The plan also includes a new Mission Statement and Vision Statement for Austin Public Library. The Vision and Mission statements address the themes heard throughout the strategic planning process about the Library’s position in the community, its role in education, culture, creativity and discovery, and its role as a bedrock of democracy, equity and inclusion; a place for everyone in Austin.
Library Vision: “Austin Public Library: A model of equity, inclusion, access, and diversity.”
Library Mission: “Inspiring all to discover, learn, and create.”
The plan also includes five new Strategic Goals for the library, based upon the needs and hopes expressed by the community and staff as they look toward the future of the City of Austin as it continues to grow and diversify:
1. Provide community-centric programs and services
2. Design and develop spaces for community connections
3. Foster stakeholder relationships
4. Expand library access
5. Engage staff
The Strategic and Facilities Plan was developed over the course of more than a year. Input was provided for the plan through a community survey that received more than 5,400 responses, pop-up community events in 20 locations throughout Austin, as well as a series of surveys, workshops, and listening sessions with APL staff and external community stakeholders. The plan document was authored by Group 4 Architecture Research and Planning Inc., who were the lead consultants on the project.
The full plan document is available here.
We are so excited to welcome Rick Steves back to Saturday afternoon programming on our classical music station, NestFM.
Rick Steves, America’s most respected authority on European travel, empowers Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves’ Europe, headquartered in Edmonds, Washington, near Seattle. There he produces a best-selling guidebook series, a popular public television show, a weekly public radio show, a syndicated travel column, and free travel information available through his travel center and ricksteves.com. Rick Steves’ Europe also runs a successful small-group tour program taking 30,000 travelers to Europe annually.
In today’s one-hour episode, which begins at 5 pm on NestFM, explore the sights of Ireland’s south coast, where West Cork offers a wild and scenic alternative to the tourist-trodden Ring of Kerry. Get tips for local tours that can provide depth and conviviality on your next trip to Ireland. And hear what author Graham Robb discovered about the sophisticated ways the ancient Celts mapped out their pre-Roman world. Venture deep into Ireland, on the next Travel with Rick Steves.
The Big Dipper moves high overhead this evening, with the bowl turned upside down. As you take in the view, link the two stars at the outer edge of the bowl. If you follow that line down toward the horizon, the first moderately bright star you come to is Polaris. Earth’s north pole aims directly at the star, so it’s also known as the North Star or the Pole Star — it marks true north in the sky.
StarDate airs every weekday at 5:57 am, 4:57 pm, and on weekends at 8:20 am.
The Senior Report with Joyce Mayer
Due to unexpected circumstances, the Senior Report with Joyce Mayer will not air this weekend.
Octopuses are incredible, almost otherworldly creatures.
They can change their color, shape and texture in less than a tenth of a second—making them masters of camouflage.
With no bones, they can squeeze their entire bodies through tiny openings—making them great escape artists.
Credit: Nature on PBS, via YouTube
EarthDate airs every weekday at 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, and weekends at 10:30 am.
Science and the Sea – Lightning Whelk
Every state has a long list of official icons. The official aircraft of New Mexico, for example, is the hot air balloon, while in Hawaii, the official sport is outrigger canoe paddling..
Science and the Sea airs every weekday at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, and weekends at 11:30 am.
In continued celebration of Women’s History Month:
Christine McVie: Rare and Well-Done
Beginning at 7 pm, from Music Specials producer Paul Ingles comes a tribute mix honoring one of the most well-loved voices in music, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, who passed away November 30th of 2022, at the age of 79, after a short illness. Christine McVie had a long stretch in the limelight as one of the top writers and voices in the band Fleetwood Mac. Her voice on her many hit songs with Fleetwood will be remembered for years and years to come – but in this hour, Paul Ingles introduces you to some excellent performances that you likely haven’t heard, or barely heard, over her roughly 60 years in music. Plus clips from a newly unearthed 1984 interview with Christine done by journalist/musician David Gans. It’s Christine McVie: Rare and Well-Done!
Bruce Vasbinder finishes off an amazing Saturday Night with episode 608 of Sock Hop Saturday Night, a weekly, two-hour festival of music from the golden age of rock and roll.
Finally, I would like to remind everyone that all of the amazing programs and beautiful music you enjoy on Simply Beautiful 91.3, KNCT-FM is made possible by donations from our listeners. You can donate anytime by visiting our website at KNCT.org.
And while any amount is appreciated, did you know that if you donate $15 or more today you could could receive this Carole King: Tapestry Legacy Edition 2-CD set.
Track List:
Disc One
1. I Feel the Earth Move
2. So Far Away
3. It’s Too Late
4. Home Again
5. Beautiful
6. Way Over Yonder
7. You’ve Got a Friend
8. Where You Lead
9. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
10. Smackwater Jack
11. Tapestry
12. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Disc Two
1. I Feel the Earth Move
2. So Far Away
3. It’s Too Late
4. Home Again
5. Beautiful
6. Way Over Yonder
7. You’ve Got a Friend
8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
9. Smackwater Jack
10. Tapestry
11. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
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