Dripping Springs residents may soon have increased access to library materials as the Dripping Springs Community Library plans to expand its offerings.

DSCL is fundraising for a "library on wheels" to bring materials and programming to Dripping Springs and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The DSCL team has secured a funding source that will match every community donation until the end of the year for up to $100,000.

The big picture: “The Library on Wheels is our next big step forward,” Executive Director of DSCL Mindy Laird said in a news release. “[It’s] a creative, hands-on way to reach more people and share the joy of learning wherever people live, work and play.”

The Library on Wheels will offer the following:

• STEM labs
• Story times
• Cultural programs
• Books
• Technology

Those looking for an Austin restaurant to dine at this Thanksgiving have several options. Some restaurants require reservations and others accept walk-ins.

Corinne
Community members can stop by the restaurant for lunch or dinner and taste traditional Thanksgiving meals, including roasted turkey. Entrees can be paired with seasonal sides and housemade desserts.

• Price: $65 per person
• 304 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin

• Price: $49 per person (Thanksgiving menu with caramelized prime rib)
• 11801 Domain Blvd., Ste. 100, Austin

• Price: $40 per person
• South Congress Hotel, 1603 S. Congress Ave., Austin

Texas State University will purchase a 128 acre tract of property in San Marcos as part of a conservation effort around Sink Creek.

What you need to know: The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the land purchase for $4.5 million Nov. 20, allowing the university to take ownership of an ecologically sensitive area and continue efforts to preserve it. Acquiring the property is part of a commitment to environmental stewardship on behalf of Texas State University, per a release shared by the system.

The details: The property is located northeast of Spring Lake and Spring Meadows, adjacent to the Spring Lake Natural Area, a city of San Marcos-owned park protected for several environmental features. 

What they're saying: Being located within the Sink Creek Watershed provides an opportunity for students to further study local ecology, said Robert Mace, director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

Thanksgiving week is expected to be one of the busiest U.S. travel periods in history, according to projections from AAA. A record 5.8 million Texans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home Nov. 25-Dec. 1.

Zooming in: About 5.3 million Texans are expected to drive to their Thanksgiving destinations, according to a Nov. 17 news release, while about 328,000 people will fly and 140,000 will use other forms of transportation.

The impact: Texans should give themselves extra time to reach their destinations during Thanksgiving week, with the most congestion expected Nov. 25-26. Traffic is also expected to be heavy as Texans return home Nov. 30, according to INRIX, a transportation data company.

Minimal traffic is expected on Thanksgiving Day.

More details: Texas drivers will pay about the same for gas as they did last Thanksgiving, according to AAA Texas. One gallon of regular unleaded gas cost about $2.65 in Texas as of Nov. 13, down from $2.69 last year.