The Houston Public Library is a place for workforce preparedness and educational support, a safe place, and a center of community life. In our rapidly paced world of constant technological, environmental, political and societal changes, the library is a place where one can still find expert assistance and devoted, one-on-one human interaction.
HPL is the place where people can explore, dream, and, reach for their aspirations with the vast array of tools and resources our libraries make free and accessible.
This year HPL re-opened three renovated libraries (Henington-Alief, Jungman, and Stimley-Blue Ridge, and one new library, Young, across the city. The openings of these libraries were eagerly awaited by their surrounding communities and have been soaring in use since their grand openings
The new state-of-the art Young Library building emulates the absolute best that HPL has to offer.
HPL listened carefully and worked closely with community members to conceptualize and develop the vision for this location, including the exciting selection of services and programs and popular materials. This collaboration with the community, the Mayor’s office, the Council Members Office, and the General Services Department has produced our most beautiful and vibrant library in the City of Houston.
70,000 customers have walked through Young Library’s doors within a 9-month period, a 48% increase in visitors over last year in the same time period.
“It proves that by working together, we can achieve anything beyond expectations.
In September 2016, HPL launched the Learning Link in collaboration with Houston Independent School District, Mayor Sylvester Turner, and H-E-B. The Learning Link provides 230,000 students a library year-round while enrolled in school. When libraries and schools come together, everyone wins. Libraries foster curiosity and a love of reading, and provide innovative tools to spark exploration and learning during and beyond school hours. This collaboration is designed to open doors to expanded opportunities for our children and provide skills that will last a lifetime. Teachers and students can access HPL’s online resources at anytime, anywhere.
Students were able to use their Learning Link accounts to participate in FY 17’s
John P. McGovern Summer Reading Program.
This year has been the program’s best year yet with over 25,000 participants including 4,000 adults for the Summer Reading for Grown-Ups series.