Save the Date
October 31, 2024 | 11AM
Julia Ideson Building | 550 McKinney St.
Mimi Brown and Michele Leal Farah of the Houston Public Library Foundation invites you to celebrate 120 years of the Houston Public Library.
Opened to the Public on March 2, 1904
As we reflect on 120 years of service, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support from our community who have made us a cornerstone of knowledge and inspiration. Since establishment in 1904, your patronage has been instrumental in fostering a love for learning, literacy, and culture. Thank you for allowing us to evolve, innovate, and continue providing a diverse range of resources and services to meet the evolving needs of our vibrant and dynamic city.
Cheers to 120 Years
Please save the date for the Houston Public Library’s 120th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon hosted by the Houston Public Library Foundation! The Luncheon, taking place on Thursday, October 31 at 11:00 am at the Julia Ideson Library, will be co-chaired by Mimi Brown and Michele Leal Farah. For 120 years, the Houston Public Library has worked to provide equitable access to resources across the city that bridge the technology gap, increase literacy, and connect our residents with lifelong learning. We hope you will join us in celebrating this milestone of the Houston Public Library! We hope to see you there!
Welcome Keynote Speaker LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton launched his acting career while still a student at the University of Southern California. At 19, he found himself on the cover of Time Magazine, after landing the groundbreaking role of Kunta Kinte in the landmark television series Roots. A seemingly impossible act to follow, Burton achieved further global acclaim as Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge in the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation television series – a role he reprised in Star Trek: Picard in 2023.
However, it has been his role as host and executive producer of the beloved PBS children’s series Reading Rainbow of which he is most proud. Airing from 1983 to 2009, it was not only one of the longest-running children’s television shows in history, but also one of the most acclaimed, earning over 200 awards including multiple Emmys and a Peabody.
However, it has been his role as host and executive producer of the beloved PBS children’s series Reading Rainbow of which he is most proud. Airing from 1983 to 2009, it was not only one of the longest-running children’s television shows in history, but also one of the most acclaimed, earning over 200 awards including multiple Emmys and a Peabody.
Speaker Bio
As a lifelong literacy advocate, Burton has dedicated decades to encouraging children to read. In 2017, long-standing literacy non-profit, Reading is Fundamental, acquired Burton’s Skybrary reading app in order to provide access to millions of children both at home and at school. Always committed to improving children’s education through the latest pioneering technologies, Burton partnered with Osmo’s Reading Adventure, an innovative technology that uses speech recognition and digital storytelling to teach children to read. In 2023, Burton premiered his first documentary, The Right to Read, a film that positions the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue. The Right to Read was an official selection at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and SXSW Edu.
Most recently, Burton launched LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE) with a mission to create content that fosters empathy, champions diversity, and builds community. Under this banner, Burton develops projects in the film, television, podcasting, and publishing space. Now in its 11th season, the enormously popular LeVar Burton Reads podcast has over 175 episodes in its catalog, boasting 25 million downloads. LBE’s first Kids & Family podcast, Sound Detectives, will debut on Stitcher in July of 2023.
Burton continued to exercise his passion for storytelling as the award-winning author of Aftermath, The Rhino who Swallowed a Storm, and A Kids Book About Imagination. A modern-day griot, Burton launched his first book club with Fable, a digital book club community. In his partnership with Masterclass, Burton shared the power of storytelling by offering insights into his own life and the importance of authenticity, and dynamic expression.
As the honored recipient of six NAACP Awards, a Peabody, a Grammy, and 15 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys, Burton has demonstrated that he can do it all. He is often invited as a keynote speaker at leading education and technology events, including NASA, ISTE, The National Education Association, FAST COMPANY’s Innovation Series, and many more. In 2022, Burton was selected as the Tournament Of Roses Grand Marshal, ushering in the new year with the theme of “Dream. Believe. Achieve.”
With over 4 million social media followers, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a dedicated park in his hometown of Sacramento, this pop culture icon has the unique ability to reach across all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups – communicating to a large fan base that is highly engaged and motivated to embrace his message.
Historic Highlights
Founded at the turn of the 20th century on March 2, 1904, the Houston Lyceum and Carnegie Library was located at the corner of Travis Street and McKinney Avenue. By 1907, over ten thousand Houstonians had library cards. Within the span of nine years, the number of library workers more than tripled, totaling seven in 1913.
Houston Public Library was named in 1921, and five years later, there stood a new Central Library with a Spanish Renaissance architectural style and an entrance facing what would become Hermann Memorial Square.
Expansion from a single library to a system with numerous locations and spaces is reflected by core values throughout the years: between 1927-1974, improved services for accessibility and community engagement; 1975-1999, transition to a digital age for educational enrichment; and from 2000-present, to emphasize innovation and inclusivity for all.
Thank you to our official sponsors.
