A research library that preserves, promotes, and celebrates the rich history and culture of African Americans in Houston, the surrounding region, and the African Diaspora.
David M. Henington served as director of Houston Public Library for 26 years growing system from 13 to 35 branches and from 900,000 to over 4 million volumes.
Renamed in 2016, the Plaza honors the incredible life and legacy of the former U.S. first lady and serves as a focal point in Houston to inspire and instill a love for reading.
The Houston Public Library's (HPL) new way to check out and return books - the BOOKLINK! The BOOKLINK provides a convenient way for customers to check out and return their favorite books.
Attorney J.S. Bracewell was also an educator and church leader who held positions during his lifetime as school board president, Houston Bar Association president, Harris County Tax Board member, member of the Port Commission, and 26 years on the Houston Public Library Board.
In 1904, one of our first libraries was named in honor of Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy steel manufacturer. He enriched Houstonians and financed construction of 2,500+ public libraries throughout the world.
Our flagship location in Downtown Houston has been reimagined to serve Houston’s culturally diverse community by offering a rich array of new spaces and free educational, business, cultural, informational and recreational resources, programs, services, and activities.
Named after Everett Collier who worked his way up from campus correspondent to editor of the Houston Chronicle. He held that position for more than thirteen years and continued to serve as a consultant for several more years after his retirement.
Established in 1968, a former home of Houston businessman and statesman William Lockhart Clayton. A nation’s top genealogical research collection for tracing U.S. and immigrant origins.
Patricio F. Flores, the first Mexican-American elevated to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the U.S., he was active in programs for Houston's Hispanic community.
The new Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library, honoring Eleanor Freed Stern's legacy as a revered art critic, patron, and library board president, will provide extensive reading areas, technology access, specialized children's and teen sections, alongside meeting spaces within the Montrose Collective development.
The Freedmen’s Town Visitor Center, located in Houston’s historic heritage district, invites visitors to explore the community founded by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. This vibrant center is a cultural destination, offering interactive exhibits, educational programs, and spaces for heritage tourism, arts, and cultural events. It includes a welcome center and two row house galleries featuring exhibitions that engage a diverse audience and host educational programs, cultural activities, and special events through community partnerships.
Rev. Fred Huhns established Baptist Temple Library as the first in the area in 1909. Relocated to Heights High School in 1918, then the current facility was named and dedicated on March 18, 1926.
Hillendahl Neighborhood Library name comes from the Arnold L. Hillendahl family. They were pioneers of the Spring Branch area from its beginnings as a farming community in the 1830s.
The name for Johnson Neighborhood Library comes from educator W.L.D. Johnson, Sr. He led a drive in 1910 to raise funds for the purchase of land for Houston’s Colored Carnegie Library.
Named for Belle Sherman Kendall, the Woman’s Club member who wrote to Andrew Carnegie soliciting funds for a public library, the first location opened in 1969 before a new 28,600 sq. ft. facility opened in 2010.
Looscan Neighborhood Library is named after Adele Briscoe Looscan. She is a descendant from both a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and a founding resident of Harris County.
Dr. Eva Alice McCrane held both doctor of business education and doctor of education degrees and completed thirty years of service in various schools in the HISD between 1945 and 1978.
Named after Lucile Yvonne Melcher, a native Houstonian and beloved philanthropist, the Melcher Neighborhood Library is located in the Pecan Park area, just west of Ingrando Park.
Located in the northside of Houston, this neighborhood location is designed to be a part of the social fabric providing localized expertise, access, and resources. Libraries are free and open to the public, and always here in your moment of need!
Provides parents and educators with resources found at any HPL branch—books, ebooks, DVDs, hot spots, databases, and more to be placed on hold and delivered to the Parent Resource Library for your convenience.
Located in south Houston, this neighborhood location is designed to be a part of the social fabric providing localized expertise, access, and resources. Libraries are free and open to the public, and always here in your moment of need!
Located in the east side of Houston, this neighborhood location is designed to be a part of the social fabric providing localized expertise, access, and resources. Libraries are free and open to the public, and always here in your moment of need!
Located in the Spring Branch area of Houston, this neighborhood location is designed to be a part of the social fabric providing localized expertise, access, and resources.
This library is named after Judson W. Robinson, Jr. He won election to Houston City Council in 1971 and was the first African-American elected to city-wide office since Reconstruction.
Located in northeast Houston, this regional library is designed to be a part of the social fabric providing localized expertise, access, and resources.
Named after Beulah Shepard, a community activist, who crossed many political barriers. She made herself heard about what she believed in and supported many important causes with great passion.
Dr. Lonnie E. Smith received a dental degree from Meharry Medical College practicing in Galveston before coming to Houston. He was the plaintiff in the 1944, landmark Supreme Court case Smith v. Allwright winning African-Americans the right to vote in TX primary elections.
Stanaker Neighborhood Library is named after civic leader Nena E. Stanaker. She served her neighborhood tirelessly for more than fifty years and was fondly known among her many friends as the "Mayor of the East End."
Stimley Neighborhood Library's name comes from Sherman E. Stimley, who was a lover of books. He contributed his time and talent to schools and children.
Visit one of our makerspace locations to access machines and multimedia technologies for digital artistry, craft, music, and video production are featured at TECHLink Alief.
Visit one of our makerspace locations to access machines and multimedia technologies for digital artistry, craft, music, and video production are featured at TECHLink Dixon.
Visit one of our makerspace locations to access machines and multimedia technologies for digital artistry, craft, music, and video production are featured at TECHLink Scenic Woods. Internet access PCs and curbside pickup of library materials are also available.
Visit one of our makerspace locations to access machines and multimedia technologies for digital artistry, craft, music, and video production are featured at TECHLink Walker.
Named after Cliff Tuttle who began his career in banking when he was just sixteen. He was an active participant in civic and governmental work, a leader in the Denver Harbor community for forty years, and had a special interest in youth recreation.
Named in honor of Judge William A. Vinson who came to Houston in 1915, founded the law firm now known as Vinson & Elkins L.L.P law firm, and was active on the Houston Public Library Board for more than twenty-five years.
Named after Dr. Shannon Walker, NASA astronaut who became the first native Houstonian to command the International Space Station. This new library consists of a children’s, teen, and adult area, meeting space, a conference room, and TECHLink services.
Named after M.E. Walter, who, during World War I, received the French Croix de Guerre for heroism. As chairman of the City Planning Commission, he spearheaded development of Greater Houston, the freeway system, and the growth of the Civic Center.
Named after Alice McKean Young. She was active in politics all her life and also was one of the first in Texas to campaign for women's right to vote. Young was appointed to the Houston Public Library Board by Mayor Oscar Holcombe and was the dean of the Board.