HPL News

Date: April 11, 2025

Houston Public Library (HPL) invites the community to join a daylong celebration of free, family-friendly events this Saturday at branch locations citywide! From a star-studded storytime to enriching workshops and engaging online activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Headlining the day is comedian, actress, and author Tiffany Haddish, who will be joining us for “A Special Storytime with Tiffany Haddish,” reading from her inspiring children’s book Layla the Last Black Unicorn.

Other exciting highlights include:
•    StoryBook Easter – Celebrate the season with stories, crafts, and Easter fun for little ones.
•    No Vitals? No Problem! – Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence – A fascinating family history talk with renowned genealogist Judy Russell (a.k.a. The Legal Genealogist).
•    AARP Free Tax Help – Last-minute tax prep assistance from certified professionals.
•    STEM Workshop – Hands-on learning for curious minds.
•    Get Fit Exercise Class – Move your body and boost your health.
•    Stretch Your Dollar – Smart money tips to make your budget go further.
•    Board Games for All Ages – Unplug and play with friends and family.
•    Clutch Coding for Kids – Fun, beginner-friendly tech skills for the next generation of coders.
•    Preserve Your Memories: Digital Conversion Workshop – Learn how to digitize old photos, videos, and keepsakes

And so much more happening at neighborhood libraries across Houston!
Visit HPL’s events calendar for a full schedule and participating branch locations.

Left to right: HPL Director Sandy Gaw, 2023-2025 Houston Poet Laureate Aris Kian Brown, 2025-2027 Houston Poet Laureate Reyes Ramirez.

HOUSTON, TX - In celebration of National Poetry Month and National Library Week, Houston Public Library Director Sandy Gaw is proud to announce Reyes Ramirez as Houston’s new Poet Laureate, making him the seventh individual to hold this prestigious title.

The City of Houston Poet Laureate Program celebrates the work of a poet who represents Houston by engaging the community with written and spoken word, outreach activities, special programs, teaching, and individual works. The Poet Laureate plays an important role in stimulating creative expression, fostering a deeper appreciation for poetry in all its forms, and using words to connect residents and visitors with Houston’s cultural fabric.

The selection of Ramirez was announced Thursday night at a reception hosted by HPL, with remarks from Library Director Sandy Gaw. Former Houston Poet Laureate, Aris Kian Brown, also shared words of encouragement for the new appointee. 

“Reyes Ramirez represents the future of Houston’s literary landscape, and his work will continue to inspire and challenge our community. As we celebrate National Poetry Month, it’s exciting to see the Poet Laureate program continue, and Ramirez is a great representation of the talent we have in the City of Houston,” said Sandy Gaw.

Ramirez was selected through a competitive process by a diverse group of poets, scholars, literary experts, and community representatives. The selection committee consisted of Poet Laureate Emeritus, Aris Kian Brown; Brooke Lewis, journalist, author, and co-founder of BIPOC Book Fest; Amir Safi, founder of Write About Now; Dr. Kavita Singh, professor at University of Houston; Guiseppe Taurino, executive director of Writers in the Schools; Võ Đức Quang, executive director and host of Public Poetry; and Justin Bogert with the Houston Public Library.

“As the next Poet Laureate, I want to show how amazing the city of Houston is for art, because Houston itself is a juncture of all sorts of diasporas, of cultures, of peoples that are talking to each other just so casually. I want to highlight how Houston incorporates histories of the South, of the borderlands, of the Southwest, of the West, of the urban, of the rural, of farms, of city skyscrapers. All these things are in conversation with each other. I want to show how Houston not only is a major point of literature for Texas and the United States, but the world," said Ramirez.

Ramirez’ two-year term runs through April 2027. During this time, he will work closely with Houston Public Library to facilitate a series of Poet Laureate Workshops—eight hour-long programs (or more) designed to engage the community in the power of poetry. Additionally, Ramirez will lead a signature community outreach project at the end of his term, furthering the mission of the Poet Laureate program to bring poetry to every corner of Houston. As Poet Laureate, he will also participate in various City of Houston and HPL events, reciting his original poetry for a variety of audiences.
 

National Library Week, celebrated April 6 – 12, 2025, is a time to celebrate the vital role libraries play in our communities—and the amazing individuals who make it all happen. This year, as we reflect on the significance of libraries, we also want to take a moment to recognize the heart and soul of our organization: the incredible staff at HPL.

At HPL, our staff is more than just a group of individuals—they are a team, a community, and a family working together toward a common mission: to empower, educate, and inspire through the power of information. The energy and enthusiasm you bring to your roles are evident in every interaction with patrons, every program you run, and every new idea you develop to improve the services we offer.

One of the core days of National Library Week is National Library Workers Day on Tuesday, April 8, which honors the dedication and hard work of library staff. Behind the scenes, HPL employees work tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of our library functions seamlessly. From curating collections and managing our online systems to creating engaging programs, providing customer service, supporting the technological, budgetary and facility needs of the library – each member of the team contributes to our collective success.

Central Library Staff on March 24, 2025

So, here’s to our amazing team—the backbone of our library. Together, we continue to inspire, educate, and connect our community, and we couldn’t do it without each one of you.

Thank you, HPL Team! We appreciate everything you do, and we are so proud to work alongside you.

Happy National Library Week!

—The HPL Leadership Team

Catch the full video interview with our very own John Middleton, which aired today on Great Day Houston. In this interview, John discusses the exciting buzz around HPL’s TECHLink service and its impact on the community. You’ll also get to see Emery Vanderbilt showcasing his skills on the drums in the music studio, and don’t miss Chesley Lunt’s (CJ) freestyle HPL rap song!

Check out the full video and to see our team in action!

Left-right: Nena Stanaker and her grandson, Robert H. Stanaker, photo courtesy of Brett Stanaker; Amanda E. Dixon and Mayor Louie Welch, MSS0157-0491, HPL, Houston History Research Center; Beulah Shepard.

Read and learn about Nena Stanaker, Amanda Dixon, and Beulah Shepard, three Houston women who followed in the footsteps of HPL legend Julia Ideson to establish neighborhood libraries that would be named for them. If you've never visited these locations, Women's History Month is an ideal time to take a tour.

Stanaker Neighborhood Library, 611 S. Sgt. Macario Garcia Dr., 77011
We begin in the heart of Houston’s East End. In 1950, Houston Public Library (HPL) opened the Central Park Branch at 69th and Canal Streets. Nena E. Stanaker was instrumental in its establishment. A resident of the East End since before it was developed, she petitioned for such neighborhood amenities as streets, streetlights, water, and schools. The year after the right to vote was extended to women, she became a precinct judge and went on to serve for 25 years. Having advocated for East End library services for years, she helped establish a collection of books, housed in various local schools, intended for the use of the neighborhood’s children. Known as the unofficial “Mayor of the East End,” she served on HPL’s Library Board for over 20 years. The Central Park Branch was remodeled and renamed the Stanaker Library in 1967. It received a new address when 69th Street was renamed Macario Garcia Drive in 1981, a new building in 1986 and a remodel in 2012. Today, Nena Stanaker would be proud to call this busy, popular branch her namesake.

TECHLink Dixon, 8002 Hirsch Rd., 77016 
Amanda E. Dixon arrived in Houston in the 1940s to attend Texas Southern University. She settled in the Fifth Ward and worked as a school librarian, taking neighborhood children on field trips to HPL’s Carnegie and Central locations. She and her family relocated to the Trinity Gardens neighborhood in 1965, where she organized the local civic group, Trinity Action Program’s library initiative. Dixon helped the group rent a dedicated space and campaigned to make Trinity Gardens the site of an official HPL location. Her dream materialized in 1971, with Houston Mayor Louie Welch allocating money to purchase land for a new Trinity Gardens Library, and Stran Steel Corporation providing a new building. Dixon passed away just before her namesake library opened in 1972. Dixon Library served the Trinity Gardens neighborhood for decades, until it was irreparably damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. A generous gift by Aramco Americas made it possible for HPL to rebuild and reopen Dixon as a TECHLink center in 2021. Dixon believed, “there is no poverty in a community which reads. Reading is an opportunity to learn, and the more accessible books are, the more people can learn. That is why communities need libraries.”

Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library, 8501 West Montgomery Rd., 77088
Traveling northwest from TECHLink Dixon, we arrive at the Beulah Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library. Beulah Shepard moved to Acres Homes in 1948, when she left Louisiana to help her sister with a new baby. She stayed and became active in her neighborhood, her church, and politics. She worked on Democratic campaigns at the local, state and national level, and registered voters between elections. She lobbied City Council for infrastructure improvements like roads, a swimming pool, and a library for Acres Homes, becoming known as its unofficial “Mayor.” Dedicated in 1976, the Acres Homes Library (as it was then known) is a welcoming space full of natural woodwork and light. Shepard passed away in 2010. Two years later, the City of Houston renamed the library in her honor. You can learn more about her life and career by browsing the Beulah Shepard Collection in the HPL Digital Archives.

A fitting tribute to Shepard—and, it can be said, to Stanaker and Dixon as well—is a mural painted on the building’s exterior by Aldine ISD students from a concept by artist Reginald Charles Adams. It depicts the hands of elders stitching together a quilt on which patchwork pieces spell out the word, “Read.” These three locations are among many other HPL libraries named for notable Houston women; if you'd like to learn about more, our locations page is a great place to start!
 

Houston Public Library's (HPL's) Safety Committee has been honored with the Mayor’s HERO Safety Award, recognizing the ongoing commitment to creating a safer and healthier work environment. As part of this recognition, team members attended a ceremony held during the HERO 15th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, February 28, 2025. The Safety Committee is overseen by John Middleton, Chief Operating Officer, and led by Gwendolyne Walter, Safety Officer with the SPACES team. Together, they ensure that safety remains a top priority for all staff members. “This award highlights the hard work and dedication of our team over the past 15 years in transforming ideas, values, and practices that foster sustainable safety behaviors and operational improvements,” said Middleton.

For the past 15 years, the Safety Committee has been running successful "Positive" Safety Campaigns and encourage the organization to get involved in creating a safer workplace. Every year, 20 "Safe Workers of the Year" staff members are selected and recognized as "Caught Being Safe". There is also HPL’s safety mascot, Zippy, and a system-wide Safety Theme Competition where all teams can demonstrate creative safety campaigns through group pictures, PowerPoint presentations, short videos, or displays.

When the campaigns first started, HPL averaged 32 Workers' Compensation Claims (WCC) annually. Fast forward to today, that number has successfully reduced to just 8 claims a year. The annual goal is to reduce incident rates by 10% each year. This target has been consistently met or exceeded including in FY2023, with just 8 WCC claims. Nearing the final two months of FY2024, HPL is on track to meet the 7 WCC incidents target. “Thanks to the efforts of many, we have seen significant strides in reducing incident rates and workers' compensation claims, which ultimately helps everyone work in a safer environment,” Walter added.

Left-right: HPL Director Sandy Gaw, Chief Operating Officer John Middleton, Deputy Assistant Director of SPACES Stephen Chamberlain and Project Manager Raiset Ruban at the Awards Ceremony. Photo by Paul R. Davis.

Houston Public Library's Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library has received two Development of Distinction Awards from the Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The new library branch won a Development of Distinction award in the Small-Scale Non-Profit category, as well as the People's Choice award which is determined by public vote; the 2025 People's Choice Award voting broke records.

At the February 11 Awards Ceremony presented by the Wilson, Cribbs + Goren firm at Armadillo Palace, over 200 guests gathered to recognize developments and open spaces that provide an example of best practices in design, construction, and other qualities. Finalists were selected by a panel of Houston real estate experts, and projects were evaluated by a team of national experts.

"The 23,260 SF next-generation library is a community hub envisioned as a space for the modern community. What was once a forgotten post office site, the library is a vibrant art-filled public gathering space featuring a café, TECHLink with music, video and podcast recording spaces, flexible meeting areas, private study rooms and a variety of seating arrangements," said ULI Houston about the Walker Neighborhood Library.

The design of the library encourages interaction with nature. Additionally, the site is designed to cut deep into the library, offering multiple spaces for patrons to experience nature in both function and scale. "Color inhabits these spaces, and sunlight takes a more apparent possession of the building," ULI Houston added about the project.

As Black History Month 2025 comes to a close, Houston Public Library (HPL) is proud to announce the release of its curated African American Booklist, featuring new and notable titles for readers of all ages. This year’s booklist honors the national Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, recognizing the vital contributions African Americans have made in shaping the U.S. labor movement and their ongoing fight for workers’ rights.

Carefully selected by HPL staff, the booklist includes a diverse range of books that explore the rich history of African Americans in the workforce, from labor activism to the continued pursuit of economic justice. The list is available for download and can be accessed in HPL’s Book Lists section under the “Reader’s Corner” tab on the website. Printed copies will also be available at all HPL locations in the coming weeks for those visiting in person.

“As we enter the final week of Black History Month, we encourage the community to take an opportunity to dive into these powerful and inspiring books,” said Sandy Gaw, Director at Houston Public Library. “This curated collection provides readers with valuable insights into the African American experience and their significant role in labor movements.”

In addition to the booklist, HPL invites everyone to join the final African American Read-In event, a community gathering celebrating African American literature.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025
Time:  6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library

The event is free and open to the public, with registration encouraged. 

We invite you to stay engaged with us and look forward to exciting book recommendations and events in March as we celebrate Women’s History Month and the theme Moving Forward Together: Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.

Houston Public Library (HPL) is excited to introduce a brand refresh for its History Research Centers (HRCs). These centers house a diverse, carefully curated collection that support a wide range of research interests—from African American history and genealogy to local Houston history and Hispanic heritage. Each center plays a vital role in making history accessible and engaging, offering expert staff and resources that are among the best in Texas. Together, these centers represent the pinnacle of historical research and preservation in Texas. 

The New Logo: Symbolism and Meaning 

At the core of each logo is the open book, a timeless symbol of knowledge, learning, and the preservation of history. The book represents the vast collection of stories, documents, and resources that form the foundation of the HRC’s. 

Rising from the pages of the book is the tree, symbolizing growth, connection to the past, and the branching out of ideas. The tree’s roots are signified as an anchor in history, while its branches represent the exploration and development of new insights. This imagery underscores the intertwined relationship between the past and present. 

Combined, the book and tree elements create a cohesive logo family that aligns with the mission of the History Research Centers—preserving, sharing, and exploring history while inviting others to engage with and contribute to the ongoing narrative. 

"To further connect with a broader audience, a new logo family was designed for the History Research Centers. While the previous logo emphasized the historical significance of each site, the new design focuses on research and learning. By combining the symbolism of the book and the tree, we’re emphasizing the growth and discovery that our centers foster. This redesign is a visual representation of our commitment to preserving the past while inspiring future generations,” said LaDonna Weems, Deputy Assistant Director of Communications. 

"As we continue to make history more accessible to our community, this new logo beautifully captures the essence of our work. We are excited to share this new chapter with our visitors and look forward to welcoming even more people to explore our collections," said Miguell Ceasar, Senior Manager of History Research Centers.

Houston Public Library is excited to announce a series of events in celebration of Black History Month, offering the community an opportunity to engage with and honor the rich cultural legacy and contributions of Black Americans. From creative writing workshops to cultural performances and thought-provoking author talks, HPL invites all to participate in these free, enriching activities throughout February. 
Featured Events Include: 

•    Documentary Screening: Black Lives Matter in Latin America: This documentary focuses on Black activism in Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Cuba, showing the importance of challenging state-led violence against Black people.
Saturday, February 1 | African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus 

•    Author Talk with Dr. Wendy Okolo: Dr. Okolo shares her memoir Learn to Fly: On Becoming a Rocket Scientist.
Tuesday, February 4 | Central Library

•    Words of Defiance: How Black Newspapers Amplified Labor Justice and Social Change: Marquel Sennet discusses how black media shaped the African American labor movement during times of racial tension. 
Saturday, February 8 | African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus 

•    Get to Know an Architect: John S. Chase: Learn about this trailblazing Black architect that has over 200 sets of his drawings housed at our research center. 
Saturday, February 13 | Online Only

•    After Dark: The Labor of Love: Join therapist and relationship expert, Dr. Kyee Young, who will guide us through modern day love and a special viewing of the Reverend William Lawson Love Letters. 
Friday, February 14 | African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus

•    Cultural Connections: Celebration of our community's rich diversity with food, fun activities, and cultural performances for all ages. 
Saturday, February 15 | Johnson Neighborhood Library

These are just a few of the events happening throughout the month. Additional activities include storytelling sessions, film screenings, and community gatherings, all designed to foster appreciation and understanding of Black culture. 

•    African American Read-Ins (multiple dates) will take place across various libraries in Houston, including Stella Link, Blue Ridge, Smith, and Central Library. A celebration of Black literature with readings from influential Black authors.
 
•    Black Poetry Readings (Feb 10, 20, 22) and Relax & Write Workshops (Feb 8, 18), as well as an African American Archives Tour (Feb 22) held at the African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus. 

For event registration, visit houstonlibrary.org/events or follow HPL’s social media for updates and highlights.  

Houston Public Library (HPL) is preparing to launch a new state-of-the-art TECHLink at its Vinson Neighborhood Library location. The new technology center will replace Vinson's existing HPL Express area, which will be closed in preparation for construction at 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 25. During the construction period, some sections of the library will be inaccessible. However, most of the operations will remain open at Vinson, one of South Houston's busiest neighborhood libraries, located in the Hiram Clarke Multi-service Center at 3810 W. Fuqua St.

TECHLink Vinson, expected to open in the fall of 2025, will span 3,480 square feet and offer a range of functional and creative resources designed to support the next generation of innovators, designers, and entrepreneurs.

Key features will include:

• Video Recording Studio: HPL's largest TECHLink video studio, with chroma walls and advanced acoustic and equipment for professional-quality projects.
• Podcast Studio & Vlog Set: A high-tech space perfect for podcasting and vlogging.
• Music Recording Studio: Fully equipped with acoustic enhancements and a professional mixing table.
• Tiny Techs Zone: A dedicated area for kids featuring robotics and 3D printers.
• Makerspace Lab: Advanced tools like 3D printers, laser engravers, and high-resolution printers for hands-on creation.
• Editing Lab: The latest software for video editing, music production, digital art, and more.
• Training Lab: Virtual and in-person learning opportunities for creators of all levels.

“I always look forward to seeing our customers’ creative wheels turning and formulating plans once they recognize all of the technologies and equipment that they can freely access,” said Roland Lemonius, TECHLink Division Manager. “Being able to enhance their quality of life in this way along with our other library services is very rewarding.”

This new addition will be the fifth TECHLink center, furthering HPL’s commitment to empower the community through technology, innovation, and collaboration for all ages and skill levels. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to unleash your creativity! 

Want a sneak peek? Take a virtual 360 tour of TECHLink Dixon here.


 

HPL Division Manager Mercedes Clarke spoke to Debra Duncan on Great Day Houston yesterday about the Career Online High School Program. You can watch the interview here.

We are thrilled to share that CEET was prominently featured in a recent article by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC)! This recognition highlights the team’s dedication, innovation, and outstanding contributions to advancing educational technology and services within our community. Congratulations CEET for this well-deserved recognition! Read the full article.

Watch Video Now

Dear friends: 

I am excited to share something that is close to my heart with you today. 

On this #GivingTuesday, I invite you to join me in supporting Houston Public Library (HPL), one of the largest and most dynamic library systems in the United States. HPL reflects the vibrant diversity and rich cultural heritage of our city. 

Houston Public Library is a public treasure that belongs to all of us. Each year, millions of Houstonians walk through our branches, TECHLink centers, and History Research Centers while millions more take advantage of our digital platforms. 

YOUR support makes possible so many opportunities to enrich our community. Here are just a few examples:

• 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

  Research shows that children who are exposed to reading early are better prepared for academic success. HPL is committed to helping children and their families with the resources needed to succeed.

• Camp STREAM

  Every summer, HPL hosts a technology-driven camp for hundreds of middle and high school students where they learn about coding, digital design, and engineering. 

• Business Resources

  Whether starting a business or launching a new career, HPL provides the resources to help individuals be successful and contribute to the local community.

  Thanks to YOUR generosity, HPL fosters a lifelong love of reading and learning, by strengthening communities and bringing people together.

  You can make a difference by giving a gift today.

  https://www.houstonlibraryfoundation.org/?form=donate

Thank you for supporting Houston Public Library. I hope to see you at one of our locations or events.

Sincerely,

Sandy Gaw

Director, Houston Public Library

HPL's Walker Neighborhood Library's window wall is featured in Library Journal's 2024 Year in Architecture as an example of the Confident Color design trend. 

Houston Style Magazine published an article about the HPL Foundation's Luncheon at the Julia Ideson Building October 31st, in celebration of 120 years of Houston Public Library. You can read more about it on their website.

We are thrilled to announce that Shawn Kuehn, special events manager - SPACES, has been recognized in a recent article highlighting the new members of the University of Houston's Board of Visitors. This honor reflects not only his professional achievements but also his unwavering commitment to our community. This new role on the Board of Visitors is a natural extension of his dedication to fostering positive change.

The Board of Visitors serves as a vital link between the university and the community, providing insights and guidance to help shape the institution's future. Members are selected based on their leadership abilities, expertise, and commitment to higher education. Shawn will join a distinguished group of individuals who are dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for all students at UH.

Read full article: UH Welcomes New Members to the Board of Visitors - University of Houston
 

Donnie Byrd's live interview with CW39 Houston discussing the Hispanic Heritage Month event. Check it out! 

Houston Public Library’s limited-edition library cards have become a must-have item, with nearly 40,000 issued this year. Discover how these special designs are sparking community excitement and celebrating 120 years of service. Read Now!

Check out Deborah Duncan of Great Day Houston and HPL's own Donnie Byrd, discuss our 120th Anniversary, as well as events and resources that the library has to offer. Watch Now!

Exciting news! Catch our very own LaTrisha Milton on CW39 discussing Family Place Libraries at Houston Public Library! Discover how we're creating welcoming spaces for families with young children, fostering early literacy, and building strong community connections. Don’t miss this insightful interview—Watch now!

In response to the murder of George Floyd, Houston Public Library's African American History Research Center (AAHRC) launched the George Floyd Lecture Series to foster difficult yet crucial conversations about racial equity and social justice.

Join us on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Noon – 2 p.m., for a riveting conversation with guest speaker Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry. Register now or continue reading full media alert.

As part of our 120th Birthday celebration, we asked our customers to share the books that they love, and to tell us why they love them. The response was amazing! We received more than 120 replies and had to narrow them down to a representative list of 120, which wasn't easy. We've learned that there are all sorts of different reasons to love a book, and that our customers really love historical and fantasy fiction!

The 120 Books YOU Love list links to catalog records for each title, making it easier for anyone to find new titles to love, or to re-visit an old favorite. It's grouped into different genres and age levels, and has a little something for everyone, much like the library itself.

Don't miss this interview with Manager Sylvia Espinosa about Houston Public Library's 120th birthday and legacy on City Savvy, the monthly newsletter for City of Houston Employees. 

The Houston Chronicle published an article about HPL's 120 Year celebrations on March 20. The article mentions the commemorative library cards and parties, the Books You Love survey project, and more.

Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson made an appearance on Channel 13's morning news show on March 19 to speak about HPL's 120th birthday and its promotion of literacy.

The HPL segment starts at about the 38:12 mark of this recorded episode.

The Texas Library Association (TLA) announced recently that Israel Favela, Collection Development and Cataloging Manager at Houston Public Library (HPL), was elected Representative-at-Large, Public Libraries. Favela will take office at the close of the 2024 TLA Annual Conference in April in San Antonio.

Favela has been active in TLA for many years, serving as a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Conference Programming Committee, District 8 Programming Subcommittee and Local Arrangements Committee. He also has been an officer of the Latino Caucus Round Table and Queers & Allies Round Table. Favela is a 2019 graduate of the TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to have been selected for this position by my peers. I will proudly represent and advocate for public libraries while on TLA’s Executive Board. Libraries have played an important part in my life for as long as I can remember, and TLA in particular has been instrumental in my growth as a librarian; I am looking forward to continuing to work with and on behalf of TLA members to advance the profession and develop the library leaders of tomorrow,” said Favela.

Favela received his Master of Library Science from the University of North Texas. He has more than 10 years of experience as a librarian, beginning as a Circulation Assistant at Harris County Public Library. He joined Houston Public Library as the Collection Development and Cataloging Manager in 2021. In addition to his work in libraries, Favela is also on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Chinquapin Preparatory School, a boarding and day school that serves academically motivated students in grades 6 through 12 from Houston’s under-resourced communities and schools.

Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson made an appearance on Great Day Houston and spoke to Deborah Duncan about Houston Public Library's 120th birthday, reading, our history and future, and what makes HPL unique!  

Heightened community interest and support in what will become the next History Research Center is the subject of a Houston Landing story. Read more to understand the investment and development of what is slated to be "the first of its kind for a city that's home to more than 2.3 million Latino or Hispanic residents..." in 2026, according to Assistant Director of Spaces John Middleton.

We are proud to announce that the Alief Neighborhood Center & Park, home to Alief-Henington Regional Library, has won a Development of Distinction Award from The Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-Houston) in the 2024 Small-Scale Non-Profit category! We share this award with our City of Houston partners at the General Services Department, Houston Parks and Recreation, the Houston Health Department, and with Page Architects. Special kudos to SPACES Project Managers Stephen Chamberlain and Raiset Ruban for their incredible work on this project.

This prestigious award recognizes developments and open spaces that demonstrate best practices in design, construction, economic viability, healthy places, marketing and management.

You can find out more about Alief Neighborhood Center & Park from this video that was presented at the award ceremony. 

African American History Research Center (AAHRC) staff talked to American Libraries Magazine for a feature story on oral history projects, and they had the opportunity to highlight interviews included in the HPL Digital Archives. 

From the article:

Collection highlights include stories about a 1963 visit that President John F. Kennedy made to the city, Latino and Latina veterans of World War II, and alumni of the Gregory School, the city’s first public school for Black children, which opened in 1872. The Gregory School interviews, which feature students who graduated from the school between the 1920s and 1960s, are among AAHRC Manager Miguell Ceasar’s favorite, because the former school has become home to the center.

“They were thriving, and they were learning, and they were proud people,” says Ceasar. “It’s a great oral history to listen to, especially for our site.”

The Houston Chronicle took a look back at HPL's most popular books in 2023 for adults, teens and kids. (NewsBank database link to article—may require MY Link card number for login)

In 1977, local art collector and philanthropist Jacob Greenberg met with then-Director of Houston Public Library (HPL) David M. Henington to discuss his plans for setting up the Lurine Karon Greenberg Fine Arts Collection Trust for the benefit of the library. It was a memorial to his wife Lurine Karon Greenberg, who had passed away two years earlier. The Trust would provide money for purchasing nonfiction books on music, art, antiques, architecture, cooking, and travel, including histories and biographies related to these subjects. In the 45 years since, the Greenberg Collection has thrived and grown through multiple library renovations and reorganizations to become a jewel in HPL’s crown. 

The Greenbergs lived extraordinary lives. Jacob Greenberg was born in the early 20th century to Eastern European Jewish immigrants on a homestead in North Dakota, so remote that his passport listed his place of birth as simply “North Dakota, USA, no town, no village.” Lurine Karon, whose family hailed from Minnesota, was a classically trained cellist who studied in Germany in the 1920s. Mr. Greenberg pursued education and had great success in business with the garment industry and later the energy industry. His career brought his family first to Oklahoma and then Houston, where he and Lurine moved in 1966, until Lurine passed away in 1975.

The Lurine Karon Greenberg Endowment funds were initially placed in a savings account managed by the Houston Library Board, but Jacob Greenberg was able to renegotiate the terms of the endowment. The money was moved to income-generating securities and structured to benefit the library by allocating 100% of the income, awarded on an annual basis. Jacob Greenberg appointed his second wife, Joyce Zeger Greenberg, as a trustee for the fund. A trailblazer, Joyce was a skilled financial advisor and became one of Houston’s first female stockbrokers in the 1960s. Joyce, who had known Lurine socially years before meeting Jacob, was honored by the trust Jacob showed in giving her this responsibility. After Jacob passed away in 1995, Joyce continued to spearhead the growth of the Greenberg Endowment as part of the Greenberg legacy.

As of 2021, the Greenberg Fund has given Houston Public Library just under 2 million dollars and made Fine Arts one of the most robust collection areas of HPL. Each book purchased for the collection has a special bookplate marked with a quote inspired by the Book of Proverbs, “Wisdom with understanding is better than rubies.”

Joyce and Jacob Greenberg are renowned for their philanthropy. Joyce has a gallery named for her in memory of Jacob at the Museum of Fine Art Houston’s Kinder Building. Joyce has built a legacy at her alma mater, University of Chicago, starting by funding a visiting professorship and then an entire academic department, the University of Chicago Joyce Z. and Jacob Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Greenberg family and their legacy, Joyce Greenberg gave an interview to HPL Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson and Houston History Research Center (HHRC) staff Archivist Ginger Berni in 2022 that can be accessed as part of our oral history collection. 

University of Houston History Professor Robert Zaretsky’s biography From Homesteader to Art Collector: The Life and Times of Jacob Greenberg, has recently been published by Rodin Books/ Simon & Schuster. 

Greenberg Collection books are available for checkout from HPL’s Central Library, shelved with the other cooking, art, architecture, antiques, music and travel books. You can browse the catalog for them, place holds and have them delivered to any HPL location for pickup. Some Greenberg Collection tiles are available in ebook format on the Boundless ebook platform. 

HPL staff members love the Greenberg Collection! Here are some hidden gems that they recommend:

Victor Papanek: the Politics of Design Edited by Mateo Kries, Amelie Klein, Alison J. Clarke. 
Victor Papanek was an industrial designer who was way ahead of his time (20th century) in his thinking about accessibility and sustainability. This book is a fascinating introduction to his life and ideas. —Lisa Carrico

The Stay @ Home Chef-Family Favorites Cookbook By Rachel Farnsworth 
I love cookbooks and this one is fantastic because there is a picture to go with every recipe. I start with breakfast and end with dinner recipes. There are some Awesome soup recipes. The book is one of my favorites because I love to see pictures of what the food should look like. —Virginia Williams

Southern Italian Desserts: Rediscovering the Sweet Traditions of Calabria, Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, and Sicily By Rosetta Costantino 
While reading this book I felt like I was on a tour of Southern Italy that made stops at the local bakeries ... I was a tourist delighting in all the wonderful creations to make when I returned from my trip because the person accompanying me on my trip provided me with an easy-to-read set of recipes included with tips only known to someone whose family had been making the creations for generations. —Mercedes Mayne

The Self-care Cookbook: Easy Healing Plant-based Recipes By Gemma Ogston 
It has yummy recipes and great tips on taking care of your body and mind! —Sheena Kelly

Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim By Geoffrey Block 
Whether you are a Rent-head or a Wickedite, music lovers and fans of Broadway shows will appreciate the focus on the development of the music and collaboration between artists written about in this book. Read along to popular shows and trending musicals on Netflix ‘s popular Top 20 Netflix Picks for Broadway as you gain insight into the history or the songs and plays. —Mercedes Mayne

Read this Chron.com feature on new Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library in Westbury, opening soon!

Houston Public Library and Houston Airports are teaming up! A digital pop-up library and self-service kiosk now offers a convenient way to access free e-books and audiobooks for readers who are on-the-go. A library card is not required.  A limited selection of physical titles in both English and Spanish can be checked out with a MY Link library card. Visit the Houston Airports Newsroom for details on a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony and more information on the new BOOKLink at William P. Hobby Airport (7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX  77061).

Three promising startup entrepreneurs each received $10,000 in seed money for their business after winning the City of Houston’s 11th Annual Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan Competition. Nine finalists, selected from more than 100 applicants, competed in Liftoff’s Pitch Day on November 18, 2023 in three categories: Service, Product, and Innovation, pitching their business ideas to a panel of expert judges.

The 2023 $10,000 winners are: 

• Teria Johnson: Charleston Kitchen, offering sweet and savory pies, inspired by Teria’s Gullah Geechee culture. Currently operating as an e-commerce company, Charleston Kitchen’s plans to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. 
• Zoey Barker and Mohammadmehdi Mortazavi: ExoBraced created ExoBak, a non-powered light-weight exoskeleton designed to help manual workers prevent lower back injuries and pain, while helping businesses reduce injury rates, high labor turnover, and unnecessary compensation expenses. 
• Giovanni Garza: Classic Borrego Retail, dedicated to offering high-quality, handcrafted artisanal cowboy boots. As part of its long-term plan, the company aims to expand its presence by opening a brick-and-mortar store in the heart of Houston.

Runners-up were awarded $500 each:  

• Francesca Bonaduce De Nigris: Intrecci by Francesca collaborates with artisans around the world, to deliver one-of-a-kind handmade rugs, including antique, vintage, and contemporary rugs, kilims, and textiles that are expressions of the people who created them as well as of the places where they were created. 
• Diana Tudela and Hailee Trombley:  The Goodest Goodbye, redefining pet aftercare through cutting-edge, environmentally conscious water cremation (aquamation) and heartfelt farewell services for pet owners. 
• Diane Nguyen: Flourishing Nexus LLC, aims to develop a dynamic virtual platform that unites health professionals worldwide, fostering professional networking, collaboration, and the global dissemination of knowledge and expertise, ultimately elevating the standard of patient care.

The public was invited to attend in person or view the competition live, on HTV Houston Television or by livestream on Facebook, and vote for their Fan Favorites. Classic Borrego, The Goodest Goodbye, and Flourishing Nexus received the most community votes, winning the Fan Favorite title and a cash prize of $500 each. 

2023 Houston Liftoff judges were: Jennifer Dale; LiftFund, Adriana Gonzalez; Chamber of Latin Entrepreneurs of Houston, Anthony Lopez; PeopleFund, Daniel Luu; America’s Small Business Development Center, Kyra Hardwick; The Kyra Company, Sandra Louvier; HCC Center for Entrepreneurship, Kiley Summers; SpenDebt, Grace Rodriguez, ImpactHub Houston, Kym Adams; The Business Team.

“The program is especially significant as data collected from recent competitions shows Liftoff Houston made an impact on populations that have been historically marginalized.” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “More than 90% of participants identified as people of color, more than 70% were female, 44% had no college degree, and 54% earned less than $50,000 a year.” 

The annual Liftoff Houston competition is sponsored by Capital One Bank and administered by the Houston Public Library (HPL) and the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO). Capital One Bank has given more than $330,000 in prizes for aspiring entrepreneurs since Liftoff Houston’s inception.

Of all competition finalists over the 11 years, 33 winners started businesses in retail, merchandise, consulting, software, hardware, hospitality, health and wellness, education, finance, technology, and logistics. 

“The Houston Public Library (HPL) wishes all the finalists the very best. Liftoff Houston continues to be an outstanding program that is helping people from all over the city realize their goal of starting their own business.” said HPL Director Dr. Rhea Lawson. “HPL is proud to be part of the program, and we remain committed to providing access to great, free business resources and services for anyone wanting to learn more about entrepreneurship.” 

“Liftoff Houston – and our finalists – have also made it this far because of our workshop partners, all who have given us the invaluable gift of their time.” said OBO Director Marsha Murray. “The business, financial, legal and marketing education they have provided has allowed our participants to plan a roadmap to their success, including the creation of viable business plans.” 

All who completed the Liftoff Houston competition attended nearly four months of required workshops and met with business and financial mentors. They also submitted business plans which were reviewed and judged by representatives from SCORE Houston. Participants also leveraged free business resources from the Houston Public Library and the Office of Business Opportunity to complete market research, develop marketing plans, and to create viable business plans. In addition to the competition, Liftoff Houston also featured the Educational Pathway, which extended the business education opportunities to all interested, including those not ready to compete as well as participants who did not meet eligibility requirements to compete. 

For more information about Liftoff Houston, go to www.liftoff-houston.com. 

Houston History Research Center Manager Letrice Davis was interviewed by Mister McKinney and Heidi Vaughan for the Houston Hour radio show on KPFT 90.1 Friday, October 27. 

The interview is archived on the KPFT web page—to listen, just go to the Archives Page and scroll down to the Friday, October 27 entry for The Houston Hour. The interview begins around the 32 minute mark.

KHOU's Brandi Smith interviewed Houston History Research Center Manager Letrice Davis for this Hidden Gems segment all about the Julia Ideson Building! 

From the story:

Since the building is part of the Houston Public Library system, the HHRC is open to the public, including its microfiche, old yearbooks and even its 4,000-piece photo collection.

"It's important to preserve the documentary evidence of Houston because it allows researchers to come in and understand how the city started, what significant things have happened here and how the people have changed," said Davis.

The HHRC occupies a small portion of the first floor. Just outside its doors, the history lessons continue via a free audio tour of the building. Visitors can learn about the building itself and its façade. About a dozen other stops fill you in on how a tile mural of Don Quixote came to be, what the other murals in the building are all about and what’s special about the Norma Meldrum Children's Room.

"Ninety-five percent of the furniture in that room was original to the building," Davis pointed out.

The chairs, tables and shelves all date back nearly a century. It’s all been not just preserved, but restored.

"When they did the restoration, they made sure that they even went back and got microscopic paint chips so that they could restore even the color to the building," said Davis.

Its uniqueness is highlighted in spots like the Reading Room, complete with a Venus de Milo statue.

"(It's) really amazing to work here with so much history," Davis smiled. "It's just really a beautiful building. I understand totally why it's such a draw for people who are having events or just visiting the city and want to look around."

Featured in KPRC-TV, Houston Life City of Houston reveals beautiful new statue of former First Lady Barbara Bush

From the news release:

On September 28, the City of Houston, led by Mayor Sylvester Turner, in conjunction with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Foundation), Houston Public Library Foundation (HPL Foundation), and Houston Public Library, revealed a statue of Former First Lady Barbara Bush and held a dedication at the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza at the Houston Public Library Downtown. The bronze statue, commissioned in partnership among the organizations, will serve as the focal point of the Barbara Bush Memorial Garden located within the Plaza named in honor of the late First Lady.

The dedication was attended by Mayor Sylvester Turner; Family members of the late President George H.W. & First Lady Barbara Bush – Neil Bush (son) and wife Maria Bush, Pierce (grandson) and wife Sarahbeth Bush, Jim Pierce (nephew), and Clemmie Pierce Martin (great niece); Dr. Julie Baker Finck, President & CEO, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation; Licia Green Ellis, Houston Public Library Foundation Board Chair; and John Middleton, Houston Public Library Assistant Director of Spaces. The invocation was offered by Reverend Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr, Rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

The custom bronze statue, created by artists at Randolph Rose, took two years to design and create, is the first stand-alone statue of the late First Lady Barbara Bush in Texas. (A statue of the late President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush stands in the Bush Convention Center in Midland, Texas.) The statue is a life-size image of Mrs. Bush seated on a six-foot “open book” bench. She is wearing her signature pearls and is posed in the act of reading as she did so often to groups of children across the country who would gather to hear stories. Beloved family dog Millie – the family dog while the Bush’s were in the White House – sits at her feet. Mrs. Bush frequently took her dogs – whether Millie or Mini and Bebe on school visits.

“Mom championed a literacy movement across America and believed that learning how to read, write, and comprehend was a fundamental human right,” said Neil Bush, son of President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush and Co-Chair of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “The statue is an incredible tribute to her legacy and captures Mom’s essence, as she truly loved reading to children in schools across our nation and beyond with her beloved dogs in tow.”

“This statue stands as a tribute to Barbara Bush’s incredible 30-year commitment to helping countless people across our country gain the life-changing literacy skills they need to thrive in the workforce, family and society.” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “May this statue serve as a constant reminder of her dedication and inspire us all to give in service to others and make reading a priority in our homes and communities."

The Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza is located between the historic Julia Ideson Building and the Central Library of the Houston Public Library in downtown Houston and joins five bronze book benches sponsored by the Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild in 2022.

Featured in Chron.com, HPL wraps up summer book club with panel featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones

From the article:

"One Houston One Book — Diverse Stories for a Diverse City was born out of a need for community after three years of the pandemic, according to HPL deputy assistant director Ophelia Gomes."

Houston Public Library's very own Youth and Family Services Manager LaTrisha Milton stopped by Great Day Houston to have a chat with Debra Duncan about celebrating diverse stories with the One Houston, One Book initiative! 

You can watch the conversation here.

The following article is a guest post from Rebecca Grimes of the HPL Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus. It is published in the July 2023 issue of the Clayton Crier quarterly newsletter. To subscribe to this and other History Research Center newsletters, sign up here.

By chance do you have ancestors who signed the Declaration of Independence?  How do you connect your genealogy line to these signers?  The signers of the Declaration of Independence came from the original 13 colonies of the United States which were:  Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York State, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.  There were a total of 57 delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence.  In this article we will be looking at two individual volumes and a seven volume set of books found in the Houston Public Library’s Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus about these men.  Hopefully, these books can offer insight in connecting to your historical ancestors who made a huge impact on the founding of our country.

Lives of the signers to the Declaration of Independence by The Rev. Charles A Goodrich. (973.3 G654 USA)  Since this book was written just 53 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it doesn’t give you any ancestors or descendants of the signers.  It does give you a little information on how these men became to be signers of he Declaration of Independence.  Great information can be obtained from this book about the signers’ background and what they achieved in life.

The Signers of the Declaration of Independence: a biographical and genealogical reference by Della Gray Barthelmas. (923.273 B285 USA) This book lists in alphabetical order the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  A bibliography is given about the life of the signers with genealogy information about them.  It gives information about who they married and can give information on their children also.  The genealogy information is sometimes a little bit confusing since it is not given in the form of a genealogy chart.  In the back of the book in an index, selected biography, and an appendix.

Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by The Rev. Frederick Wallace Pyne. Volumes 1-7 (973.313 P997 USA)

V. 1:  The New England States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island) (2nd Edition)
V. 2:  New York State
V. 3:  New Jersey
V. 4: Pennsylvania
V. 5: Delaware and Maryland
V. 6: Virginia
V. 7: Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

This genealogical register set contains genealogical information about the descendants of the signers only, not information about their ancestors.  In the interest of making this as complete as possible all descendants have been included: those who died young (dy), those who never married (unm), and those who married, but never had issue (children).  To find a descendant you must know the name of someone you believe to be a descendant of a signer.  Look in the every-name index at the back of the volume to find the name of that person.  There is a table of contents to each book that goes by state and tells you what signer or signers were from that state.  This is an excellent set to use because it starts with the first generation and can have information forward for multiple generations.

These books and family histories of some of the signers can be found at the Family History Research Center and hopefully they will be helpful for researchers trying to connect to an ancestor who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.  To search for these materials using the HPL catalog use the keywords “Declaration of Independence” in quotes. Remember after your search, limit your search using the filters to “Family History Research Center” to get the items that are located at our location.

UPDATE: The author event with Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Public Library (HPL) announce a new citywide reading program: One Houston, One Book: Diverse Stories for a Diverse City. This new program highlights stories that celebrate our diverse backgrounds and experiences. Featured books are aimed at readers’ interest by age; they include Yangsook Choi’s The Name Jar, now considered a children’s literature classic; Punching the Air, a novel in verse for teens, by Ebi Zoboi and Dr. Yusef Salaam; and a memoir, Once I Was You, by award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa.

“Houston is the most diverse city in the country, but one in three adults in Houston has low literacy skills,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “This program will help Houstonians come together and support each other through reading and conversation. Having discussions about our varied life experiences will celebrate everything that makes Houston special.” The Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy, which has become a national model for how cities can have an impact on low literacy rates, is providing additional books for the program to engage individuals reading at various proficiency levels.  

Library Director Rhea Brown Lawson calls One Houston, One Book, “A citywide celebration of diversity and equitable access to HPL’s free resources and services. We eliminated late fines for overdue items this year, and with barriers removed, we designed a reading program to bring Houstonians together like never before. Celebrating Houston’s diversity and HPL’s free access is what One Houston, One Book is all about.” 

One Houston, One Book launches May 15 and continues through September with programming that includes block parties, read-ins, library open houses, book clubs and storytimes at library locations. The authors of the selected books are visiting Houston for a series of special events.  

Co-authors Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam discuss their novel for teens on June 13. Yangsook Choi shares her story for children virtually on July 27. Maria Hinojosa reflects on immigrant experiences in her memoir on July 29.  

ABOUT MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY 

Launched in 2019 by Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy (MOAL) advocates for adult literacy and spreads awareness of the impact literacy has on our economy, communities, families, and individuals. MOAL promotes and builds capacity for adult literacy and education in the City of Houston. Collaborating with a network of over 40 adult literacy providers, MOAL focuses on basic skills, financial and health literacy, digital literacy development, workforce skills development, and services to people with learning differences. For more information on the Houston Adult Literacy Blueprint visit https://www.houstontx.gov/adultliteracyblueprint. 

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Mayor Sylvester Turner is pleased to announce the new Houston Poet Laureate: Aris Kian Brown. Brown is the sixth poet laureate and the youngest to be chosen. 

The selection of Aris was announced last night at a reception hosted by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) and the Houston Public Library (HPL) with remarks by Mayor Turner, Dr. Lawson, Dr. Irvin, and the 2021-23 Houston Poet Laureate, Emanuelee "Outspoken" Bean.  

“It is an honor to have selected Aris as the next Poet Laureate,” says Mayor Sylvester Turner. “She represents Houston’s literary future with her prophetic poetry. She will continue the Poet Laureates' hard work before her, inspire the City of Houston with her words, and bring out the poetry in everyone. My heart is gladdened to see the Houston Poet Laureate program continue to thrive and become a part of my legacy as Mayor of this Arts City.”

"Poetry, language, and building narrative power are all my life's work,” says Aris Kian Brown.  “As the next Poet Laureate, I am looking forward to being able to share my love for both community organizing and creative expression."

Brown was selected through a competitive process by a diverse group of poets, scholars, literary experts, and community representatives. The Committee consisted of Poet Laureate Emeritus, Emanuelee “Outspoken” Bean; Elizabeth Gregory of the University of Houston; Terri Hamm of Kindred Stories; Rich Levy of Inprint; Eloísa Pérez-Lozano of The Acentos Review; and César Ramos of Raspa Magazine. Non-voting members include Victor Ancheta of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) and Justin Bogert with the Houston Public Library (HPL).

"I am so pleased to join our Mayor and Cultural Affairs Director, Necole Irvin, in congratulating Aris Kian Brown," said Houston Public Library Director, Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson. "We are excited to support Ms. Brown in engaging Houston’s diverse communities served by Houston Public Library through the exciting Poet Laureate program.”

Aris’ two-year term runs through April 2025. As Poet Laureate, she will work closely with MOCA and HPL to implement her Community Outreach Project, “Space for Us: Afrofuturism and the Poetic Imagination.” Brown will conduct a series of interviews with community members across Houston asking them questions like, “What do you hope Houston looks like tomorrow?” and then “stitch” a poem utilizing those answers, allowing everyone to see the poetry that is “already embedded in everyday people.” Brown will also translate the finished poem into the top spoken languages in the city.  

Necole S. Irvin, Director of Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, is excited about Brown’s community project. “Aris will create a unique project that will speak to all residents of Houston which aligns with our office’s goal of equity, inclusion, and accessibility to the arts for all. The project is one that complements the goals of the Houston Poet Laureate program as well, which is to make poetry accessible to everyone.” 

About Aris Kian Brown
Aris Kian is a Houston enthusiast and student of abolitionists.  Her poems are published with Button Poetry, West Branch, Obsidian Lit, The West Review, and elsewhere. She is a 2019 Pushcart nominee, 2020 Best of the Net finalist, a 2021 Crystal Wilkinson Creative Writing Prize finalist, and a 2022 New Voices Contest finalist with Frontier Poetry. Kian is the 2022 recipient of the Inprint Marion Barthelme Prize in Creative Writing for Students with Service to the Houston Literary Community and ranks #2 in the 2023 Women of the World Poetry Slam. As an Inprint C. Glenn Cambor Fellow, she received her MFA from the University of Houston and currently serves as the Narrative Change & Media Manager at Houston in Action. She engages with the socio-mythological landscape of our metropolitan city in her poems and hates taking 610 West Loop.

About the Houston Poet Laureate Program
The City of Houston Poet Laureate Program celebrates Houston’s rich culture and diversity through the work of a poet who represents Houston by creating excitement about the written and spoken word as well as outreach activities, special programs, teaching, and individual works. The role of the Houston Poet Laureate is to stimulate poetic impulse, foster appreciation of poetry in all its forms, and serve Houston residents and visitors with expressions of culture through words. 

Jerry Craft, the Newbery Award-winning author of New Kid, paid HPL a visit in June 2022 for our Summer Reading Author Series. Youth and Family Services Manager LaTrisha Milton sat down with our guest and talked about his upbringing, his experience in the spotlight, and Jordan Banks’ next adventure.

This Inside Voices Q&A Feature was originally published in the Link magazine's inaugural issue. Download your copy here. 

LaTrisha Milton: Can you describe the kind of research and practice that as an artist, goes into creating a graphic novel that happens to be rooted in personal experiences?

Jerry Craft: The first thing I did, was to look at my life, to see what was something everyone could relate to. And then, what was unique to my experiences, something a smaller audience would recognize, but only because they had never read about it before. I was born in Harlem, I grew up in Washington Heights, and then got sent to school in Riverdale going back and forth between two different worlds every day. I wrote and illustrated what I lived as a student, and then witnessed my sons for 10 years do the same. It’s authentic, especially for the kids of color who know what it’s like, and readers respond to that.

LM: As a response to censorship, Banned Books Week is an awareness campaign but also a call to action. Can you share an example or two of how your books being targeted served as motivation for readers?

JC: I first learned that New Kid had been banned in the school district in Texas because people on Twitter started DMing me. And then I got the updates: “This happened at the school board meeting last night, here’s a video.” I didn’t even want to watch the video, because the book is my baby. It’s like someone talking about one of your kids. On the anti-New Kid side, there was a petition to get the books taken out of the school library and to cancel my Zoom visit. But on the pro-New Kid side, there were maybe seven times as many people. Almost 3,000 people signed a petition to reinstate me. A bookstore in Katy, Brown Sugar Café and Books, helped raise money and they literally gave out free copies to teachers and kids and people that might not be able to see the book if it had been pulled. The school board, after a week, determined that the allegations were unfounded. I hate that it happened. The silver lining is that more kids saw it. I hate that I didn’t get that kind of news coverage winning the Newbery Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Kirkus Prize as I did for being banned. Unfortunately, sometimes we celebrate adversity more than we celebrate someone that really worked hard to get to where they are.

LM: New Kid and Class Act are not instructional books, so what are your thoughts on how they promote equity in children’s literature nonetheless?

JC: I don’t know what you as a woman in the public library system, or women in corporate America, go through, but I know it’s different than what I have gone through. Shouldn’t you be allowed to tell your story? And if you tell your story, is it up to me to say, “That’s sexist! That’s anti-male!” When I hear about the glass ceiling, women getting paid $.75 on the dollar to male counterparts, I examine myself, and consider the advantages I have as a male, even as a Black male. But race isn’t done that way, it’s not handled the same. You don’t have that same equity and balance. Jordan Banks in New Kid says, “so it’s OK that this stuff happens to me, it’s just not OK for me to talk about it.” And that, I think is what it comes down to. Instead of someone saying, “wow, what can we do to make our African American kids or kids of color feel more comfortable?” It’s “what can we do to now silence them so that they can continue to be uncomfortable.” At the end of the day, do they really care?

LM: It is said that books are windows and mirrors. Because September is Library Card Month, finish this sentence: Library cards are... 

JC: Library cards are the passport to get your mind to travel to other cities, other states, other countries, even other universes.

LM: What new project or projects do you have coming up?

JC: I am proud to say that the third (and possibly final) book in the series is finished and is scheduled to be released on April 4th, 2023. It’s called School Trip and will follow Jordan and Drew and their friends as they travel to Paris, France. I’ve never seen kids of color portrayed as world travelers in books. So my goal, what I am obsessed with, is if I haven’t seen it, I’m going to do it. And I think it’s the best book of the three. I put a lot of work into it and did not shy away from anything. I’ve never let any of the criticism deter me. Instead, I let the love and support that I’ve received from the first two books inspire me. And I think you’re really going to like it.

With the support of Mayor Sylvester Turner and approval by Houston City Council, Houston Public Library (HPL) will no longer charge late fines on overdue books and other borrowed items. This change is effective January 11, 2023. By eliminating late fines, HPL joins other public library systems across North America in lowering financial barriers to library access and creating more equitable services for all users.

Studies of libraries that have gone fine free found a higher rate of return on borrowed items, as well as an influx of users returning to the library with the barrier of late fees removed. Under previous fine-related policies, approximately 25% of HPL account holders owed fines, and 70% of those fines were accrued before 2015. Fines are intimidating enough to block customers from using library services. With the passing of this update to the standing ordinance, many Houstonians, including those who are in the most need of library services, will regain access to the vast resources available—from books and audiobooks to mobile hotspots and Wi-Fi-connected laptops. "A fine free library system evens the playing field and incentivizes Houstonians to become lifelong users of our Houston Public Library," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "When you analyze the numbers, you see that young people account for more than 27% of users with fines, preventing them from accessing free resources and tools for learning. Simply put, this is the right thing to do." HPL does not expect the elimination of late fees to impact revenue in a significant way, given that revenue from fines has comprised less than one percent of the Library's budget over the past five years. Fines have proven to be a strain on staff time and resources due to policy enforcement and account management.

HPL has offered fine forgiveness in the past, and overdue fines were eliminated on children's materials for students of area school districts participating in HPL's Learning Link program. To give all customers an opportunity to clear their accounts of monies owed, HPL has designated an amnesty period to occur from January 17 through February 18, 2023. During the amnesty period, library users are invited to visit an HPL location to return overdue items and review their account status for fees that may have been incurred for lost or damaged items. Library staff will assist with clearing all charges from accounts. Once the amnesty period ends, accounts will reflect fees to replace lost or damaged items that are not returned 30 days after the due date. HPL extended amnesty for fines in the past, most recently in 2014, when clearing accounts of $30,000 in fines led to the return of $75,000 worth of overdue materials. This is consistent with trends across the country. When Chicago Public Library removed fines in 2019, that system had a 240% increase in book returns. Denver Public Library had a 35% increase in customers returning to the library when fines were removed in 2018 and a 10% increase in lost materials being returned. San Francisco Public Library's 2017 amnesty period resulted in the recovery of 700,000 lost or overdue items, and more than 5,000 customer accounts were restored to good standing.

On Monday, December 12, 2022, the Houston Public Library celebrated the unveiling of an Official Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for the Gregory School building at the African American History Research Center (AAHRC). The dedication ceremony took place amongst the exhibits inside and culminated outside at the marker's permanent location, at the corner of Wilson and Victor streets in Freedmen's Town/Fourth Ward. 

The event began with opening remarks from Angela Kent, Senior Manager of HPL’s History Research Centers and Miguell Ceasar, AAHRC Manager and Senior Archivist. Local historian and member of the African American Library Gregory Friends (AALGS) Debra Blacklock Sloan gave an official statement on the awarding of the marker. She also thanked the local officials who sent proclamations, like State Representative Jolanda Jones.

HPL Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson gave remarks. “When I became the Director of the Houston Public Library in 2005, implementing Mayor Lee Brown’s vision for the Gregory School, now the African American History Research Center, was at the top on my list of goals,” said Dr. Lawson. “I have had the pleasure of seeing it evolve to become a significant destination in Houston, all while providing a unique window into the local and global Black experience.  Now we have a restored facility with an official State Historical Marker designation thanks in large part to the dedication of the Friends of the Gregory School. We are very thankful for their continuing support and longtime partnership.”   

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner read the text of the marker, after which it was unveiled. 

Mayor Turner said, “We come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, but we are all here together for a common cause: to recognize the contributions of people and places like Gregory School that are sacred pillars of education and advancement within the African American community.” 

After the ceremony, attendees headed indoors for an open house and tour of the AAHRC facility.

HOUSTON – Houston Endowment awarded $500,000 to the Houston Public Library (HPL) in support of a series of archival preservation projects.  

“We greatly appreciate the generous award from Houston Endowment. These funds advance our efforts to honor Houston’s rich diversity through the preservation, accessibility, promotion, and further development of HPL’s African American and Hispanic research collections,” said Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Director of the Library. Ann Stern, president and CEO of Houston Endowment, lauds the efforts, “We are proud to recognize organizations driving social justice and racial equity across arts, culture, history, civic engagement and education.”

HPL's goal to expand online access to materials can be achieved with significant funding for ongoing archival digitization work. Funding also provides much-needed support for the preservation and storage of physical materials. Angela Kent, Head of History Research Centers, explains, “By having funds dedicated to the collection and preservation of African American and Hispanic experiences, HPL is able to stay the course in documenting and unlocking access to our city's diverse history."

The African American History Research Center at the Gregory School (AAHRC) opened its doors in 2009 and is one of the few African American institutions in the U.S. actively collecting archival materials. Its mission to preserve and celebrate African American history is supported with a staff of professional archivists who maintain and build the collections. This highly trained staff also provides specialized skills in community archiving and knowledge of Black history for researchers. The AAHRC is still building its collections and relies on community contributions to help document and tell stories of African Americans in Houston and surrounding areas. 

HPL’s Hispanic Collections benefit from the continuous care and custody of archivists through the Houston History Research Center (HHRC), which was established in 1970. The contributions of Hispanics in every industry in the Bayou City are accounted for in over 100 collections of papers and photographs. These records, coupled with oral histories, reflect a rich tapestry of the Hispanic experience and include a significant number of materials about early Houston mutualistas (mutual aid societies), big band, Tejano, and Chicano music, the lives of Mexican Americans during World War II, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Houston Endowment is a private foundation that partners with others to achieve a vibrant and inclusive region where all residents can thrive. It advances equity of opportunity through deep commitments to PreK-12 public education and civic engagement; supports cultural assets that engage and connect us; and drives sustainable change across the region.  

The Houston Public Library stands in solidarity with the American Library Association, Texas Library Association, and libraries of all types in denouncing censorship of library materials and resources.

Free access to information is the cornerstone of freedom, equity, and democracy and book censorship erodes these tenets that libraries have long stood for. Actions taken to restrict access to books and materials from others infringe on the First Amendment rights of our community members. Libraries manifest the promises of the First Amendment by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas, so that every person has the opportunity to freely read and consider information and ideas, regardless of their content or the viewpoint of the author.

The Houston Public Library’s collection is as rich and wide-ranging as the diversity of our customers. The fulfillment of the Houston Public Library’s mission to “Link people to the world” requires us to make every effort to provide our customers with free access to a diverse collection of materials representing diverse viewpoints. Our collection development policy is impartial with no consideration given to the potential controversy of a given title. We remain committed to providing unfettered access to information and resources.