Linking you to the World

Library Director Rhea Brown Lawson.

I have the honor to serve as director of a group of highly skilled and broadly talented men and women who provide exemplary customer service every day. They meet information needs, help navigate cyberspace and fuel the imaginations of the diverse citizens of our city. Because of this culture of always doing our best work, the Library Department has won 22 state and national awards during the last three years and is considered a national leader. Did you know that the Library’s Clayton Center for Genealogical Research is rated the number two genealogical-research facility in the country?

The Houston Public Library, with 42 locations and knowledgeable information professionals and support staff, is an important resource and strong contributor to the quality of life for thousands of Houstonians. HPL manages a collection of more than 4 million print volumes and electronic and digital resources, including oral histories, e-books and DVDs. We’re the largest provider of free Internet access and computer instruction in the city, assisting more than 4,000 users daily. The library also provides a wide array of programs for the 18,000 Houstonians who walk through our doors each day.

As residents of the city have been challenged by the economic downturn, they have turned to HPL technology to update their resumes, to search and apply for jobs, to find housing and for other vital needs. They get help with homework, literacy skills and learning English. To save money, many Houstonians borrow that latest bestseller or “how-to” DVD. In fact, the average HPL customer saves $75 per visit by checking out books, DVDs and other items rather than buying them.

In spite of our budget challenges, HPL remains committed to providing equitable, high-quality services and to being the best library. And the word is getting out. Recently, entertainer Lyle Lovett called because he wanted to contribute his oral history to HPL’s archives. And NFL Films conducted an interview at the African American Library at the Gregory School that will air this fall on ESPN. Who said libraries were boring?

We are proud of HPL, and we hope you are too. It is our pleasure to serve you and we look forward to seeing you soon.