In this undated photo from the HCPL Digital Archive, a woman and young children read in front of Garden Villas Branch Library. Photo credit: HCPL Digital Archive
Harris County Public Library Celebrates 100 Years By Michele Chan Santos HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (HCPL), WHICH SERVES THE HOUSTON AREA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, WAS FOUNDED IN 1921 when Lucy Fuller, its first head librarian, was given $6500 to stock library shelves in post offices, schools, businesses and private homes. This year, HCPL celebrates its 100th anniversary. In the century since its founding, the library system has grown to encompass 26 branches, two technology service centers, two partner locations, five mobile outreach vehicles and a total collection of more than 1.8 million items. The most recent census data shows that Harris County is now the third most populous county in the United States, with a population of more than 4.7 million.
86 | Texas Library Journal SPRING 2021
HCPL librarians began planning more than 18 months ago to celebrate this important anniversary. Things were going smoothly – and then the pandemic hit, requiring organizers to do a great deal of re-planning. The resultant all-virtual celebrations are a feat of creativity and accessibility that honor the past decades of the various branch libraries as well as encouraging participation from across the Houston area. Linda Stevens, HCPL division director of programs, partnership and outreach shared that, once the pandemic hit, “We realized we had to make the whole thing digital.” “We started writing scripts. In our administrative offices much of the space is now a video studio. Each month in 2021, we celebrate a decade and do a
video to go along with that.” Through social media and the HCPL web site, patrons can view the monthly videos marking each decade, monthly musical performances (also in conjunction with the decade theme), and a digital archive featuring photos and materials from all the branches from the 1920s through now. For example, in February, composers Damien Sneed and Paul Cornish wrote a special piece of music commemorating HCPL’s 100th anniversary and celebrating Black History Month. Houston-based visual artist Phillip Pyle created digital art to go with the music, and the resultant program, “Centennial Jubilee” was presented by the Apollo Chamber Players in partnership with HCPL. Houston Ebony Opera Guild
