National Friends of the Library Week Oct 16-22

Without our Friends, Atascocita Branch Library wouldn’t be the vibrant community space it is. We owe a lot to the support of FOAL.”

Beth, Branch Manager

It’s National Friends of the Library Week — and we’re celebrating our Friends! From LED signs to playhouses, the Friends allow the library to bring the best to our community.

We recently sent out the Fall newsletter, so be sure to check your mail for the latest news from FOAL and highlights of the library. Thank you for being part of FOAL and supporting our mission and the mission of the Atascocita Branch Library.

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month

Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.

Marc Brown

If you are an active library user, congratulations on having that most important card in your wallet! If you do not have a card, now is the time to get one. And if you have a card, but haven’t used it lately, give your library a call to make sure it is active. When you can’t get to the library there are so many items you can borrow digitally. Check out the HCPL homepage and visit the eBooks & Online Resources page for more information.

What better time to give thanks and celebrate your library card than by donating this month to the Harris County Friends of the Library. Consider donating $1 for each year you have had a library card! If you don’t have one or are just getting one, any donation is appreciated. Funds collected during the month will go toward HCFOL’s support of HCPL’s literacy programs for all ages.

You can donate three ways:

1. Text YOURFRIEND to 44-321
2. Go to our website hcfol.org
3. Send a check made out to HCFOL to:

Harris County Public Library / HCFOL
5749 South Loop East
Houston, TX 77033

Summer Reading is an Ocean of Possibilities!

Summer Reading is in full swing, and we’re so excited to have programs back in the library. From teens in Box Wars to learning the history of the USS Houston, and on to rehabilitating sea turtles, this summer reading is an Ocean of Possibilities!

Be sure to save your spot for a special presentation by Houston FBI on avoiding fraud. You can register at hcpl.net/events/61363.

Construction on the library continues: an adjustment to the sign, adding windows and doors, and the outside will be complete. The inside still has a lot of work to do, but the team navigating this process, as well as the work crew, are determined to keep moving ahead even as the Texas heat makes an impact on tasks to be done.

The project to furnish the inside has begun. We’re gathering lists of furnishings to meet the needs of the A/V Lab and the meeting room. Be sure to check this space for how you can help support FOAL to bring tables, chairs, and equipment for these much needed community spaces. Thank you to all who have already generously donated to FOAL for this project.

Please note that the library will close early on July 1, open 1pm-5pm, and closed July 2-4 for the holiday. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

What’s new at the library

Since the start of the new year, a lot has been happening at the library. We have new hours! Our hours only changed a little from pre-pandemic, but you’ll want to check out the other branches in the area to see what their new hours are. Here at Atascocita our hours are:

• Monday 11-6
• Tuesday 10-8
• Wednesday 10-6
• Thursday 10-8
• Friday 1-6
• Saturday 10-5

We’re back to in-person programming, though we are in the guidance of capacity limits. So check online to see what programs have returned and which ones require registration at hcpl.net/events. In addition, we have some exciting system-wide programs that you have access to through Atascocita Branch. Do you have connectivity issues at home? Did you know you can check out WiFi from the library? This limited time opportunity is for patrons who have unreliable internet access in their home. Learn more at hcpl.net/services/digital-access.

WiFi check out for limited time

Construction continues on the new meeting room, the detention pond, and soon the work on the inside will begin. Keep up to date with the library happenings on our social media as well as our monthly podcast that you can access through your favorite app or from the link to the right side of this webpage.

Construction begins on new meeting room!

If you’ve visited the branch recently, you may have noticed a few changes: there’s a construction trailer in our front parking lot, a large square area of dirt with wood framing for a foundation pour, and our large oak tree is gone. This is all part of the new expansion of the library. Over the next year, a new and larger meeting room will be added to the front of the building, an A/V Lab added to the inside, several new parking spaces, and the required retention pond in the front yard. All of this infrastructure is with funds from the county. This new meeting space will not only provide more meeting space for library programs and the community, but a consistent voting area when elections occur.

Staff have also been working towards new program areas, including a butterfly garden. With the approval of Harris County’s property management, staff and the community will start work on a garden area in the back for programming and to help our pollinating friends, like butterflies, do their work. We will bring more information about this new area soon, so look to our social media pages for this and more of the programming and events at your Atascocita Branch Library.

25th Anniversary Celebration

After years of fundraising and many months of construction, the Atascocita Branch Library was ready to serve the community in May 1996! It’s been 25 years of being part of this growing community, and we’re ready to celebrate. Starting May 3, the library will have a series of special crafts, giveaways, and more to pick up during curbside! Don’t miss out on special online programs, so check out the branch’s social media pages and Events Calendar. May 1 will present Atascocita Branch Library’s 25th Anniversary podcast, including interviews with first branch manager, Linda Stevens and current FOAL President, Becky Berry.

25th Anniversary Facebook Profile Picture Frame

You can already add a Facebook frame to your Facebook profile picture to join in the celebration. Just click on your Facebook profile picture, update picture, select “Add Frame”, search “Atascocita 25”, and select the frame. Our profile frame was designed by Janell, one of our newest staff members!

With the support of FOAL over the years, the library has been able to continue to serve and grow with the community. Happy 25th Anniversary everyone!

Book Sales on hold for 2020

While the library remains closed to the public, FOAL is investigating new ways of providing book sales to the community. Thank you for your ongoing support and patience.

Expansion Budget Approved!

Thank you Harris County Commissioner’s Court for approving the budget proposal for funding of renovation and expansion of the Atascocita Branch Library! We’re a giant step closer to getting an additional meeting room to serve our community even better. Thanks to our community for supporting us.

Be on the look out for additional details in mid-2020!

Atascocita Library Expansion

In the next few weeks Harris County Commissioners Court will vote on the 2020-2021 Harris County budget, which includes $1,000,000 to add meeting rooms to the Atascocita Library. The members of Commissioners Court need to know our community needs and wants this addition to the Atascocita Library, which serves multi purposes since there is no community center. More space is needed for elections, community meetings, and library programs.  In 2021 the Atascocita Library will celebrate 25 years and the Harris County Public Library System will celebrate 100 years. There will be a great celebration of libraries and community, and I hope the completion of renovations to our library will be included. Please print, sign, and mail the letters addressed to Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia and County Judge Lina Hidalgo, urging them to vote Yes to funding the renovations for the Atascocita Library in the 2020-2021 budget year.  Together we can do this! Becky Berry President, Friends of the Atascocita Library UPDATE: The letters previously attached have been removed as the budget process for the county has moved to its next phase. We appreciate all the support from the community!

Best Buy Grant for A/V Club!

Many thanks to Best Buy for supporting young adult programming at Atascocita Branch Library! The grant, applied for through FOAL, will provide funds for audio visual equipment including microphones, cameras, computer, and more to bring our upcoming A/V club for teens to life! Best Buy of Atascocita is a great supporter of the library; not only do they volunteer their time during FOAL book sales, but they also volunteer in teaching tech courses to our patrons.

Beth Krippel, library Branch Manager; Becky Berry, FOAL President; Darla Pruitt, Young Adult Services Librarian; Claudia Washington, Best Buy #1397 Back Office Lead;
R. Tera Vilchez, Best Buy #1397 General Manager