Annual Meeting May 9, 4pm

We’re excited to announce we will hold our FOAL Annual Meeting, in person, Tuesday, May 9, at 4pm, in the current Library Meeting Room. There will be an election of officers and presentation of 2023-2024 budget. Everyone is invited to come out and catch up on FOAL news and get the latest updates on the construction of the new meeting room. The new Audio/Visual Room is also nearing completion, offering additional space for the Teen Audio/Visual Club Meetings and Projects, as well as other library projects. Refreshments will be served.

A big thank you to our dedicated FOAL Board; Vice President, Ron Sadler; Treasurer, Donna Ebeling; Recording Secretary, Dee Ann Smith; Corresponding Secretary, Lu Ann Schmidt; ExxonMobil Liaison, Glenda Buckleair; Media Chair, India Loth; and Membership, Jerry Berry. Corresponding Secretary Lu Ann Schmidt, is retiring from her position, after 10 years writing letters of thanks and acknowledgment to FOAL donors. The slate of officers will include the other current officers, and Christin Lippincott, as nominee for Corresponding Secretary.

We don’t know when the new meeting room will be completed, but there will be a grand opening celebration.

Look for the announcement. We’ll have a lot to celebrate!

National Library Week, April 23-29

Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and ebooks. But there’s so much more to the story of libraries. Libraries are welcoming spaces that bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, lectures, and more. Harris County Public Library offers a wide array of programs, classes and resources.

And libraries play a critical role in the economic vitality of communities by providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for job seekers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Atascocita Branch Library supports our community with services such as Grow with Google Bootcamp, online every Wednesday in April at 10 am.

If you haven’t checked out Harris County Public Library lately, you’re missing the full story. Stop by for a visit to celebrate with us during National Library Week, April 23-29. Follow the hashtag #National Library Week to join the online celebration. 

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.

For more information, visit American Library Association – National Library Week.

• Monday, April 24: Right to Read Day, the State of America’s Libraries Report is released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2022.
• Tuesday, April 25: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
• Wednesday, April 26: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.
• Thursday, April 27: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.

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!