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.
Rose Marie Baumann, 87, peacefully passed away at home on March 2, 2016 in Humble, Texas. Born in Perryville, Missouri on November 18th, 1928, Rose helped her family through the Great Depression and later moved to St. Louis. After obtaining her degree in Nursing from the De Paul Hospital School of Nursing, she met and married Herman Lee Baumann. They raised their children while moving throughout the United States. Rose adjusted her career with each move, working in doctors’ offices, hospitals, becoming a school nurse during her children’s school years, and retiring from FMC after traveling the world as an Industrial Safety Nurse.
Upon retirement, Rose and Herman decided to stay in Humble these last 37 years. An avid reader, she was a founding member of the Friends of the Atascocita Library and served as president. Holding offices in the Humble Noon Lions Club, her profound service was recognized countless times, including being named a Jack Wiech Fellow.
Rose found personal joy in her family, friends, gardening, quilting and a special love for reading. The Friends of the Atascocita Library will donate a book in Rose’s memory to the Atascocita Library.
FOAL also maintains several shelves of books for sale ongoing in the lobby and just inside the doors of Atascocita Branch Library. The majority of these items are priced from $.50 to $1.00. Magazines are available for $.25. All proceeds go toward supporting the library and its programs.
We are pleased to have Edward Melton, the new Library Director for the Harris County Public Library as the speaker for our Friends of the Atascocita Library Annual Meeting on May 12 at 7:00 PM., at the Atascocita Library, 19520 Pinehurst Trail Dr. The public is cordially invited. There will be a short business meeting, which will include election of officers and presentation of the budget for 2015 – 2016.
Edward Melton is keen on leveraging partnerships and collaboration to build sustainable library service models. Even though he strongly supports innovation and technology, he is very practical and traditional in his value of public libraries. He understands the traditional role of libraries and works to create a balance between innovation and tradition.
Edward holds a B.A. in History and Secondary Education from Morehouse College and a MLIS from Clark Atlanta University. He has attended the Brookings Institute for Public Leadership. He has vast experience in libraries including cataloging and indexing, youth services, technology integration, grant management, capital projects, budget and strategic planning, training, operational efficiency, partnerships, and service innovation.
During his tenure as Chief of Branches at San Francisco Public Library, Edward was instrumental in helping complete the Branch Library Improvement Program which included the construction of the last two capital building projects. He led the comprehensive review of library services hours and implemented expanded hours throughout the branches. Edward also enhanced access to technology and learning opportunities at all the branch libraries for youth and the public at large. Edward has been actively engaged with the community and has chaired the Council of Neighborhood Libraries. Edward recently received the 2014 Joey Rodgers Leadership Award by the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) in recognition of his contributions as a public library leader and in support of his continued professional development.
Before his work in San Francisco, Edward was an Administrative Manager with Houston Public Library in which he provided oversight for the HPL Express and Mobile Express service model. He was recognized in 2010 as an Operations Service Innovator by the Urban Library Council. He has also been active in the Texas Library Association and was a Tall Texan Class of 2007. Edward has traveled the country integrating technology in libraries and training librarians with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation US Library program providing him with a vast range of experience from large urban libraries to small rural communities. He began his work at Harris County Public Library on November 3, 2014.
Light refreshments will be served. For more information email contact@foal.ws.
Margaret Martha George Curry, 91, born in Clifton, NJ, passed away February 15, 2015 in Panama City, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas E. “Tom” Curry in 1997. Margaret was a founding member and first president of the Friends of the Atascocita Library, which led to the opening of the Atascocita Branch of the Harris County Public Library May 5, 1996. She served in World War II as a member of the Navy Waves, volunteered with the Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department, and was active with the Lake Houston Ladies Club. She is survived by four children and their spouses, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Interment was at Garrison, TX.
Over the Thanksgiving break, new carpet was installed in our meeting room. Many thanks to Sharon and Jim Shipstead and Dawn and Lee Mehan for generous financial contributions that supported this project. With the updated bulletin boards, the meeting room refurbishment is now complete. All the programs as well as community groups that use the meeting room benefit from having an updated area to meet.
Rose Marie Baumann, 87, peacefully passed away at home on March 2, 2016 in Humble, Texas. Born in Perryville, Missouri on November 18th, 1928, Rose helped her family through the Great Depression and later moved to St. Louis. After obtaining her degree in Nursing from the De Paul Hospital School of Nursing, she met and married Herman Lee Baumann. They raised their children while moving throughout the United States. Rose adjusted her career with each move, working in doctors’ offices, hospitals, becoming a school nurse during her children’s school years, and retiring from FMC after traveling the world as an Industrial Safety Nurse.
Friends of Atascocita Library 