Press Release

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 16, 2004

Houston Public Library Announces Longer Library Hours

Houston - Mayor Bill White and the Houston Public Library today announced the extension of service hours at Library locations throughout the city. The extended hours will be added to the Friday and Saturday branch schedules, enabling additional access to services and programs for customers on these days. A total of 88 additional Library hours will be available every week, beginning January 3, 2005.

The new schedule was presented to the community at a Holiday Open House and Reading Relay at Moody Branch Library. To illustrate the expanded schedule, an hour-long Reading Relay was held after the announcement. Mayor White kicked off the relay by being the first "celebrity" reader. Other readers included Council Member Adrian Garcia, Director of Libraries Barbara A.B. Gubbin, community members and children from nearby schools.

"I can't think of a better way to end the year of progress Houston has had. We're opening new libraries and now we're expanding library hours throughout the city," said Mayor Bill White. "This is part of our commitment to raise the quality of life in our neighborhoods and make City Hall more responsive and efficient."

"The Houston Public Library has always been responsive to the needs of our customers. We are acutely aware of how the reduction in service hours in recent years has affected our ability to serve the community," said Director of Libraries Barbara A. B Gubbin. "We have been actively looking for a way to recuperate some of the service hour losses, while working with our current budget and staffing levels. We are very pleased to be able to unveil the new branch schedules."

The Library was forced to reduce service hours three times since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2003 because of citywide budget reductions. This is the Library's first addition of service hours since the first reductions were made in July 2002. "The Library's dedicated staff has worked hard on helping us find ways to make the extended schedule work, using our current resources," Gubbin added.

Library schedule beginning January 3, 2005:

Acres Homes Branch Library
8501 West Montgomery, 77088
832-393-1700
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Bracewell Branch Library
10115 Kleckley, 77075
832-393-2580
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Carnegie Branch Library
1050 Quitman, 77009
832-393-1720
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Central Library
500 McKinney, 77002
832-393-1313
M 9-9; T 9-9; W 9-9; Th 9-9; F 9-6; Sa 9-6; Su 2-6

Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research
5300 Caroline, 77004
832-393-2600
M 9-9; T 9-9; W 9-9; Th 9-5; F 9-5; Sa 9-5

Collier Regional Branch Library
6200 Pinemont, 77092
832-393-1740
M 10-8; T 12-8; W 10-8; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Dixon Branch Library
8002 Hirsch, 77016
832-393-1760
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Fifth Ward Branch Library
4014 Market, 77020
832-393-1770
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Frank Branch Library
6440 West Bellfort, 77035
832-393-2410
M 12-8; T 12-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Freed-Montrose Branch Library
4100 Montrose, 77006
832-393-1800
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Heights Branch Library
1302 Heights Blvd, 77008
832-393-1810
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Henington-Alief Regional Branch Library
7979 South Kirkwood, 77072
832-393-1820
M 10-8; T 12-8; W 10-8; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Hillendahl Branch Library
2436 Gessner Rd, 77080
832-393-1940
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Johnson Branch Library
3517 Reed Rd., 77051
832-393-2550
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Jungman Branch Library
5830 Westheimer, 77057
832-393-1860
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Kendall Branch Library
14330 Memorial Drive, 77079
832-393-1880
M 12-8; T 12-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Lakewood Branch Library (reopens 1/8/05)
8815 Feland Street, 77028
832-393-2530
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Looscan Branch Library
2510 Willowick, 77027
832-393-1900
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Mancuso Branch Library
6767 Bellfort, 77087
832-393-1920
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

McCrane-Kashmere Gardens Branch Library
5411 Pardee St., 77026
832-393-2450
M 12-8; T 10-8; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Melcher Branch Library
7200 Keller, 77012
832-393-2480
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Meyer Branch Library
5005 West Bellfort, 77035
832-393-1840
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Moody Branch Library
9525 Irvington, 77076
832-393-1950
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Oak Forest Branch Library
1349 West 43rd Street, 77018
832-393-1960
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Parent Resource Library in The Children's Museum of Houston
1500 Binz, 77004
713-522-1138
T 9:45-5; W 9:45-5; Th 9:45-8; F 9:45-5; Sa 9:45-5; Su 12-5

Park Place Regional Branch Library
8145 Park Place Blvd., 77017
832-393-1970
M 10-8; T 10-8; W 12-8; Th 12-8; F 12-6; S 10-6

Ring Branch Library
8835 Long Point, 77055
832-393-2000
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Robinson-Westchase Branch Library
3223 Wilcrest, 77042
832-393-2011
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 12-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Scenic Woods Regional Branch Library
temporary location at Tidwell Park Community Center
9720 Spaulding 77016
832-393-2030
M 1-5; T 1-5; W 1-5; Th 1-5; F 1-5

Smith Branch Library
3624 Scott St., 77004
832-393-2050
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Stanaker Branch Library
611 S/Sgt. Macario Garcia, 77011
832-393-2080
M 12-8; T 12-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Stimley-Blue Ridge Branch Library
7007 W. Fuqua, 77489
832-393-2370
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6

Tuttle Branch Library
702 Kress, 77020
832-393-2100
M 12-8; T 12-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Vinson Branch Library
3100 West Fuqua, 77045
832-393-2120
M 12-8; T 12-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Walter Branch Library
7660 Clarewood, 77036
832-393-2500
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Young Branch Library
5260 Griggs Road, Palm Center, 77021
832-393-2140
M 12-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-6; F 12-6; Sa 12-6