HCPL 2024 Impact Report

Award-winning. Life-changing. Future-shaping.

Letter from the Director

2024 was an unusually eventful year for Harris County Public Library. In May, we were honored with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service—the nation’s highest distinction for libraries. The award recognized HCPL’s commitment to enrich lives to strengthen communities with initiatives like our Enhanced+ Library Cards, Career Online High School, and our Mobile Outreach Librarian program that brings technology, art, and opportunity directly to communities across the county.

But I am proudest of the fact that perhaps our greatest impact came during moments of adversity. In the face of Hurricane Beryl, the violent Derecho windstorm, and record-breaking summer heat, library staff stepped up again and again for their neighbors--providing guidance and online access to FEMA and other relief agencies and a safe, welcoming place for them to gather and recharge. In every challenge, we saw an opportunity—to serve better, to adapt faster, and to stand stronger with our community.

Through programs like Growing Readers, Family Place Libraries, and the Early Learning Quality Network, we continued our work to ensure every child in Harris County has access to early literacy programs so they start school prepared and ready to succeed, and that parents and caregivers have the support and resources they need to help their families thrive.

It is also worth celebrating that in 2024, our patrons checked out a staggering 17.77 million items. 9.7 million of those were e-books and e-audiobooks which ranked HCPL #5 in digital circulation worldwide.

It is easy sometimes, when looking back over the year, to lose sight of the fact that beyond all the numbers the emergency response and life-changing programs, HCPL’s real offering is joy. Our branches buzzed with live music, theater, ballet, and opera. They presented art classes and knitting circles, and countless other programs that offered everyone in Harris County a chance to connect, discover and grow.

Thank you for believing in your library. No one can say what 2025 will bring, but I believe that together we will continue to make the library a vital, dynamic part of the Harris County community.

Edward Melton
Executive Director
Harris County Public Library

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The Year in Numbers

Branches

0.0%

Full Time Staff

437

+4.8%

FY 2024 Budget

$42,381,681

+10.9%

Cardholders

2,344,549

+10.8%

Library Visits

2,526,017

+4.3%

Physical Collection*

1,634,176

*Books, CDs,DVDs, etc.

Digital Collection*

647,545

*e-books, e-audiobooks, etc.

Total Checkouts

17,776,225

+31.7%

OverDrive Checkouts

9,704,443

+36.6%

Nationally Recognized for Local Impact

In 2024, HCPL received the nation’s highest library honor for its commitment to equity, access, innovation, and the lasting impact of programs built with and for our community.

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In 2024, Harris County Public Library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, opens a new window—the nation’s highest honor for libraries. Presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the award recognized not just our programs, but our purpose: to meet people where they are, and help them get where they want to go.

It honored the bold ideas behind our Enhanced+ Library Cards, which combine full library access with verified photo ID—breaking down barriers in one simple swipe.

It celebrated HCPL Connected, which put 40,000 Wi-Fi hotspots and 30,000 Chromebooks into the hands of those who needed them most.

And it spotlighted our Mobile Outreach Librarians, who bring learning, technology, and creativity directly to underserved communities.

But more than any single program, the medal recognized a guiding principle at HCPL: that libraries can—and must—be a driving force for equity, empowerment, and opportunity.

This honor belongs to our staff, our partners, and to the people of Harris County who inspire our work every day. It’s a reflection of what we’ve built together—and a reminder of the future we’re still shaping. —Edward Melton, Executive Director

"This honor belongs to our staff, our partners, and to the people of Harris County who inspire our work every day. It’s a reflection of what we’ve built together—and a reminder of the future we’re still shaping."

—Edward Melton, Executive Director

Spotlight: 25 years of MFAH Summer Art Camps

2024 marked the 25th consecutive year that HCPL partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston to present weeklong art camps at branches across the county.

Each summer, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) teams up with Harris County Public Library to introduce children and their parents to great art and children’s literature. Each week-long Summer Art Camp pairs a book with a work of art, and features related discussions and art-making activities at six different library locations. At the end of the week children and parents visit the museum via a charter bus to view original works of art and create their own masterpieces in the museum’s studio, led by an MFAH teaching artist and staff.

Programming Highlights: More Than Library Events—Experiences That Transform

From joyful story times to boundary-pushing performances and thought-provoking author talks, HCPL’s 12,000+ programs in 2024 turned every branch into a vibrant hub of learning, creativity, and connection.

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Behind every program we offer is a belief that access to knowledge, creativity, and community can transform lives—and in 2024, that belief came to life thousands of times across our branches. Every one of Harris County Public Library’s 13,702 programs was free and open to the public—ensuring that no barrier stands between our community members and the tools, knowledge, or inspiration they need to thrive.

Story times filled libraries with giggles and the sound of discovery, drawing over 100,000 children and caregivers into joyful early literacy experiences. Teens gathered for gaming nights and creative workshops. Adults came to learn coding, cook a new recipe, or simply connect over a good book. Our programs touched every age group, every interest, and every corner of Harris County.

Libraries also became stages, salons, and civic spaces. In October, we welcomed Ali Velshi, MSNBC journalist and author, for a compelling conversation on democracy and social justice. Later that month, our Gulf Coast Reads initiative hosted a lively author talk with Julia Heaberlin, moderated by fellow writer Ashley Winstead, that reminded us how a shared story can unite communities.

We celebrated Banned Books Week with “I’m with the Banned,” a genre-bending musical event at High Meadows Branch featuring Apollo Chamber Players, DACAMERA, and student advocates from SEAT, all standing together for the freedom to read.

And in one of the year’s most uplifting milestones, Apollo Chamber Players completed their Library Voyage, a three-year journey bringing live music to all 26 HCPL branches. Each stop celebrated the rich cultural fabric of our communities, from Black History Month to Hispanic Heritage and beyond.

Whether it was a first story time or a standing-room-only author talk, a hands-on maker workshop or a quiet book club gathering, every program was a doorway to something bigger: new skills, new ideas, new confidence—and new connections.

Programming by the Numbers

Library Events

13,702

+19.1%

Event Attendance

252,680

+1.8%

Summer Reading: 240,000 Books Read. Countless Memories Made.

Summer Reading brought in record participation, and over 120,000 program attendees. With art camps, music, theater, and more, we turned every branch into a hub of discovery, joy, and lifelong learning.

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Every summer, Harris County Public Library transforms reading into an adventure. Our Summer Reading Program, opens a new window tackles the “summer slide” with live theater, live music, STEM and magic show, MFAH Art Camp, and so much more.

In 2024, participation soared with an 11.8% increase in registration over 2023. Readers logged 246,993 books, and a jaw-dropping 4.7 million minutes of reading. They also shared with fellow readers, writing over 21,000 book reviews. Branches presented 3,700 in-person programs that drew more than 120,000 attendees, filling our spaces with laughter, creativity, and discovery.

We also celebrated 25 years of partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, bringing vibrant weeklong Art Camps to branches across the county.

From toddlers to seniors, participants found joy in every page—and earned prizes for their achievements. At HCPL, summer isn’t just a season—it’s a launchpad for a lifetime love of reading.

Summer Reading by the Numbers

Total Registration

17,245

+16.4%

Total Books Read

246,993

-11.9%

Total Minutes Read

4,710,019

+11.8%

Reviews Submitted

21,338

+10.8%

Rewards Earned

21,990

+8.5%

Spotlight: Aldine Passport Services

Aldine Branch Library goes the extra mile to turn a routine, but sometimes stressful, process into something more.

In 2024, eight Harris County Public Library branches helped more than 15,000 people take their next big step—processing passport applications with care, efficiency, and a friendly face. Among them, Aldine Branch Library stood out, processing 2,624 passports and offering something especially valuable to its community: flexibility and understanding.

With weekly walk-in hours, an option not widely available elsewhere, Aldine provides residents with more opportunities to access this essential service. Aldine’s multilingual staff and can-do spirit helped ensure no one is left behind. “We see people walk in stressed, after being turned away elsewhere,” says Aldine Branch Manager Hershiira Boone-Rodgers. “Our goal is to always be accommodating when possible.”

It’s that extra mile, walked with empathy and openness, that transforms a routine government process into a welcoming doorway to the world.

Outreach Department: No Boundaries, Only Possibilites

Year in, year out, HCPL hits the streets. HCPL’s Outreach team brought learning and inspiration to 24,000 people across Harris County, proving our mission doesn’t stop at the library door.

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HCPL’s Outreach team, opens a new window brought the library to life for more than 31,000 people in 2024. From community centers to street fairs, they presented nearly 900 programs that blended creativity, technology, and meaningful engagement. The Curiosity Cruisers—our “super libraries on wheels,” powered by a vital partnership with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, covered 13,265 miles in 2024 and delivered hands-on STEM fun and gave away over 20,000 books, letting children choose stories to call their own.

Our Mobile Outreach Librarians brought opportunities to the doorsteps of Harris County residents, teaching computer basics, leading drawing classes, and helping people sign up for Enhanced+ Library Cards that offer both access and rigorously verified identification.

HCPL's Juvenile Outreach Specialists, in partnership with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, bring library services and programs to young men and women who are completing residential programs within the juvenile probation system.

Because our mission isn’t tied to buildings. It moves with the people. Whether it’s a quiet class or a bustling festival, HCPL’s Outreach team shows up ready to educate, empower, and ignite imaginations—emphasizing one of our core principles: the library has no boundaries, just endless possibilities.

Outreach by the Numbers

Outreach Dept. Programs

887

People Served
-

31,406

Books Given Away
-

20,023

Curiosity Cruiser Mileage

13,265

Library Cards Made
-

600

Spotlight: Mobile Outreach Librarians

Their mission is simple but powerful: meet people where they are, especially in areas without a nearby library branch. Mobile Outreach Librarians lead book clubs, teach ESL and basic computing, offer technology help, and connect communities, creatively.

Mobile Outreach Librarians lead book clubs, teach ESL and basic computing classes, offer technology help, and sometimes, charcoal drawing.

When seniors told Mobile Outreach Librarian Jacque Mitchell their friends were a little intimidated by computer classes, she decided to offer something different: a relaxed, beginner-friendly art class. “I wanted something low-stakes and fun—just a way to be together and create,” she said. Using forgiving materials and simple still life setups, Jacque makes art accessible to all. “We're providing supplies and instruction people might not otherwise be able to afford.” The hope is that once they see how welcoming and easy-going Mobile Outreach Librarians are, the seniors will feel less nervous about technology classes in the future.

Citizenship & ESL: Helping Dreams Take Root

With over 4,000 classes and nearly 29,000 instructional hours in 2024, HCPL’s Citizenship and ESL programs empower immigrants to build confident, connected lives in their new home.

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At Harris County Public Library, we don’t just teach English or explain the path to naturalization—we walk that path alongside our community. In 2024, we expanded our Citizenship and ESL programs to meet growing demand from residents ready to turn their American dreams into reality. HCPL hosted 1,128 citizenship classes with more than 1,200 students and celebrated 123 new citizens. Many of those students also enrolled in our free English as a Second Language classes, where they gained confidence, vocabulary, and over 20,000 hours of language instruction in welcoming, judgment-free spaces.

Thanks to support from Harris County and partners like the Houston Endowment, we added dedicated staff to reach underserved areas and make the journey to citizenship more accessible than ever. Together, our programs offer more than education—they offer belonging. Because when people feel seen, heard, and empowered, communities thrive, and the future grows stronger for us all.

In Their Own Words

"I like the Library. I love the Library and it has helped me. It has helped me so much."

Evangelina Martinez
ESL Student

“If you want to be a citizen, you have to know how the country works and what its history is, and that is what this course is about. It not only teaches you how to answer the questions, it helps you understand the context of all those questions. That is the most important thing."

Arturo San Vicente
Citizenship Student

“The library has been a wonderful help for us. We receive a lot of support and it's been a smooth process instead of being difficult or anxious for us."

Betsy Zinzu
Citizenship Student

FutureU: Giving Dreams Direction

Future U launched in 2024 to help people plan what’s next—college, career, or both. With one-on-one advising, hands-on workshops, and an online resource hub, it’s turning goals into action across Harris County.

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Launched in early 2024, FutureU, opens a new window hit the ground running—building a full-scale college and career counseling program from scratch. With passion and purpose, the team created one-on-one advising services, hosted workshops on FAFSA, college essays, and resumes, and led job readiness classes and strength-based labs to help people explore career paths and define their goals.

They presented programs at libraries and community spaces across Harris County—meeting people where they are and helping them imagine what comes next. Their dynamic webpage offers curated tools and resources so users can take the next step on their own time.

Whether it’s college, career, or calling—Future U is a launchpad for possibility, built to last and powered by people.

Spotlight: Fairbanks Branch Library Career Center

When layoffs swept through the area, staff at Fairbanks Branch Library saw more than just an uptick in visitors—they saw neighbors under stress. In response, the team got creative, rethinking the branch’s layout to carve out room for a dedicated Career Center with tips for job seekers, information about great programs such as HCPL’s FutureU, Job Corps and BridgeYear's More Pathways programs.

This small shift made a big difference for many in the community navigating uncertain times.

Early Literacy, Lifelong Impact

HCPL believes every child deserves a strong start. With Family Place Libraries™, Raising a Reader kits, and programs that support parents and caregivers, we’re helping Harris County’s youngest learners dream big—right from the start.

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At Harris County Public Library, we know that big dreams often start with small steps, like a baby’s first book or a toddler’s first story time. That’s why we’re committed to nurturing a lifelong love of reading from the very beginning. Through our Growing Readers Early Literacy Initiative, we offer families the programs, resources, and support they need to help young learners thrive.

In 2024, we opened three new Family Place Libraries™, specially designed spaces where kids and caregivers can play, explore, and learn together. With support from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, these vibrant centers—and the trained staff who lead them—make libraries a hub for healthy child development, early learning, and community connection.

Beyond our branches, HCPL is working to create stronger futures through the Early Learning Quality Network, a community-driven, grant-funded initiative focused on improving childcare quality in neighborhoods across Harris County.

Our Book Buddies initiative pairs young readers with teen or adult 'big buddies' to share one-on-one reading time.

And because it’s never too early to become a library lover, HCPL and the Harris County Public Library Foundation partnered with local hospitals to deliver Raising a Reader bags to the families of newborns—complete with baby’s first book, early literacy tools, and baby's first library card.

From story time songs to that proud moment when a child sounds out their first word, HCPL is there—building readers, building dreams, and building a stronger Harris County generation after generation.

Sustainability: Greener Libraries. Stronger Communities.

HCPL is weaving sustainability into everything we do—ensuring we’re good stewards of the planet, our resources, and our communities.

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Sustainability at Harris County Public Library goes beyond recycling bins and solar panels. As a proud participant in the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, HCPL is working toward certification by embracing a broader vision—one that supports environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic viability.

Our approach is rooted in the belief that resilient communities start with informed, empowered individuals. Whether through seed libraries, ESL and citizenship classes, Repair Cafés, or Career Online High School, we help people build sustainable lives that can weather everyday challenges and natural disasters alike.

We're rethinking how we use resources, partner with our communities, and plan for the future—one small step, one big impact at a time. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at HCPL. It’s a promise to the people we serve today and to those who will rely on us tomorrow.

Blog: Sustainability--One More Way HCPL Strengthens Communities

HCPL Sustainability Policy

Scenes from 2024 Repair Cafes

Spotlight: North Channel Community Garden

This small shift made a big difference for many in the community navigating uncertain times.

HCPL Social Media: Groundbreaking. Smile-making.

HCPL social media continues to rise above the din on the world's busiest platforms.

Followers

112,029

Engagements

485,704

Video Views

3,252,692

Highlights

Video: HCPL is a Book Sanctuary

Views: 425,800 | Likes: 46,600 | Comments: 1102 | Shares: 1061 | Saves: 2251

Video: Welcome to the Library

Views: 246,400 | Likes: 36,403 | Comments: 1212 | Shares: 4000 | Saves: 9000

A Steady Presence in Stormy Times

In 2024, as Hurricane Beryl and scorching heat tested Harris County, HCPL opened its doors wider, becoming cooling centers, charging hubs, and spaces for recovery, comfort, and connection.

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Anyone who’s lived on the Texas Gulf Coast knows how quickly the weather can turn—and in 2024, it turned hard. In May, a rare and destructive derecho sent hurricane-force winds sweeping through Harris County, toppling trees, shattering windows, and knocking out power across the region. Then, in July, Hurricane Beryl made landfall, bringing more flooding, more wind damage, and more hardship. Nearly half the county was left in the dark, some for more than a week.

In both emergencies, HCPL acted quickly. As soon as it was safe, branches reopened, offering more than WiFi and charging stations. They became gathering spaces for recovery and connection, for information and comfort. Children found space to play. Adults found power (both literal and figurative) to move forward.

And as summer stretched on with record-breaking heat, six HCPL branches operated as official cooling centers in partnership with the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. They opened doors on weekends and holidays when they’re normally closed, offering essential relief to the elderly, families with young children, and others vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Nearly 10,000 people made use of these safe havens over the summer months.

When storms strike or the heat won’t let up, HCPL is more than a library. It’s a lifeline. A place of refuge. A place to regroup, and recharge.

Women’s Empowerment Center

At the Women’s Empowerment Center, HCPL is helping women write new chapters of their lives—through language, learning, and the power of a good book.

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At the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Women’s Empowerment Center (WEC), reentry begins with empowerment—and empowerment begins with opportunity. HCPL’s Mobile Outreach Librarians have partnered with WEC to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that build critical skills and confidence for women preparing to reenter their communities.

But literacy support doesn’t end with instruction. In 2024, HCPL launched a dedicated library collection for WEC residents—now more than 1,000 titles strong and refreshed every other month based on feedback and requests from residents and staff. The collection offers practical tools and inspiration alike, with books on parenting, college admissions, career guidance, coding, business and leadership, budgeting, spirituality, mindfulness, and even crafting.

Circulation is managed by WEC staff and volunteer residents—one of whom told us she hopes to work for HCPL someday. It’s a simple but powerful idea: brighter futures start with a library.

Spotlight: National Medal Celebration

Harris County Friends of the Library hosted a celebration of HCPL National Medal on October 14 at the Junior League of Houston emceed by Maryjane Mudd.

Ways to Support Harris County Public Library

From local Friends groups to the new HCPL Foundation, support for the library comes from every corner of the community. Together, they’re building a stronger, more connected Harris County

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Fresh off receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the Harris County Public Library Foundation was established to expand the library’s reach and impact through sustainable, long-term funding. The Foundation supports HCPL’s mission of enriching lives to strengthen communities by seeking major gifts, corporate partnerships, and strategic investments that go beyond the scope of public funding. Guided by community and philanthropic leaders, the Foundation will help ensure all residents—regardless of zip code—have access to transformative library services. It complements the vital grassroots work of the Harris County Friends of the Library, whose advocacy and support remain essential to branches and the library as a whole. Together, these efforts form a powerful alliance to advance literacy, equity, and opportunity across Harris County.

Support Your Library

The Harris County Public Library Foundation

The Foundation ensures the continued growth and impact of the library’s valued programs and services through strategic funding and advocacy.

Harris County Friends of the Library

HCFOL supports and promotes library programs and activities through fundraising, grants and donations. LEARN MORE>>

Facing the Future, Together

In a time of historic challenges, HCPL remains committed to growth, inclusion, and resilience—because when libraries thrive, communities do too.

HCPL and libraries across the country are navigating unprecedented challenges, but HCPL has never been just about surviving. We are about rising, adapting, and continuing to be a trusted, vital core for our communities. Every day, we see the strength of Harris County in the people who walk through our doors and in the partners who stand with us. With their support, we will not only meet the moment; we will go on shaping the future. Together, we will ensure that HCPL remains a place of opportunity, learning, and connection for all.

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HCPL 2024 Impact Report

Award-winning. Life-changing. Future-shaping.

Letter from the Director

The Year in Numbers

Nationally Recognized for Local Impact

Spotlight: 25 years of MFAH Summer Art Camps

Programming Highlights: More Than Library Events—Experiences That Transform

Programming by the Numbers

Summer Reading: 240,000 Books Read. Countless Memories Made.

Summer Reading by the Numbers

Spotlight: Aldine Passport Services

Outreach Department: No Boundaries, Only Possibilites

Outreach by the Numbers

Spotlight: Mobile Outreach Librarians

Citizenship & ESL: Helping Dreams Take Root

In Their Own Words

FutureU: Giving Dreams Direction

Spotlight: Fairbanks Branch Library Career Center

Early Literacy, Lifelong Impact

Sustainability: Greener Libraries. Stronger Communities.

Scenes from 2024 Repair Cafes

Spotlight: North Channel Community Garden

HCPL Social Media: Groundbreaking. Smile-making.

Highlights

A Steady Presence in Stormy Times

Women’s Empowerment Center

Spotlight: National Medal Celebration

Ways to Support Harris County Public Library

Support Your Library

The Harris County Public Library Foundation

Harris County Friends of the Library

Facing the Future, Together

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