HOUSTON, TX — With the recent opening of the Family Place Learning Center at Harris County Public Library's Baldwin Boettcher Branch, HCPL and its longtime partner, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (BBHLF), celebrated the completion of the multi-year initiative to make all 26 of the library's full-service branches Family Place Libraries.
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and its corporate partners were instrumental in bringing these valuable resources to families across Harris County. “This project is a testament to HCPL's and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's commitment to ensuring that every family in Harris County has access to the tools, spaces, and support children need to thrive,” said Linda Stevens, Division Director of HCPL Programs, Partnerships, and Outreach. “We’re grateful to BBHLF and our many partners who share our vision for early literacy and lifelong learning.”
Family Place Libraries™ are nationally recognized, research-based models that transform libraries into vibrant early learning hubs. Through specially designed spaces, high-quality materials, and professionally trained library staff, Family Place Libraries™ empower parents and caregivers to support their children’s development from birth to age five—strengthening early literacy, school readiness, and family engagement.
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“This milestone reflects the very best of what can happen when public libraries, philanthropy, and community partners work together with shared purpose,” said Julie Finck, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “Our partnerships with Houston Public Library and Harris County Public Library have been extraordinary, and I know Barbara Bush would be absolutely delighted to see families across our region learning and growing together in these welcoming spaces.”
Harris County Public Library and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation also expressed deep gratitude to the philanthropic and corporate partners who made the initiative possible, including Air Liquide, Phillips 66, the PNC Foundation through its Grow Up Great® initiative, and the Ladies for Literacy Guild of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.