Welcome to the Digital Archive of the Harris County Public Library

An ongoing collection of photos, articles, and other media
showcasing library service to the Harris County region since 1921.
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The featured exhibits for September celebrate the histories of the La Porte, Northwest, and West University Branch Libraries.

La Porte Branch Library

The La Porte Branch started in 1921 with 110 books placed at La Porte High School, with a separate building debuting in 1929.  A new building opened in 1967, six times the size of the original branch.  The branch was renamed the Edith Wilson Memorial Library in 1982, in honor of the dedicated librarian who oversaw the branch for nearly twenty years. The current facility was dedicated in September 2001. 

Northwest Branch Library

The Northwest Branch Library was built in 1983, dedicated in May 1984, and has proudly served the Cypress area ever since. The library was renovated in 2004. Northwest Branch Library continues to grow to meet the needs and wants of the Cypress community.

West University Branch Library

The West University branch originally opened in the corner of the West University Community Center in 1942. The current 6,100 square foot building opened in 1963.  The library was renovated in 1984, 2006, and again in 2016.  Today the library works with the City of West University to present programs in other city buildings, such as the Scout House and the Community Center.

Architectural Drawings

View floor plans and elevations for various branches from the 1960s to the present day.

HCPL Oral History Collection

A collection of memories and stories from staff, partners, customers, and Friends of the Library.   

Schools as Library Locations

Many early HCPL locations were in schools, providing young students a wider selection of books to read from. Browse some of the photos and histories of these schools.

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Want to explore the collection?  Build your browse using the categories below.

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HCPL Digital Archive is an online archive of historical and cultural materials that illustrate the continuing story of the library, our partners, and our community.  Our collections are curated by the Harris County Archives, the Harris County Public Library. The site, exhibits, collections, and individual items are managed and maintained by the Harris County Public Library. Learn more about the project on our About page.