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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Books from Harris County Public Library Collections, 1921-1945

A small sample of books that Harris County residents checked out from HCPL during the system's first 20 years. 

Crosby Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library

Celebrating 100 years of service in 2022!

Established in 1922, the library grew throughout the years with the help of the community and the Crosby Friends of the Library. The library building as we know it today was dedicated on October 8, 1987. The branch was renamed Crosby Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library to honor the local historian in 2017.

LSC-Tomball Community Library

Since 1922

The Tomball branch started in the 1920s in a post office. The bookmobile later served the community until support grew and a branch was built in 1962. Now operating in partnership with the Lone Star College, the LSC-Tomball Community Library is one of the largest HCPL locations.

New additions to the Digital Achives

Items added in January 2022

New materials include pictures of the Octavia Fields Branch when it opened in 1969, snow on the ground of the Woodforest Branch in January 1973, and scenes from the Spring Branch Memorial Branch Library in the 1960s.

Lone Star College-Tomabll Community Library Collection

Browse through the photographs, newspaper clippings, and documents from the Tomball Library's history.

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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.