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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Featured Exhibit

The featured exhibits for April celebrate the history of the Aldine, Katy, and Maud Smith Marks Branch Libraries. View lesson plans for 4th grade, 7th grade, and high school students that use materials from this month's exhibits. 

Aldine Branch Library

When the library opened in 1976, Aldine was a small, semi-rural community. It has seen considerable growth since then and the Aldine Branch Library has grown right along with it to serve the area's diverse and ever-changing population.

Katy Branch Library

HCPL has been providing library service to the Katy area since 1921.  The community built its first freestanding library building in 1940 after nearly two decades of the library floating between homes and private businesses.  The current Katy Branch Library building opened in April 2003. 

Maud Smith Marks Branch Library

A dedicated group of Katy residents started a campaign in 1984 for a new branch to serve the increasing population in western Harris County.  Nine years later, the Maud Smith Marks Library opened.  The branch is named in honor of Maud Smith Marks, who ran a small HCPL station in Barker, Texas, during the 1920s and 1930s.

Featured Collections

Dive into our featured collections for April.

Aldine Branch Library Collection

Since 1976

Katy Branch Library Collection

Since 1921

Maud Smith Marks Branch Library Collection

Since 1993

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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.