Annual Reports and Budgets
At the end of every fiscal year since 1921, the County Librarian has submitted a summary of the budget, expenses, staffing, circulation, and location data for the Harris County Library System. These reports, covering the years 1921 to 1977, have been digitized and are presented here as fully searchable texts.
Library Cards and the 1971 Library Study
Over the first 100 years, HCPL has had several library card designs. Browse through some of our past designs, or sign up for your card today!
In 1971, on the 50th anniversary of the library's founding, the Houston City Planning Department issued a report detailing the branches and services offered by the library, as well as each branch's community characteristics and needs. The report details Houston and Harris County's changing population demographics and the increase in the number of single-family type subdivisions recorded outside of the city limits. In addition to recommending the closure of two branches - Garden Villas and Wooster - the report identifies the need for branches in the Aldine, Clear Lake City, and Cypress Creek areas. By the end of the 1970s, HCPL would have established branches in all three communities.