Kingwood Branch Library
Kingwood Branch Library
The Start
The Kingwood master-planned community was established in the early 1970s in an unincorporated part of Harris County. With over 500 acres of nature preserves and parks, the community was known as the "Livable Forest." By the end of the 1970s, the population had grown to a few thousand families, and the county needed to expand services. The HCPL Bookmobile began visiting the community every other week starting in 1977.
In January 1979, the Friends of the Library, Kingwood (FOLK) was established to obtain a library for the new Kingwood community.
In February 1979, the Harris County Commissioners Court raised the prospect of constructing five new 10,000-square-foot libraries, one of which would be in the Kingwood community. However, funding for all five hinged on a bond vote set for May.
FOLK began a campaign in April to secure the votes needed to pass the library bond.
In May, the bond passed by a wide margin, and the new library was scheduled to be built on a plot of land across from Kingwood High School, donated by the Friendswood Development Company, within the next two to three years.
In October 1980, FOLK asked residents to support library funding through a letter-writing campaign.
In March 1981, the county was ready to move forward with construction. A new site for the branch was found, as the original site near the high school was found to be in a 100-year floodplain. The Friendswood Development Company instead turned over a deed to one and a half acres of land on Lake Houston Parkway to the county.
In May 1981, the architectural firm of Goleman and Rolfe was chosen to design the new library. The firm had recently completed the Greentree Elementary School in Kingwood and another elementary school in nearby Atascocita.
The groundbreaking took place on July 21, 1982. Pictured here at the ceremony: President of FOLK Beverly Gaudlitz, Commissioner E. A. "Squatty” Lyons, and Kingwood Operations Manager John Bruton.
The Bookmobile continued to visit the community once a week, alternating between two local grocery stores, Minimax and Magnum Foods. The community checked out an average of 700 books a week, the most of any location on the Bookmobile's route.
The proceeds from the 11th annual Kingwood Art Show were all donated to FOLK to help purchase equipment needed for the library.
Construction continued through the winter. In early 1983, the library hired staff to plan summer and fall programs and events, anticipating opening the branch in June. Kingwood resident Cindy Ecklund, who had previously worked at the Houston Public Library, was hired as branch librarian.
While the branch was being built, Ecklund and her staff met with local school librarians to learn what resources Kingwood children might need at the library to complete school assignments. Staff also visited the Kingwood Chamber of Commerce, the Kingwood Visitors' Center, and staff at the North Harris Community College to discover what resources the wider community might need.
HCPL staff connected with local daycares and schools to hand out flyers about the new library to children and their families.
Unfortunately, the opening was delayed to the end of summer. In July, the 12th annual Kingwood Art Show proceeds - a total of $9,185 - were donated to FOLK to purchase a microfiche reader, more books, and other equipment.
August 2, 1983, was the first day the branch staff could work in the new building. They had just a few weeks to unbox and shelve the 18,000 books and 130 periodicals ordered for the branch. The work went smoothly until August 18th, when Hurricane Alicia blew through the area, knocking out power just days before the grand opening.
Luckily, power was restored the day before the dedication on August 21, 1983. County Commissioner E. A. "Squatty" Lyons attended the ceremony. The branch opened to the public the following day. Karl Kolbe, Fire Chief of the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department (seen here), checked out the first book.
On its first day of operation, the library issued 339 new library cards and checked out 1,135 books.
The first children's program was scheduled for that Friday, August 26th, featuring Lisa Lollipop, a magic clown. One of the children's room highlights was special chairs that could be sat on or used in multiple ways.
Just two months after opening, the library had issued 6,000 library cards and 40,000 books had been checked out - twice the size of the branch's collection!
To help fill the shelves and meet this growing demand, FOLK started the Buy-a-Book program, in which patrons could buy books withdrawn from the library. The proceeds would allow the library to purchase new books and equipment for the branch. Kingwood Cablevision agreed to help the campaign by posting hourly updates on how many books had been purchased on the Sunday afternoon weather crawler. A poster promoting the program can be seen here.
In February 1984, a librarian filed an accident report after a paper-clip fight broke out among some children. That October, unknown persons graffitied the staff lounge window with the phrase, “Rock N Roll 86.”
On the branch's first anniversary, members of the Buy-A-Book campaign gathered to celebrate the fundraiser's success as the first books arrived courtesy of the campaign. Branch Librarian Cindy Ecklund is pictured here with the campaign's main architects: Sheryll Hand, John Whiteside, Vivian Curry, and Selene Hendricks.
Every member of the Kingwood Library was featured in a profile of the branch in the local newspaper The Echo in the fall of 1984.
In 1985, the Buy-A-Book program raised $30,800. FOLK also continued to use the Kingwood Art Show to raise funds for the library.
In May 1986, librarians were trained to use the new “Easynet” terminal to search online and answer reference questions.
In 1986, the Buy-A-Book program raised $37,000. The program's continued success was recognized in 1987 when the Friends of the Library-Kingwood received an award from the Texas Library Association (TLA) for State Library Project of the Year. Members of FOLK attended the awards ceremony with HCPL Director Cathy Park and Branch Librarian Cindy Ecklund.
In February 1987, the Kingwood Historical Society sealed a time capsule in a park near the library. To be opened on the community's 100th anniversary in 2071, the capsule contained mementos from Kingwood's first 15 years. The items put into the capsule, including drawings of the first homes, a copy of the first issue of the Kingwood Observer, and the first community directory, were on display in the Kingwood Library ahead of the ceremony.
In March, the library started a program called “Do We Have Something of Yours?" As part of a cleanout of the Lost and Found area, staff collected all the items and placed them on a table for the public to review and claim.
In January 1988, a display case at the library invited patrons to learn more about “computers in 1988.” The slogan in the display read, “Machines work, people should think: Computers do what you say, not what you want.”
The library celebrated its 5th anniversary in August 1988. FOLK presented the library with a cake decorated with an illustration of the branch's exterior (seen here).
In March of 1989, the library held another Lost and Found event.
Kingwood's population exploded in the early 1990s: In 1990, the community had 19,443 residents and 204 businesses. The population increased to 37,397 in 1992
Popular topics in the early 1990s included: dinosaurs, Greek gods, wildflowers, euthanasia, abortion, American Indians, Goosebumps, Jurassic Park, DNA, and genetics.
In December 1990, online reference searches increased for job hunting and information on businesses and companies. Seen here are children enjoying a holiday party at the library in late December.
Over two-thirds of the Kingwood community had a library card. When the library opened in 1983, the shelves were more empty than full, with only 18,000 volumes in a building that could hold over 60,000. By 1991, however, the branch had more than 75,000 items (books and non-books). The library's importance to the Kingwood community was clear.
In May 1991, the branch had an exhibit dedicated to the troops of Operation Desert Storm.
In September 1992, FOLK began discussing a need for a new library building for the branch. Patrons sent in letters expressing their views for and against a new library.
That November, microfiche was rarely used, as FOLK had purchased a new CD-ROM catalog system for the branch. For the first time, customers could search the library's collection by keyword to find relevant titles.
In June 1993, the library held a two-part series on breast implants.
The branch celebrated its 10th anniversary in August. FOLK geared up for another year of the Buy-A-Book campaign. FOLK viewed it as imperative to buy more books for the branch, as the county library's overall materials budget was cut by 42%.
Buy-A-Book campaign coordinator Paula Beste said at the time: "You can't expect to have a first-class library unless we all pitch in."
Starting in June 1994, members of the Kingwood Garden Club began renovating the branch's landscaping, completing their work during the winter of 1995.
In October 1994, a severe flood hit the area; luckily, no water reached the library.
In June 1996, the library migrated its circulation and cataloging software from CARL to Dynix.
In March 1997, the Commissioners Court approved funding to remodel the branch. Again, the Kingwood Garden Club helped improve the landscaping, hiring local topiary artist Steve LeGrande to cut the shrubberies in front of the building into a bookworm and a dragon. The library held a contest to name the creations: Rupert, the bookworm; and Sir Clackentoes, the dragon.
In December of that same year, someone dropped a lit cigarette down the book drop, destroying five books. They removed the carpet in the book drop room and replaced it with tile.
In January 1998, the most popular reference question was "How do I get on the Internet?"
The branch celebrated its 20th anniversary with a party in August 2003. Pictured here are HCPL Director Cathy Park and County Commissioner Jerry Eversole. The county began discussing what the future of the Kingwood Library would look like.
In 2004, FOLK helped fund a new children's program called Dragonner Club. Club members, ages 7 to 11, participated in themed readings and activities twice a month, including sports, gardening, and animals. Children could advance through the "ranks" towards knighthood by attending meetings and reading books.
The mascot was Sir Clackentoes from the entrance topiary.
In February 2006, District E City Council member Addie Wiseman announced plans to build the new library on land the city had purchased for a community center. The library would receive a brand-new 35,000-square-foot building, and the community center would move into the renovated old library building. The new Kingwood community would benefit from the partnership with the City of Houston, as the Kingwood Library would become a pick-up location for the Houston Public Library. Customers would now have access to two systems at one location.
The plans for the new library building. Nestled among trees, the south side of the building features large windows that take advantage of the natural light and beautiful view.
As one local newspaper put it: "Imagine curling up in a comfortable chair with a good book, sipping a cup of cocoa, and gazing down into an enchanted forest right here in Kingwood. This will be the new Kingwood Library."
Kingwood staff with Director Rhoda Goldberg (far left) in May 2008. Staff organized a rodeo-themed appreciation luncheon for their volunteers.
The groundbreaking for the new library took place on December 13, 2008.
Here is a photo of the new building under construction in the summer of 2009.
The new building added many wonderful features, including a much larger parking lot and a drive-thru window that lets customers return and pick up books without leaving their cars. Branch Librarian Christi Whittington is seen peeking through the new window while the branch was still under construction.
Exterior view of the almost finished new building in December 2009.
Presenting the key to the new Kingwood Branch Library on January 28, 2010. From left to right: County Commissioner Jerry Eversole, HCPL Director Rhoda Goldberg, City Councilmen Mike Sullivan, HPL Executive Director Rhea Brown Lawson, Joe Turner, Issa Dedoush.
The Kingwood Branch Library closed on March 13, 2010. Staff began moving into the new building and setting up the new collection.
The new library finally opened on April 19, 2010.
The adult section on the second floor of the new branch on opening day.
The children's room on opening day.
A staff member displays the first book returned through the book drop at the new location.
Storytime with Connie at the new Kingwood Branch Library.
Book club meeting at the Kingwood Branch Library in 2014.
Volunteer appreciation lunch at the Kingwood Branch Library in 2016.
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey ripped through the area and caused significant damage to the branch. Water spilled into the first floor, damaging the children's room and lobby.
The floodwaters had swept through the first floor, and the humidity and heat had ruined most of the children's collection. However, the adult and teen collection on the second floor had to be removed and stored while the building was repaired.
Staff from other branches and administration joined Kingwood staff to save as many books as they could. No electricity meant no air-conditioning or elevator, so staff carefully carried handfuls of books from the second floor down the stairs to be boxed up outside. The hot, humid conditions were miserable, but staff kept working to save as many books as possible. When all available boxes were full, staff posted on social media asking community members to bring more boxes. Despite the terrible conditions, residents showed up to help out their library.
The building had to be shut down, and the first floor was gutted and repaired (seen here mid-construction).
Hurricane Harvey devastated much of the Kingwood community with flooding. Branch staff regularly held outreach events while repairs were underway.
In April 2018, staff were finally able to start moving shelves and books back into the building.
With the building complete and a new children's collection, the branch reopened on May 29, 2018, with a big celebration.
Interior of the branch, 2019.
COVID-19
As 2020 progressed and the Coronavirus pandemic struck Harris County, Kingwood Branch staff transitioned to virtual service. The staff helped customers adjust to the new curbside service, designed customized book bundles, and recorded virtual programs to stay connected with the community. The branch even served as a COVID-19 testing site in 2021.
The branch was blanketed in snow brought by Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.
On May 19, 2021, the branch reopened to the public for the first time since March 2020. Staff were overjoyed to welcome back the community and begin the next chapter in the story of the Kingwood Branch Library.
The scrapbooks on display in this exhibit and in the HCPL Digital Archive are thanks to the Friends of the Library, Kingwood. During the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, FOLK nearly lost these scrapbooks and mementos, but a Kingwood Eagle Scout saved them and digitized them for preservation.
To learn more about the Friends of the Library, Kingwood, visit https://www.kingwoodfolk.org/.