Beyond Books

Houston Public Libraries Offer Way More than Just Books

You can pick up seeds, use 3-D printers, and get your passport in one place.

02/20/2024 By Uvie Bikomo

Healing Houston

Aris Kian Is Rewriting the Rules as Houston Poet Laureate

The native Houstonian is building a bridge between poetry and activism.

08/28/2023 By Geneva Diaz

Staff Picks

Meet the Books Our Staff Can’t Put Down

From novels to guides, these books have our full attention.

04/07/2022 By Danielle Wright With Houstonia Staff

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

A Guide to Houston’s Top Neighborhood Libraries

In honor of National Library Week, we’re tipping our red hats off to Houston’s finest libraries.

04/04/2022 By Amarie Gipson

Books

Where To Borrow Audiobooks in Houston

Here's how you can access nearly 85,000 books from the palm of your hand.

02/03/2022 By Amarie Gipson

A Process of Discovery

Uncover Your Ancestry With Houston's Genealogy Library

Explore your roots, from digitized records to oral family history

11/02/2021 By Geneva Diaz

Your Next Reading List

Read These 10 Black Protagonist-Driven YA Books with Your Kids

Local librarians recommend powerful and inspiring coming-of-age stories.

02/09/2021 By Rebekah Kibodeaux

We Got 'Em

Let Curbside Larry Tell You All about HCPL's To-Go Program

You can still borrow books, Blu-rays, and DVDs from both Harris County and Houston public libraries, even though they're closed.

08/05/2020 By Emma Schkloven

’50s, ’60s, ’70, ’80s

5 Things You Must Do in Houston This Weekend, June 26-28

Go on and groove to those good times.

06/26/2020 By Emma Schkloven

SUFFRAGETTE CITY

Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment with These Summer Reads

All year long, the Houston Public Library is sharing one book a month in its Suffrage Centennial Book Club.

06/09/2020 By Emma Schkloven

A presidential portrait

Go See George W. Bush's Paintings at the Julia Ideson Building

The former president's Portraits of Courage traveling exhibit profiles and honors post-9/11 veterans.

02/27/2020 By Catherine Wendlandt

¡Musica!

The Sounds of Hispanic Houston

A new Houston Public Library exhibition explores the past and present of the city's under-appreciated musical icons.

08/29/2019 By Brittanie Shey

Love Street Is Back

5 Things You Must Do This Weekend, May 17–19

Did YOU manage to get tickets to Ariana Grande?

05/16/2019 By Morgan Kinney

Perfect Party

April's Perfect Party: Here-Kitty-Kitty Edition

A tiger discovered by a stoner is definitely on our invite list this month.

03/25/2019 By Catherine Matusow

In their own words

We Are the Organizers of Drag Queen Story Time. This Is Why We're Stepping Aside.

“We believe in what we’re doing, but we don’t believe in putting our friends, our families, or our children in danger.”

03/19/2019 By Trent Lira and Devin Will

Ice House

Some of the Rarest Books in the World Can Be Found in This Downtown Library

Exploring the treasures (kept in a vault!) in the Houston Metropolitan Research Center.

01/28/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Reading Rainbow

Why Is Everyone Up in Arms About Drag Queen Storytime?

The reading program featuring local kings and queens has suddenly become a hot-button issue.

12/31/2018 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Big Fun

UPDATED: 5 Things You Must Do This Weekend, Sept. 14–16

This week featuring: two takes on ballet, a Big Show, and a book sale.

09/13/2018 By Morgan Kinney

Family Time

Who's Your Daddy's Daddy?

One Houston Public Library offers some of the best genealogy resources around—for free.

09/05/2018 By Susie Tommaney

Medical Drama

Mimi Swartz's Ticker Captures the Heart of Houston

The Houston-based journalist reintroduces us to the cowboy surgeons who started the ongoing quest for an artificial heart.

08/06/2018 By Nicki Koetting