Where Black Stories Live

How One Houston Curator Built a Black Art Library of More than 800 Books

Inside Downtown’s Sanman Studios, Amarie Gipson has built The Reading Room, a culturally specific library dedicated to a stunning collection of Black art, history, and diasporic life.

02/11/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

The Modern Library

Forget the Shushing: How Houston Public Libraries Really Work Today

Streaming, job skills, genealogy, tools, and creative spaces—inside one of Houston’s most misunderstood public institutions.

01/16/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

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

THINGS TO DO

3 Reasons to Visit MFAH's New and Improved Hirsch Library

Inside the museum’s free and freshly minted art library.

09/29/2022 By Amarie Gipson

BANNED BOOKS

10 Popular Titles on Texas's Very Long List of Banned Books

Those under fire include titles dealing with racism, police brutality, gender and sexuality.

09/22/2022 By Amarie Gipson

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

‘I Want It to Be a Safe Space’: Ashley Hoskins on the Power of Libraries

Meet the Third Ward resident who founded the Houston chapter of The Free Black Women’s Library.

04/07/2022 By Amarie Gipson

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

The MFAH’s Art Library Is Making a Big Move

Here’s what you should know about the new Hirsch Library.

04/05/2022 By Amarie Gipson

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

NEWS

Very Artsy News: The Dirty South, Black Panther and more

A weekly brief on what’s trending in Houston’s arts and culture scene.

11/01/2021 By Amarie Gipson

On The Town

Let Your Fancy Take Flight with Books of a Feather

Instead the three Greek muses of theater, a trio of plucky birds welcome visitors Alice McKean Young Neighborhood Library.

02/10/2021 By Emma Schkloven

Saving the Day ... And Con

Acclaimed Storyteller Neil Gaiman to Headline 2021 BrazCon

We spoke to founder Stephanie Williamson about moving Brazoria County Library System’s annual teen comic convention online.

01/18/2021 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

Pros and Cons

There's a Local Comic Con for Teens This Weekend

Brazoria County Library System's BrazCon is like Comicpalooza, but for kids.

02/21/2019 By Rebekah Kibodeaux

Curtain Call

This Month, Remember the Unsung Shakespearean Greats

African American History Month at Harris County Public Libraries celebrate the community's contribution to American life, from Shakespeare to jazz and beyond.

02/14/2019 By Holly Beretto

Sausage Party

An Evening of Finding the Comedy in Tragedy

Stephanie Wittels Wachs spoke Monday about her recent book and the struggles of the addiction that claimed her brother's life.

12/11/2018 By Rebekah Kibodeaux

Now Vending

Where to Get Free Books at the Push of a Button

A book vending machine at the Northeast Multi-Service Center makes a small contribution to the still-ailing Houston Public Libraries.

11/29/2017 By Morgan Kinney

Ice House

Checking Out People Isn't Quite What It Sounds Like at Lone Star College's 'Human Library'

Countering an increasing lack of civil discourse requires a little creativity and a lot of communication.

02/20/2017 By Suzanne Stavinoha