The recently renovated Stanaker Neighborhood Library is one of the branches which will restore Saturday hours.
The Houston Public Library (HPL) will restore Saturday service to 14 neighborhood libraries for the first time in three years, bringing the total of branches open on Saturdays to 41. That’s nearly all the HPL branches: HPL operates 35 neighborhood libraries, four HPL Express Libraries and one HPL Mobile Express, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, The African American Library at the Gregory School, and the Parent Resource Library located in the Children’s Museum of Houston. And of course the Central Library, which will now be open seven days a week. “The most frequent request we receive from Houston Public Library customers is to restore library hours on the weekends so more families can access their neighborhood library,” said HPL Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson. “The very best way we can serve the citizens of Houston is to provide access to services when they most need us.” Said Mayor Annise Parker, “We have emerged from… tough times and are now able to celebrate another major milestone in our recovery. Not only are we restoring public services, we are adding staff.” She doesn’t mean just a few, either: the HPL is hiring 109 new staff members. The first job postings have already gone up, and service hours will be restored in phases beginning April 1, as the new staff is hired and trained. Said Lawson, “We are working to finalize the new schedules and will announce them soon.” The restoration is funded by a $3.1 million addition to the HPL budget. A portion of the additional funding is expected in the current budget year from a General Appropriation request in April, and full funding will be included in the HPL FY14 budget.We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing
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I recall during 2008, several people (librarians and library staff) were hired to work at Houston Public Library. Three years later (2011), several people were laid off. Now, two years later a massive (109) hiring of staff. What next? Houston Public Library is constantly struggling to stay a float. Numerous efforts to reinvent the library system has not been for the better. I wonder how other Houston library systems avoided laying off employes and major interrupting services. In fact, other local library systems have remained stable during tough economic times. It appears that Houston Public Library is the only local library system that has so many financial, service and staffing problems. Many good employees were laid off or resigned because Houston Public Library lacks stability and a true vision. Upper management has lost sight of the big picture. Low, low employee morale and that people leave people and non effective organizations. Good luck to HPL in this case maybe the third round will be better.Posted : Feb 13, 2013 12:55