Houston Public Library – Central Library

What better way to spend a humid day, driving downtown to entertain the little ones?! Something different and a place to encourage reading while the little ones are hungry learners.
What a wonderful place this is! It’s huge!
Children’s floor is on the 4^th floor! Everything you can imagine to keep them busy! Crafts, play stations, computers, books for all ages and languages, and books galore!!!
Friendly staff and it’s really quiet up here! The sounds of a child reading is so very SWEET!
***The only downside to coming here for 2 hrs is the parking fee of $ 18!!!*** crazy!!!

Writing this review solely from the perspective of a toddler mom — have never been here for grown up library time!
This is such a great library for kids. There is a whole floor dedicated to kids and teens, and the teens have a separate room from the kids. The selection of board books is enormous, so if you have a little reader, you can kill a lot of time here! We used to go to baby story time frequently and it was always fun. You read a couple of stories, sing a couple of songs, play with a parachute, then they pour out toys for all the babies to play with. We’ve graduated to toddler story time, though we haven’t been yet.
Parking is easy though there is a small charge and be sure to take your ticket inside and pay before you leave. My one complaint is the elevator is out from the parking garage probably ¹⁄₃ of the time. Kind of an ordeal when you’re pregnant and have a toddler to haul up the stairs!

I revisited the Central Branch for the first time since childhood and I was impressed! I loved all of the tables with suggested reading materials and all of the books I was looking at were in great condition. While several homeless people use it as a spot for computer access or to get out of the elements, there are many employees and security guards around. The audiobook selection was great. There are tons of windows and lots of seating — it’s a great place for downtown workers to spend a lunch break. The volunteers were very helpful, too!

I don’t particularly like this library coz of its location. It is flooded with the homeless guys from downtown. I don’t mean to sound discriminatory but I don’t feel particular safe and comfortable to study with the crowd that comes in here. Also, parking is a b****. There is no free parking around except on the street across the lib next to a park.

This library probably had the best selection of books, CDs, etc that you would get from the library, however, a lot of the people at the library are only there to use the computers or just hang out. I witnessed a man make a call and walk around talking while using his phone on speakerphone. Speakerphone in a library… Then there was the man who followed me around and decided to wait until I was on the computer to use the catalog to ask if I had a husband.
I imagine if you’re there to do work, you probably won’t get much done, but the staff is helpful and the selection to check out is great!

The building and location is quite impressive and a great place to study or read. The people who work there are also very helpful… but…
If you’re just there for books, you might as well stick to the convenience of your local branch and just order a book you want because their selection is very small and many of the books are so old that their covers are sunbleached. I’ve found better selection of new books at the River Oaks location which always amazes me given that the best library just happens to be in the location where the locals can most afford to buy books, but I digress.
Also be aware that given the location in downtown, you need to pay for parking unless you come on a Sunday and park on the street. There is also a large homeless/​drifter population around who use the library to get away from the heat, charge their phones, use the internet, etc. but it’s a public library and god bless them for using the resources available to them.
I think the biggest resource the library has is their apps that give you access to ebooks and audio books right on your phone. Sure, you still have to wait for a book to free up before checking it out online (I mean it’s a library after all), but they have very new titles there. If you’re really into technical books that can’t be found anywhere, you should try the U of H library instead, but for a city library, this is as good as it seems to get.

Very quiet and pretty clean upon entrance. Library associates are friendly. Massive ceiling space is inviting. Tons and tons of books.

Wow! It’s been almost a decade since I visited the downtown library. I’m going to keep this short and sweet.
First off, let me say that I both sympathize and empathize with the struggles of those who are homeless, down and out, and just struggling to keep what they have left of their life on the streets, especially those who have children out there and those who are vets.
With that having been said, I cannot ignore the fact that the downtown library has turned into a sanctuary for the homeless. When I was there, the bathrooms… all of the bathrooms… were full of people and it wreaked! I needed a table that had a power source close by it, but the majority of the tables were taken up with bags and people and several books that seemed to have been used to save a place at the table.
On top of all that, when I’d finally commandeered a table, the guy next to me started physically and verbally abusing his laptop, another guy started making calls to on his cell phone to job placement companies, and another guy was walking around verbalizing his desire to buy headphones and then harassing a female who seemed to be studying.
The lady at the desk just stared into the screen of her computer and didn’t say a single, solitary word.
The library is no longer the library… at least, not the one I remember.

I rarely ever visit the downtown branch, but when I do I definitely enjoy my experience. There is a parking garage under the library but it costs a few bucks an hour which is definitely a downside. It’s almost impossible to come here for free because if you happen to find a meter you have to pay that, too.
I needed a book asap that was only at this branch, which is why I went this past weekend. There are 4 floors which is awesome and lots of seating areas and computers. At first glance you might think they have a HUGE DVD selection — but don’t be fooled. Most of it is PBS documentaries and educational type movies along with foreign films in just about every language (which is really great), however they have a very limited selection of regular English movies that have been in theaters. Might as well stick with Netflix than try finding anything here.
They have a lot of terminals for self-​checkout, so if you’re like me and don’t want any human contact this is awesome. It’s fun exploring all the floors here and extra amenities not offered at every branch.

Joining the library has been on my to-​do list recently as I’m a Houston transplant and enjoy reading and want to save some money on book purchases. I decided to join at the central library, even though there are some closer neighborhood libraries, to get the full library experience and see what the Central Library was all about! I had already filled out the new member form, but it still took a while to join and the librarian entered my e-​e-​mail address incorrectly which made it slightly more difficult for me to begin using my online account. Since that has been remedied, I have been able to request books online which is a nice feature. The library was moderately clean, but the bathrooms were not clean at all. I am looking forward to visiting some of the other neighborhood libraries instead of the Central Library!

When you search for a book on the Houston Public Library’s website, this location appears to have every title you could possibly want. Sadly, there’s a strong homeless population on the interior and exterior. Also, inside, the library has a strong odor, but you can usually escape it within the stacks.
The HPL system has a decent enough website that you can go online and request whatever you want so that it’s already on a shelf waiting with your name on it. That’ll save you from smelling library funk while waiting for the elevator or running up the stairs. I also like to request my books online so that I can run in and out without paying extra pennies on the parking meter. Unless you get lucky, you’ll probably pay for parking at this location. Overall, a great and wide selection of books that you can self-​checkout if there’s ever a long checkout line ahead of you.

Beautiful building
Convenient parking
4 floors of bliss
Beautiful art
Kind and resourceful staff members
I love books!

In all fairness I visited here after 6:00 PM. So my review is based on the evening times.
I visited here to attend an international languages seminar in one of their meeting rooms. The seminar was great and the library is a really nice size with plenty of resources available for the public. So the library itself is great.
I parked in the garage under the library. It’s very easy to miss and it’s one of those were you take a ticket and pay for it inside the library and it requires another ticket to get out. There is no human cashier, it’s all electronic.
The problem here is environment. You should know that there are guards in the garage area (although maybe asleep) and there are officers scattered around the inside. I personally have never seen that type of presence in a library and it doesn’t give you a sense of security but a sense of «oh hell do I really need to be here?»
I have to say, go here only at your own risk. If you can go somewhere else, then please do, at least in the evening. I can assure you, that most of the characters that I saw there probably don’t even know how to read. I’m not judging, just warning you of what you may bump into.
Read well and Prosper.

I know the 2 stars is a little harsh, but the description of «Meh. I’ve experienced better,» is generous when it comes to what I look for in a library.
If you strictly need a place to get some books and music, this library is well stocked. There are 4 FULL floors of books and a large music section that’s pretty impressive. There’s a very small collection of feature films, so if you’ve managed to watch most of your movies through a library’s collection, you may be disappointed. But overall, the selection really is great.
The biggest detractor to this library is the ambiance and clientele. I grew up going to the library and I always enjoyed not only browsing through the selection but also finding a corner to read in, go through books and take my time to decide what I want. You really can’t do that here…
While it may not seem like a big deal, the place is carpetless which really takes away from having a cozy atmosphere. The place just also *feels* dirty. If this was the only complaint I had, I’d probably give the library 3 stars. However, the biggest issue I have with the Central Library is their clientele, which is very questionable. I know this isn’t something they can easily control, so it is what it is, but it’s just so unfortunate!
It’s really just not that pleasant browsing through books when there are homeless people walking around, or (in my experience) strange men following you around as well. The last time I went, I had two uncomfortable encounters with men and made sure I walked back to the parking garage with another family to make sure I was safe. I hate that I’m writing this because I truly LOVE libraries and again, this one has a great selection — but it’s really just not your typical library. From now on, my visits will be restricted to just picking up things I’ve reserved — or, I may just have to make the Looscan Library my home library…

Weird hours, closed Fridays but still the best library in town. Also strangely frequented by miscreants and vagrants — can’t fathom why perhaps they appreciate literature (doubtful). But it’s clean on the inside, and has drive through book returns.

Hmm… I was only here for some award ceremony, and in fact it was the first time I was ever in this library despite being an academic. I really don’t have much to say about it, but feel obligated to write something.

Beautiful modern building. Good book selection In several areas but go there during the daytime during very hot, cold or wet weather and its a great place to hang out with the homeless or cavort with a barefoot «working girl».
Am glad to see all walks of life sheltering from inclement weather or more saliently, those who take the opportunity to access the web but an utter misunderstanding of silence and interpersonal space makes this spot impossible to work in.
People walk up to you and want to know your entire life story and what you are doing despite the fact you are wearing headphones, hunched over a laptop and making eye contact with nobody at all.
By all means, pop in and check out a book or even a lady of the night but don’t expect to get any work done here!

My husband and I went to this location to get our passport applications processed. Granted we had to go on a Saturday because my husband works during the week so we expected to wait a little bit. However, we ended up waiting 2.5 hours to be called back. They have one person working the station and it takes them about 15 – 20 minutes/​person to process the applications. There is absolutely no reason for this! It took us 5 minutes because we had everything ready to go like you are supposed to.
To add to that we didn’t even get an apology because of the wait. Beyond ridiculous. Every worker took a break every 30 minutes. Overall, I would rather deal with the USPS workers than these horrible people. Can you say «attitude problem»?

I really love the tranquil environment this library provides.
They are so easy to speak with and prompt on any books on hold! They are kind enough to give tours if one is new to the area.
If I could add anything to the library, it would be a coffee shop (or one in walking distance) :) I guess I just pair the two together… other than that, it’s a lovely place!

Borders, Barnes and Nobles, and even indie bookstores can shove it. The HPL is a sight to behold. Occupying a whole city block, HPL houses several thousand books (estimate) they have a significant multi-​media section, and have teen and kids section fully stocked with video games and computers as well.
You can reserve books online and place them on holds for quick pick up. Street parking does cost money, but is free on Sundays! Be sure to come with the family or friends and enjoy this public facility.

I went to the grand opening of the downtown library a short while ago and was completely impressed. What a great space inside and out. The new courtyard area with its blocks of color adds a nice Mondrian-​esque touch. Almost makes it bearable to spend more than two seconds outside in the suffocating August humidity. Almost.
I’ll break the interior down by floor:
The basement houses two rooms. The Adult Gaming Room has a few Wiis, Rockband, ect. The Computer Lab has easily 40 computers. Each row’s computers has a different type of specialized hardware: cameras, video cameras, and recording software. You can even print your photos. Plus, for the non-​tech savvy, they offer free classes.
The ground floor is mostly reference, newer books, movies, and cds. The main help desk is here, along with the brand new self checkouts. There is also an art exhibit.
The next floors house the main collection. There were nice enclaves of new tables and chairs and several study and class rooms, as well.
The top floor was the kid and pre-​teen area. The kid room had a huge play area, tables and chairs and teaching computers. A few Wiis, as well. The pre-​teen area was Awesome! What a wonderful space. In the center were desks and chairs. To the left was the gaming alcove. It was darker, walls painted black. Floor, as well. White pod chairs with black cushions. The ten or so kids in there were in some sort of gaming trance when I walked past. A little creepy. There were study rooms beyond the pod room. Instead of doors, there was a colored chain link curtain over each room. Super cool! Beyond were some books and then a snack area.
On each floor, there were themed display tables. I kept picking up and reading books. For example, one table had books by authors whose birthdays were that month. Another had popular cookbooks by people such as Rachel Ray and Nigella Lawson.
There was also a performance/​lecture room. I didn’t stay long as I don’t really appreciate kiddie magic tricks, but the kids in attendance seemed to be in awe.
The librarians and staff are an exceptionally nice group of folks. I couldn’t tell you how many times staff came up to me to see if they could help me find anything. I got a nice tour around the computer lab. They’re fun people.
Yet another wonderful thing about this location is the calendar of events. There are quite a long list of classes. For adults AND kids. Oh, did I mention all of this is free (excepting the food). Parking is $ 2.
One thing I need to go back and check out is the snack bar. Either it wasn’t completed or I just didn’t see it. The place was packed that day and there was light construction on a few floors.

I’d forgotten how much I loved being able to constantly read books until I was talking to a friend about how awesome the concept of libraries were. Well, I work less than 10 minutes walking from the Houston Public Library… time to take advantage of the opportunity!
Yes, this is a haven, especially during summer, for people who don’t have shelter/​employment/​whatever, but generally they won’t bother you. The staff here seem to have a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment, and they’re super nice, too.
Because the clientele is quite varied, the library can smell… funky. Once you’re a little bit deeper into the stacks, it’s not so noticeable, but I generally don’t hang out here; I check my books out and walk back to work.
Interlibrary loans are a lifesaver. Although there are times that I browse the stacks to find inspiration on what to read, it’s so convenient to just use the HPL website to place a hold on what I want. More popular books have long waitlists (for obvious reasons), but the wait times honestly aren’t awful.
I’m a big supporter of public libraries, and the HPL Central one is no exception! Consider me a fan.