Meyer Neighborhood Library

Easy to park, run in and find what I need. I often put a book on hold and when it arrives I can get it here. Check out is fast.

As my Unilocal colleague, Chris C, has pointed out, this branch is very small and dated. Normally, I stick with my own local branch (McGovern-​Stella Link branch: holla!) but it was temporarily closed for some wall renovation.
Since I had to get my literacy fix in paper form, I had my reserved book routed here for pickup. Upon my email notice that it was ready, I hoofed it down there to (a) check out another branch of the Houston Public Library system, (b) collect my reserved item, and © enjoy a little quiet time reading some of the magazines.
Arriving at the location, you can see that it is an older building. As soon as you open the door, you’re greeted with old-​school security barriers that reminded me of the TSA gauntlet at Bush Intercontinental airport. Luckily, these checkpoints do not beam naked pictures of you to any library employee (yuck — at the thought of dumpy City library employees seeing my fantastic junk).
Bookshelves were crammed with books, there were a few computer terminals with large CRT screens, and the magazine reading area had an appropriate number of chairs, albeit said chairs were tatty and didn’t offer an encouragement to staying a while. The actual collection of magazines could be described as Soviet-​era: the titles present were not appealing to really anyone and the ones you wanted to read were out-​of-​stock, even with your ration card.
I guess you could apply the label of «vintage» to the Meyer Neighborhood Library. Unfortunately, vintage does not automatically equate with clean, pleasant, or welcoming. Though, if you were an Iron Curtain refugee, then this place would remind you of home. So, I guess there is the possibility of nostalgia. Or revulsion.
Finding my book on the shelves to the far right of the entrance, I was out of there in less than 10 minutes. I’m hoping some of the bond money from last year’s election will rehab this place. While they’re at it, hire one of the many unemployed designers to chic up the space. Otherwise, just pick up your books and leave by the quickest means available. Mind the security beacons, though.

This is a very small branch library, as it originally opened in 1961. And it shows…
The library is L shaped, as once you walk it you can see the end of both walls. There are only a few internet PCs available, as there are shared tables on the left for general reading. There is a small section for periodicals, as one man took the opportunity to steal a nap and loudly snore.
There is a kids section on the right, although it is very small.
The bathrooms are hidden on the right side of the wall.
The only reason I came here was that the Stella Link branch is still under remodel and I didn’t feel like paying $ 5 for a drink in a café.
If you do live around here, you can always reserve a book and have it shipped here if it’s not on the shelves. That’s one of the best features of the Houston Library system!