Today, Book lovers in Houston are facing the end of an era as the Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library, a long-standing community fixture, is slated to shut its doors for good. According to the Houston Public Library (HPL), the closure of the facility at 4100 Montrose Blvd. is necessitated by persistent workplace safety issues and facility concerns, such as the non-functioning elevator which has made the second floor an ADA non-compliant area, inaccessible for patrons with disabilities.
Despite the setback of losing a cherished literary haven, HPL has unveiled plans to transcend the current operational hurdles with the construction of a new, state-of-the-art library location where Houstonians can once again indulge in the world of books and learning—in the Montrose Collective mixed-use shopping center at 1001 California Street, with its grand opening anticipated for Fall 2024, the current circumstances warrant an acknowledgment of inconvenience as well as a promise of future service excellence as Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Executive Director at Houston Public Library put it, "We understand the inconvenience this closure may cause, but please know that we are completely focused on providing a better equipped and more accessible library facility for our customers," to HPL's official announcement.
Dedicated readers and researchers need not despair completely during this interlude—the current library spot will offer a book drop for returns until April 4, and library goers are encouraged to visit nearby branches like the Central Library at 500 McKinney St., the Smith Neighborhood Library at 3624 Scott St., and the Looscan Neighborhood Library at 2510 Willowick Rd., as suggested by HPL's directives.
Meanwhile, the library's management remains resolute in its engagement with the community, keeping the public in the loop regarding ongoing developments with the new facility which promises to furnish Houstonians with an even more cultivated and contemporary place for learning and exploration Lawson also projected a hopeful future in her statement, "Although the doors may close, the knowledge and memories shared within the walls of Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library will forever endure I look forward to welcoming customers to the new library later this year,” and further customer assistance is available through the Ask HPL customer service at 832-393-1313 or the library's website.
