HOUSTON — 4/11 update: Houston Public Library announced the library will reopen on April 15 with some restricted areas for safety reasons. After initially saying the library would close for good, Mayor John Whitmire asked members of the library administration to meet with stakeholders and create a plan to safely reopen the building.
Original story
Thursday is the last day of business at the Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library.
The library on Montrose Boulevard near West Main Street is closing for good.
The City of Houston said it’s because of ongoing safety and facility issues that can't be resolved in a timely manner. One of the workplace safety concerns was the elevator's non-functionality which made the second floor inaccessible to the public.
The news caught a lot of people by surprise. Staff members, library users and the city council member for that district found out about it on Wednesday.
Community members say they’re not just losing books, but also critical services.
For Henry Pula, the library was like a second home. He moved to the neighborhood 25 years ago.
“It made me feel very welcome," he told us. “I lived in the Montrose area, and I’m gonna really miss this library.”
Pula was shocked when a friend told him about the closure.
“Sometimes, the water would be leaking or whatever in the sink," Pula said. "It would be kind of dirty and it should have been cleaned earlier, but anything that would put somebody in jeopardy, definitely not.”
Sonia Rico is president of the union representing Houston library employees.
“We don’t know the full details of all the health and safety concerns. We do know that these were brought to the attention of management a few months ago, but we don’t know what exactly it is that they found," Rico said.
She said library employees will be transferred to other locations.
Local Council Member Abbie Kamin told us that she’s reached out to the mayor’s office for answers.
“I have asked the city, and specifically the library department, if there’s a temporary solution for this. What can we do in this area to bring services to the neighborhood?” Kamin said.
Library officials say construction is underway at a better-equipped, more accessible mixed-use shopping center at Montrose and Westheimer. Its delayed opening is now set for this fall.
Customers of the Montrose-Freed library can still use the book drop for returns until April 4, 2024.
"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," Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, executive director at Houston Public Library, said.
The nearest library branches to the Montrose community during this transition period are:
Central Library
Where: located 2.6 miles away at 500 McKinney St., 77002
Phone: 832-393-1313
Smith Neighborhood Library
Where: located 3.0 miles away at 3624 Scott St., 77004
Phone: 832-393-2050
Looscan Neighborhood Library
Where: Located 3.6 miles away at 2510 Willowick Rd., 77027
Phone: 832-393-1900