FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES ANNOUNCES
GRAND OPENING OF UNIVERSITY BRANCH LIBRARY
The grand-opening ceremony of Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library took place on Thursday, November 10, at 6:00 pm, at the new library, located at 14010 University Blvd. in Sugar Land. The library is a joint project between Fort Bend County, the University of Houston System at Sugar Land, and Wharton County Junior College. The grand opening was officiated by Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert, who was joined by other county, university, and local officials.
The library sits on the University of Houston-System Sugar Land campus. The new library, constructed by E.E. REED Construction and designed by Bailey Architects of Houston, is a two-story building of 40,193 square feet, making it the third largest library in the system. A bond referendum approved by voters in May 2006, included funds for three county library construction projects: the University Branch Library in partnership with the University of Houston campus in Sugar Land and Wharton County Junior College; the Sienna Branch Library in partnership with Houston Community College; and renovations at George Memorial Library in Richmond. The University Branch is the second joint-use facility in the Fort Bend County library system.
The library includes community meeting rooms, study rooms, a puppet theater, and a computer lab for technology classes and general public use. Additional computers will be available for public use outside of the computer lab. The library has free WiFi access for individuals wishing to bring their own laptop computers to the library.
Beginning the week of November 14, the Youth Services department will have a full range of children’s programs, including Mother Goose Time for infants, Toddler Time for babies from 12 to 36 months of age, Story Time for 3 to 6-year-old children, school-aged programs for children in grades 1 through 5, and programs for tweens. The library will offer introductory computer classes for adults. Patrons may learn computer basics such as how to use a computer, how to search the Internet, and how to use Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
A wide variety of books for children and adults are available for recreational reading and research. Magazines, newspapers, and audio-visual materials are also on hand. The library offers audio books that can be downloaded from home, as well as a generous assortment of databases that patrons may access in the library or from home.
The University Branch Library will utilize Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in its check-out system. This feature is built in to the outside and inside book drops, and enables items to be automatically checked in as they are returned in the book drop. The University library has self-check machines with RFID technology in the Circulation (check-out) department, and in the Adult Services department, and Youth Services departments.
“The University Branch Library is the second county library/college partnership in the Fort Bend County library system,” says Library Director Clara Russell. “Part of our library mission is to provide an environment of lifelong learning and enrichment for the entire, diverse community, and this new venture just reinforces our commitment to providing a continuum of service for people of all ages. We hope the residents in the area will find the new library a pleasant and enjoyable place where they can study or just relax with a good book.”
The hours of operation for the new branch library will be as follows: Monday, 12:00 noon – 9:00 pm; Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Wednesday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm; Friday, 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm; and Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The library will be closed on Sundays.
For more information, call the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.
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