The Houston Public Library’s Central Library and Julia Ideson Building (JIB) will reopen to the public beginning Tuesday, September 16, 2008. Hours of operation for this week will be 10 AM to 7 PM. Houstonians are invited to stop by either Library location to access all services, including computers and the Internet. The Central Library computer lab will be designated as the Hurricane Ike Assistance Room to file for FEMA aid, insurance claims, and emailing family and friends. Librarians will be on hand to offer assistance in finding and utilizing necessary online resources. The Central Library and JIB are located at 500 McKinney, 77002, 832-393-1313 (phone is currently unavailable, but expected to go back online shortly).

Two One additional locations will open on Wednesday, September 17^th with hours of operation 10 AM to 7 PM. Others will open in the following days depending on availability of power and water, as well as the determination of damages to individual facilities on a case-by-case basis. Locations to open Wednesday, September 17^th

1. Kendall Neighborhood Library, 14330 Memorial Drive, 77079, 832-393-1880
   The meeting room at Kendall Neighborhood Library will be equipped with laptops and serve as a Hurricane Ike Assistance Room to file for FEMA aid, insurance claims, and emailing family and friends. Librarians will be on hand to offer assistance in finding and utilizing necessary online resources.
2. Acres Home Neighborhood Library, 8501 West Montgomery, 77088, 832-393-1700
   The Acres Homes Neighborhood Library will be equipped with laptops to increase the number of computers available to customers. Librarians will be on hand to offer assistance in finding and accessing the Web sites to file for FEMA aid, insurance claims, and emailing family and friends. Update: Acres Homes Neighborhood Library will not open on Wednesday, September 17th due to a sewage line backup in the neighborhood. More neighborhood libraries will open throughout the week, with updates provided daily.

Houston Public Library staff are urged to check in with their supervisors to let them know their personal situations – how they fared during Hurricane Ike and what their resources are now. Library officials are determining which staff are available to deploy in Library facilities as they get up and running for public access.

This is one of my favorite photos from the reopening weekend for the Central Library. I don’t know why, especially since I have hundreds and hundreds to choose from.

Have you checked out the downtown library yet?