Editing Houston Public Library (section)

===Expansion and branch libraries===
The library system racially [[Desegregation in the United States|desegregated]] in 1953.{{dubious|date=July 2018}}<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Malonep666">{{cite journal|last=Malone|first=Cheryl Knott|title=Unannounced and Unexpected: The Desegregation of Houston Public Library in the Early 1950s|journal=Library Trends|volume=55|issue=3|date=Winter 2007|pages=665{{endash}}674|doi=10.1353/lib.2007.0015|hdl=2142/3712|hdl-access=free}} Alternative method: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254956573_Cheryl_Knott_Malone_-_Unannounced_and_Unexpected_The_Desegregation_of_Houston_Public_Library_in_the_Early_1950s_-_Library_Trends_553, registration required.</ref>{{failed verification|date=July 2018}} Beforehand, blacks were permitted use of the Colored Carnegie Branch and deposit stations located at a park, a high school, and an elementary school; whites were permitted use of the main library, six branches, two bookmobiles, and several deposit stations.<ref name="Malonep666" /> Desegregation occurred after a letter printed in the ''Houston Informer'' from several prominent black Houstonians, including ''[[Smith v. Allwright]]'' plaintiff Lonnie E. Smith, stated they would prefer a voluntary desegregation program despite their likelihood of winning a lawsuit; shortly before the letter was printed, ''[[Sweatt v. Painter]]'' was decided by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]], which challenged the "[[separate but equal]]" legal doctrine.<ref name="Malonep667">{{Cite journal |at=p. 667 |doi=10.1353/lib.2007.0015|title=Unannounced and Unexpected: The Desegregation of Houston Public Library in the Early 1950s|journal=Library Trends|volume=55|issue=3|year=2007|last1=Malone|first1=Cheryl Knott|hdl=2142/3712|hdl-access=free}}</ref> In June 1953, [[Mayor of Houston]] [[Roy Hofheinz]] told the HPL board that library facilities should no longer be segregated. On August 21, 1953, library facilities for high school students and adults were desegregated – without public announcement to the black community.<ref name="Malonep670">{{Cite journal |at=p. 670 |doi=10.1353/lib.2007.0015|title=Unannounced and Unexpected: The Desegregation of Houston Public Library in the Early 1950s|journal=Library Trends|volume=55|issue=3|year=2007|last1=Malone|first1=Cheryl Knott|hdl=2142/3712|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

The library system now consists of 35 neighborhood libraries, including four regional libraries, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in the [[Houston Museum District|Museum District]], and the Central Library in [[Downtown Houston|Downtown]]. Central Library consists of the Julia Ideson Building and the [[Jesse Holman Jones|Jesse H. Jones]] Building, constructed in 1976.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20071026025832/http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/about/news/20060802-morris.html In Memory of Mr. Seth Irvin Morris]" (). ''Houston Public Library''. August 2, 2006. Retrieved on January 27, 2009.</ref> Out-of-state users are entitled to access to the Library's resources, after paying a $40 annual fee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tibken |first1=Shara |title=The Money-Saving Power of Your Library Card |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-money-saving-power-of-your-library-card-8f490455 |access-date=9 April 2023 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=April 9, 2023}}</ref>

The HPL administrative offices were moved out of the Jones Building, freeing {{convert|12600|sqft|sqm}} of space. Lisa Gray, of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', said the renovation made the Jones Building "less of a public space devoted to reading, and more of a public space, period."<ref>Gray, Lisa. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/arts/gray/5847086.html Beyond books]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. June 20, 2008. Retrieved on March 11, 2010.</ref> The offices moved to the Marston Building.<ref name="CentrallibrenovmoveMarston">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20080416180814/http://www.houstonlibrary.org/about/pressreleases/20060223-central.html It's Worth the Wait Exciting New Renovation for the Central Library]" (). Houston Public Library. Thursday February 23, 2006. Retrieved on June 30, 2010.</ref> In 2012, the Marston Building was sold by the City of Houston, and the HPL administrative office moved to the recently restored Julia Ideson Building while other staff offices moved back to the Jones Building.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

Additions in the 2000s include McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library (2005), HPL Express Southwest (2008),<ref>"[http://www.houstonlibrary.org/about/news/20080101_hplxsw.html HPL Express Southwest Grand Opening] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141737/http://www.houstonlibrary.org/about/news/20080101_hplxsw.html |date=2008-12-16 }}." ''Houston Public Library''. January 1, 2008. Retrieved on December 13, 2008.</ref> and HPL Express Discovery Green (2008).<ref>"[http://www.azstarnet.com/business/244262 Take to the air for short trips from Tucson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217220121/http://www.azstarnet.com/business/244262 |date=2009-02-17 }}." ''[[Arizona Daily Star]]''. June 19, 2008. Retrieved on January 27, 2009.</ref> A new building for Looscan Neighborhood Library opened in 2007, replacing a 1956 structure.<ref name="Adele B. Looscan Branch Replacement">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070812014546/http://www.houstonlibrary.org/planning/looscan_ren.html Adele B. Looscan Branch Replacement]," () ''Houston Public Library''. Retrieved May 23, 2008.</ref>

The Jones Building closed for renovations in 2006 and reopened in 2008.<ref name="CentrallibrenovmoveMarston" /><ref>"[http://www.houstonlibrary.org/about/news/20080531_central.html Central Library Grand Re-Opening Celebration May 31 & June 1, 2008]" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20080724075628/http://www.houstonlibrary.org/about/news/20080531_central.html Archive]). Houston Public Library. Retrieved on January 27, 2009.</ref> That same year, the ''[[Houston Press]]'' heralded the project as Houston's best renovation in its annual awards.<ref>"[http://www.houstonpress.com/best-of/2008/people-and-places/best-renovation-6606267 Best Renovation (2008) Downtown Library]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150928122214/http://www.houstonpress.com/best-of/2008/people-and-places/best-renovation-6606267 Archive]). ''[[Houston Press]]''. Retrieved on September 28, 2015.</ref>

In 2010, due to a budget shortfall, the library system reduced its hours.<ref>Turner, Allan. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6948886.html Budget forcing cuts in library hours]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. April 7, 2010. Retrieved on April 7, 2010.</ref> During the same year the system put its decades-old city directories online.<ref>Gonzalez, J.R. "[http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/04/houston_public_library_puts_decadesold_directories_1.html Houston Public Library puts decades-old directories online]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. April 13, 2010. Retrieved on May 11, 2010.</ref>
[[File:Clayton House Houston's Genealogy Library.jpg|thumb|Clayton House of the Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research in the [[Houston Museum District]]]]