Texas Highways – September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019 37

Friends of the Written Word
The family-oriented city of Friendswood,
population roughly 40,000, was out-
growing its library. With many of its res-
idents working at NASA and the city’s
population booming, a facility assess-
ment determined the library needed to
grow. In 2013, Friendswood voters ap-
proved more than $2.5 million in im-
provements and expansion, which were
completed in 2016.
The new 20,876-square-foot Friends-
wood Public Library makes use of
space efficiently, but also creatively. To
the left of the front lobby is a wide hall
lined with reading-themed art chairs
and a hopscotch carpet, all leading into
the children’s space. The children’s area
has colorful, comfortable furniture and
large, wraparound windows flooding
the space with light. The wing also fea-
tures a Lego table and a crafting room,

as well as a Cricut smart-cutting ma-

chine to fashion intricate patterns into

paper or vinyl. Adjacent to the children’s

wing is a playground with large drums

and xylophones.

The library’s 3-D printer is mobile and

used both in the youth department (for

high school science fairs) and in the adult

reference area (for business and entre-

preneurial needs). A green screen can be

moved off-site to enhance community

events such as Halloween in the Park,

and an Oculus Rift headset is available

for virtual-reality experiences. Reference

and adult services are situated at the back

of the library, near the café, computer,

printing, copying, and magazine areas.

The new meeting spaces have come in

handy—in the past year, the library sched-

uled 3,564 meetings in its rooms.

The café is packed just about every

night, with all 22 seats occupied by stu-

dents and families, and on Wednesday

evenings, the library hosts a chess club.

“It’s a very inviting and open space,”

Library Director Matthew Riley says. “It

provides the perfect setting for young

minds to learn and explore.” 16 S. Friend-

swood Drive, Friendswood. 281-482-7135;

friendswood.lib.tx.us

In Texas, libraries

are coming alive by

implementing grand

renovations that feature

open floor plans full of

casual meeting spaces,

cutting-edge gadgets, and

connections with nature.