6 Harvey-hit libraries remain shuttered
Bookmobile, mini-facilities hard-pressed to fill reading gap for public
More than 10 months after Hurricane Harvey, six of the Houston Public Library’s flooded branches are still closed. In fact, at most locations, repair work hasn’t even begun.
The Houston Public Library’s Mobile Express bookmobile stopped several times at Eastwood Park in the city’s East End.
Kids from the park’s day camp clambered aboard, each piling up a small stack of slim volumes, from “Pete the Cat” to “Amelia Bedelia Cleans Up.”
This red van, which holds just a few hundred kids’ books, is the neighborhood’s library lifeline now. The Second Ward’s public library closed 11 months ago during Hurricane Harvey and hasn’t reopened.
“We have some kids come in and they’re like, ‘Our library is closed, so we haven’t been to the library in a while,’” said Rachel Stout, a trainer with HPL’s community engagement team. “So they’re happy to see us.”
When Hurricane Harvey’s rain flooded Houston last year, dirty water sloshed inside several branches of the Houston Public Library.
At neighborhood libraries all over town, floodwater wrecked books and equipment, carpet and furniture. When it receded, it left behind wet walls, ruined floors, mold and at least one damaged foundation.
More than 10 months later, six of the library’s flooded branches are still closed. In fact, at most locations, repair work hasn’t even begun.
“We’ll be feeling the effects of Hurricane Harvey for years to come,” said Houston City Councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum, whose district contains two of the closed branches. “And the libraries’ closing is just another instance of the impact of that major rain event.”
The library system has set up a few temporary mini-branches
in Kashmere Gardens, Braeswood and Westbury — where cardholders can go to turn in books and pick up holds they’ve requested. And of course, the bookmobiles show up at parks,
schools, churches and community centers. But the libraries themselves linger, waiting for repair work or rebuilding.
“It’s just a cumbersome process with lots of parties involved,” said John Middleton, the library system’s assistant director in charge of spaces and communications. For the past several months, he said, the city’s been waiting for insurance money and FEMA checks. Until there’s funding, the library system can’t begin to repair its damaged buildings.
“We’ve been going through our existing bond funds trying to see what we can use, what’s appropriate,” Middleton said.
Even though Houston voters approved a $123 million bond for library improvements in November, that money is earmarked for specific locations and improvements, including roof repairs, renovations and new buildings in Northline and Alief. It can’t necessarily be used to fix Harvey damage.
The good news: Two branches should reopen before the end of 2018, Middleton said. But “that’s all the real good news,” he said.
At least one neighborhood library will be closed until late 2019, he said. Another handful remain in limbo, with no reopening date in sight.
Here’s a look at what’s happening with city libraries damaged by Harvey flooding.
Opening in 2018
• Flores Neighborhood Library, 110 N. Milby
This Second Ward branch had a leaky roof before Harvey hit — so during the storm, water flowed into the building from above.
The books and equipment inside were mostly OK, said Jeremy Crain, chief of staff for City Councilwoman Karla Cisneros. Most of the damage was limited to the floor and the drywall.
To prevent further damage, Middleton said, the roof needs to be fixed first, then the inside can be renovated. But the limited damage means this branch can be repaired and reopened quickly, Middleton said.
Contractors will start work later this summer, Crain said. Delays are possible, he said, but “we’re still hoping for an August opening.”
• McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library, 7405 Stella Link Road
The Stella Link location, too, should open later this year, Middleton said.
Contractors’ bids will be accepted later this month for the work it needs, including new flooring and electrical work. In August, the bids will be negotiated and the city council will vote on the project, said Mayor Pro-Tem Ellen Cohen, whose district includes the Stella Link library.
Contractors should be able to start work in the fall, she said. The city’s target date for completion is sometime around Thanksgiving.
Opening in 2019
• Kendall Neighborhood Library, 609 N. Eldridge The Kendall branch had the most flood damage of any library in the system, Middleton said. It’s located in west Houston just north of Buffalo Bayou, and it took on 4-1/2 to 5 feet of floodwater. In fact, the staff couldn’t even get into the building for days after the storm, and at that point mold had become a problem.
The books were mostly on upper floors, but the flood damaged the elevator and all the first-floor electronics.
The city tried to find ways to give patrons access — closing off just the first floor, for instance, or moving the books to a temporary space, said Mark Kirschke, director of constituent services for City Councilman Greg Travis. But nothing has worked, so nearby residents have just been waiting it out.
But there’s hope for this location: Redesign will start in the next year, and work could begin on the $4 million project as early as July 2019. The Kendall branch could reopen as early as late summer 2019, Middleton said, “if we’re lucky” — a full two years after the flood.
May not reopen
• McCrane-Kashmere Gardens Neighborhood Library, 5411 Pardee
Water rose up through the foundation and caused significant damage at this northeast Houston branch, Middleton said. “It’s a much bigger deal than just sheetrock.”
That puts the branch’s future in jeopardy.
“We’re having to juggle how much to invest in remediation,” he said. “That one is not decided yet, frankly.”
• Melcher Neighborhood Library, 7200 Keller
The Melcher branch has developed a recurring mold problem after flooding in August — one that still hasn’t been contained.
The Melcher location, in southeast Houston, would have benefited from the bond that passed in November, Middleton said. But those bond funds aren’t for fixing Harvey damage. They’re designated for master-plan improvements that were planned before the flood, including roof repairs and new libraries in other neighborhoods.
“The question is, do we invest money for its current state?” he said. “We’ve been going through our existing bond funds trying to see what we can use, what’s appropriate.”
Will be replaced
• Meyer Neighborhood Library, 5005 W. Bellfort Blvd.
The neighborhood should simply say goodbye to the old Meyer branch, said Castex-Tatum, whose district includes the Meyer branch. “They aren’t going to fix that up and reopen it.”
The damage Meyer received from Harvey “wasn’t tremendous,” Middleton said, but before the flood, it was in the worst shape of any library in the system. In fact, money was allocated in a 2012 bond election to replace the branch with a new, bigger building, but nothing happened.
A new library is in the works, however. City council on Wednesday approved the purchase of a 2.5-acre lot at 5505 Belrose for a new library to replace both the Meyer branch and the decade-old Frank Express Library at 10103 Fondren.