Entries Sought for Libraries’ “We are Fort Bend” Photo Contest
Summer 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) is seeking entries for its “We Are Fort Bend” Photography Contest. Amateur photographers of all skill levels are invited to enter original, photographs that portray the culture, nature, people, and places of Fort Bend County as they relate to the 2025 theme of “Vibrant Colors of Fort Bend.”
To be eligible for competition, contestants must submit a printed copy of their photograph – no larger than 8”x10” – between June 30 and July 21. Entries can be submitted at any FBCL location.
A panel of judges will determine the top three w... Read Full Blog
Libraries Host Free Summer Art Workshops
Summer 2025
In conjunction with the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Fort Bend County Libraries will present a series of free, hands-on art workshops exploring a variety of artistic styles and art movements from different time periods this summer.
Fort Bend County Libraries recognizes the educational, social, and mental-health benefits of art and play for all ages and offers a variety of opportunities throughout the library system for individuals to express their creativity through arts or crafts. Check FBCL’s online calendar for activities, events, and opportunities throughout th... Read Full Blog
New Community Garden at Sugar Land Branch Library
May 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries invites the public to help launch the library system’s new Community Garden at the Sugar Land Branch Library on Saturday, May 31, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon.
Join special guests Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, Library Director Roosevelt Weeks, and Branch Manager Mary Hulse in the Meeting Room at 10:30 am for the opening ceremony, followed by the official planting in the garden at 11:00 am.
Fort Bend County Master Gardener Nancy Schafer will give a talk on pollinator gardens from 11:30 am to 12:00 noon, in the Meeti... Read Full Blog
Beat the Heat! How to Prevent Heat-Related Illness
May 2025
Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Take precautions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your pets from the heat, especially if you must be outdoors for prolonged periods during the warmest hours of the day.
Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one shows signs of having a heat-related illness.
What is Extreme Heat?Extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are much hotter and/or humid than average. Because some places are hotter than others, this depends on what’s considered average for a particular location at that time of ye... Read Full Blog
Newborns Born June 1-7 Receive Special Welcome from FBCL for Children’s Book Week
June 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) will continue its annual tradition of welcoming newborns to the wonders of books. Every Fort Bend County baby born during FBCL’s Children’s Book Week -- June 1 through 7, 2025 -- may receive a special baby book bag, courtesy of the Friends of Fort Bend County Library.
Each bag contains a book, a bib, a special certificate, a list of suggested reading for children, and information on parenting and on library services. These bags represent the library system’s commitment to providing library services for county residents throughout their... Read Full Blog
Sign up NOW for FBCL’s Summer Reading Challenge for Kids, Teens, & Adults!
May 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) presents special reading challenges during the summer to encourage reading among children from birth and up, as well as teens and adults. “Color Our World” is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which takes place at all FBCL locations.
Online registration for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge is now open and continues through August 31. Click here to register.
Library activities for children begin during the week of June 2 and continue through July 26. Activities for high school students also begin the week of June... Read Full Blog
Closed Sundays Starting June 2 for Summer
June 2024
Fort Bend County Libraries’ summer schedule will begin June 2 and continue through August 4. During this time, George Memorial Library in Richmond and the Sienna Branch Library in Missouri City will NOT be open on Sundays. All other hours remain the same.
The summer hours of operation will be as follows:
George Memorial Library, Richmond
Mon, Thu – 10:00 am to 9:00 pmTue, Wed – 10:00 am to 6:00 pmFri, Sat – 10:00 am to 5:00 pmSun – CLOSEDSienna Branch Library, Missouri City
Mon – 12:00 noon to 9:00 pmTue – 10:00 am to 9:00 pmWed, Thu -- 10:00 am to 6:00 ... Read Full Blog
Libraries Offer Amnesty Period, June 1-30, for Overdue Items
June 2024
Fort Bend County Libraries will offer an amnesty period June 1-30, 2024. Fines for overdue items that are returned -- during this period only -- will be waived.
Fines on overdue items returned PRIOR to this amnesty period, fees for items not returned, and fees for damaged items will NOT be waived.
Outstanding fees that were assessed for items previously thought to be lost, but which have been found, will be waived if the item is returned to the library – either inside or in the outside book drop.
Amnesty does NOT apply to electronic devices checked out from... Read Full Blog
Famous Poets to “Visit” George Memorial Library in Interactive Theatrical Experience
April 2024
Special “guests” will be visiting Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library (Richmond) in April for National Poetry Month! Library visitors will have an opportunity to interact with some of their favorite poets – both past and present – in a theatrical experience that is sure to delight poetry lovers of all ages!
“Walking in Verse: An Interactive Poetry Experience” is an immersive live-performance event that will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, at George Memorial Library.
Actors from The Live Oak Playhouse will portray ic... Read Full Blog
Monique Franklin Appointed Interim Director for Library System
June 2024
Fort Bend County Commissioners Court announced the appointment of Monique Franklin as Interim Library Director for the Fort Bend County library system on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
As Interim Director, Franklin will oversee the daily operation of the library system until the library director position is filled.
Franklin has been with Fort Bend County as Assistant Library Director for 1 year, serving under former Library Director Clara Russell, who retired on June 7, 2024. She first joined Fort Bend County Libraries in September 2011 as Adult Collection Development C... Read Full Blog
FBCL Offers Online Exploration of Far Reaches of History
July 2024
Explore the far corners of history with Fort Bend County Libraries’ collection of online resources by Infobase. From ancient and medieval times through modern world history, these resources offer a portal through time for students, educators, and researchers who wish to delve deeply into the events, cultures, people, and places that shaped the course of history around the world.
The Infobase History resources cover four distinct areas: African-American History, American History, Ancient and Medieval History, and Modern World History. All four of the digital collections... Read Full Blog
Cooling Center Locations
The following libraries will be OPEN as cooling centers Monday through Thursday (10 am-6 pm), and Friday & Saturday (10 am-5 pm). All other libraries will remain CLOSED at this time.
Albert George Branch (9230 Gene St, Needville, TX 77461)First Colony Branch (2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479)George Memorial Library (1001 Golfview Dr, Richmond, TX 77469)Mamie George Branch (320 Dulles Ave, Stafford, TX 77477)Mission Bend Branch (8421 Addicks Clodine Rd, Houston, TX 77083)University Branch (14010 University Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479)... Read Full Blog
FBCL Offers Demonstrations of In-Depth Online Research Collection
September 2024
Whether you are looking for information or answers for school, work, or simply out of curiosity, Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) offers robust online resources for all kinds of information seekers.
Throughout the month of September, FBCL will hold demonstrations of EBSCO’s MasterFILE™ Complete – an online collection of journals, magazines, newspapers, and reference ebooks. Learn how to search this online resource for complete articles from Consumer Reports, U.S. News & World Report, TIME, Better Homes & Gardens, Sports Illustrated, and much more.
T... Read Full Blog
Shakespeare-by-the-Book Returns with “Twelfth Night” Comedy in October
October 2024
The Bard is Back!!Shakespeare-by-the-Book Returns with “Twelfth Night” Comedy in October
After a 19-year hiatus, Fort Bend County Libraries is excited to announce the return of the Shakespeare-by-the-Book Festival this fall!
In conjunction with The Live Oak Playhouse, Fort Bend County Libraries will present live theatrical performances of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night – an uproariously funny romantic comedy with a 1980s twist -- at George Memorial Library in Richmond on Saturdays and Sundays, October 5 and 6 and October 12 and 13, beginning at 1:30... Read Full Blog
“Olympus, Texas” Selected for FBCL’s 2024 “Community Reads” Reading Initiative
November 2024
Fort Bend County Libraries invites the public to join in this year’s “Community Reads” initiative, a county-wide reading program encouraging communities to read and discuss a particular book together September through November. The 2024 selection for “Community Reads” is Stacey Swann’s debut novel, Olympus, Texas.
Book discussions on Olympus, Texas will take place at different locations throughout the library system on various dates and times during the months of September, October, and November. The “Community Reads” initiative will conclude at FBCL’s annual Book ... Read Full Blog