Multicultural Festival Features Exciting Performances
May 2025
Experience some of the vibrant cultures of the world at Fort Bend County Libraries’ Multicultural Festival on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at George Memorial Library, in Richmond.
Sponsored by the Friends of the George Memorial Library, the Multicultural Festival celebrates the rich, cultural diversity of the county and of the people who reside in it. Featuring an exciting line-up of performances, games, crafts, and more, the festival will have free activities and fun for the whole family.
In addition to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition area in the ... Read Full Blog
FBCL’s Summer Reading Challenge -- for Kids, Teens, & Adults -- Starts May 26
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 begins on Monday, May 26, and continues through August 31. 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 2 and continue ... Read Full Blog
Autism Awareness Symposium at Missouri City Branch Library
April 2025
In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Fort Bend County Libraries will host an Autism Awareness Symposium at the Missouri City Branch Library on Thursday, April 17, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library.
Families, caregivers, and others affected by autism will be inspired by hearing success stories of individuals with autism who have surpassed societal expectations.
A panel of experts and autism advocates will share their insight into therapy options, early intervention, education, community support, and advocacy. Hear about valuable resour... Read Full Blog
Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra - Free Family Concert at Library’s Outdoor Amphitheater
April 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries will present a free, musical performance, The Orchestra Games, by the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, on Saturday, April 12, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon, in the Jodie E. Stavinoha Amphitheater at George Memorial Library in Richmond.
This family-friendly concert is a great way to foster a young child’s love of music. In The Orchestra Games, composed by Gregory Smith, the instruments and sections are presented in an Olympic Games format in preparation for their “events,” such as the low-note limbo, the glissando slide for life, the fast-note das... Read Full Blog
Famous Poets “Visit” Library in Interactive Theatrical Experience
April 2025
Special “guests” will be returning to Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library in April for National Poetry Month! Library visitors will have an opportunity to interact with some of their favorite poets 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 26, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, at George Memorial Library in Richmond.
Actors from The Live Oak Playhouse will portray iconic poets, such as Emil... Read Full Blog
Celebrate National Library Week April 6-12
April 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) encourages all community members to visit the library during National Library Week, April 6-12, to explore all they have to offer.
Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and ebooks, but there's so much more to the library story!
Libraries are welcoming spaces that bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, story times, movie nights, crafting classes, lectures, cultural events,... Read Full Blog
Popular Magazines Available Online Through Libraries’ Flipster® Service
March 2025
Users of Fort Bend County Libraries have instant access to popular magazines online through the libraries’ Flipster® service from EBSCO Information Services. Flipster is a next-generation magazine service that allows people to browse digital versions of the latest issues of popular magazines for adults, teens, and children, courtesy of the library.
Flipster magazines are full-print, full-color digital duplicates of the hardcopy print magazine, and library cardholders can access them remotely through FBCL’s website. The libraries’ collection includes 58 popular titles ... Read Full Blog
Learn American Sign Language with FBCL’s “Transparent Language” Online Resource
March 2025
American Sign Language (ASL) is available as part of Transparent Language® Online’s database of more than 110 languages to learn!
Learning another language can have many benefits, and Fort Bend County Libraries’ (FBCL) “Transparent Language® Online” resource makes learning a new language easier than ever – and it’s free!
The Transparent Languages resource offers online courses for people who would like to learn a new language. The online resource includes more than 110 languages – from Afrikaans and American Sign Language to Zulu – as well as ESL (English...
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Discover Animated Children’s Picture Books in the TumbleBook Library Online Collection
The TumbleBook Library is a digital collection of online children’s books available on the library’s website. These animated, talking picture books and graphic novels are presented in an innovative and exciting format that helps children to read, build vocabulary, and have fun at the same time. This collection is recommended for children from pre-K through grade 6.
The TumbleBook Library may be found in the eLibrary on FBCL’s website and can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection, whether at the library, at school, or at home. More than 1100 books are available, and... Read Full Blog
Friends of the Libraries - Membership Drive
March 2025
FBCL invites and encourages area residents to support their local library by becoming a member of the Friends of the Library organizations that support the library system.
Although the enormous amount of work that they do to support the Fort Bend County library system may not always be visible at first glance, the members of the Friends of the Library organizations provide invaluable support and financial assistance to the libraries by holding membership drives and book sales throughout the year.
The Friends of the Library groups are composed of many individuals... Read Full Blog
FBCL's Online “Homework Help” Service Offers Chess Tutoring
March 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries’ Brainfuse HelpNow (Homework Tutoring) service offers free online chess tutoring for all ages and skill levels, from beginners learning the basics to advanced players honing their skills.
Live, on-demand, online chess tutoring is available Monday through Thursday, from 3:00 to 9:00 pm CST. Note: these hours are not the same as the regular Homework Help assistance, which is available seven days a week.
To access the Brainfuse HelpNow chess tutors during the designated time, click on the “Research” tab, then “Homework & Tutoring,” an... Read Full Blog
“1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” Challenge
March 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries’ “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge helps set our youngest book lovers on a path that will encourage a love of reading and lead to a journey of life-long learning.
Part of a nationwide initiative, this ongoing program encourages reading to newborns, toddlers, and preschoolers to foster a love of books and prepare them for school.
“Studies have shown that children who are read to at an early age will be better prepared to learn,” says Dana Brittain, Youth Services Coordinator for the library system. “Children who have been read... Read Full Blog
Video-Streaming Options for Children, Teens, & Adults
March 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries offers an online streaming-video service, Access Video On Demand, in its eLibrary collection of digital resources. Library users have instant, unlimited, 24/7 access to thousands of world-class documentaries, award-winning educational films, independent movies, and helpful instructional videos covering a wide range of subjects.
This video-streaming service includes two collections -- “Access Video on Demand: Master Collection” for adults and “Access Video On Demand: Just for Kids.” From arts and humanities to science, technology... Read Full Blog
Friends of the Library - Spring Book Sales 2025
March/April 2025
People who love books, people who love bargains, and people who need to get rid of some spare change will find a lot in common at the Friends of the Libraries’ Spring Book Sales, where they will discover adult and children’s books, DVDs, and much more -- all at prices that are hard to beat!
Cash or checks are accepted at the book sales, unless otherwise noted. Credit cards, or bills larger than $20, cannot be accepted.
Friends of the Sienna Branch Library, Missouri City
Friday, April 25, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am to... Read Full Blog
University Branch Library Hosts Children’s Opera Based On Popular Author Mo Willem’s Stories
March 2025
Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library will present a children’s musical theater performance by Houston Grand Opera’s “Opera to Go!” of Mo Willems’ Bite-Sized Operas, on Thursday, March 13, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, in Meeting Room 1 of the library.
This bilingual (English-Spanish) family-friendly performance features two mini productions – Slopera! A Bite-Sized Opera and Don’t Let the Pigeon Sing Up Late: An Opera with Wings -- based on two children’s books by Mo Willems, the Emmy Award-winning author, illustrator, and playwright, with music by Grammy-nomi... Read Full Blog