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WORTH READING ABOUT / Construction work under way on Barbara Bush branch library

JESSE SENDEJAS, Houston Chroniclecorrespondent

WED 09/20/2000 Houston Chronicle, Section ThisWeek, Page 1, 2 STAR Edition

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Work is under way on what will be the largest of the Harris County Public Library branches.

Construction began this summer on the Barbara Bush branch library. Those who drive by its future address, 6815 Cypresswood Drive, can see the exterior work that has been done, but what they don't see is the planning and labor that has already gone into filling what will be a 32,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

"They're beginning the building now, preparing the beams and piers that will hold up the building," said Catherine S. Park, director of the Harris County Public Library system. "Construction has begun, and we expect it to be complete in the summer of 2001. We asked commissioner's court for additional funding for materials, books, technology and furnishings for that building.

"We've been planning since last year, and are storing a lot of materials in our administrative building," Park said.

She said more than $600,00 of $5.4 million in projected costs will fund interior items for the library. About $416,000 will be earmarked for furnishings and $217,000 will buy personal computers for public and staff use and other equipment as well.

The library will have more than 50 Internet-accessible computers and more than 120,000 books and other materials, twice the size of current collection stored at the Cypress Creek branch it will ultimately replace.

"The Cypress Creek Library serves a fairly large population base," Park said. "It's still quite a way from the other branches, and it has a population base of about 200,000. And it's in an area that uses the library a lot."

Park said there are several other library branches in the area. The Baldwin Boettcher Branch at 22248 Aldine-Westfield serves Humble residents. Greenspoint residents are served by the Aldine Branch, 11331 Airline. The Northwest Branch is located in Cypress, 11355 Regency Green, and the Fairbanks Branch is located at 7122 N. Gessner.

Still, there's a need to provide a more spacious and accommodating facility to Spring and its surrounding areas. That was apparent when county voters approved a $15 million bond for library improvements in November 1997.

"The Barbara Bush Library has been one of my top priorities since the voters approved a 1997 library bond issue. Without the approved funding, the facility would have been at least eight or 10 years away," said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole. "It is very exciting to see the ground breaking on Harris County's largest library, which is designed to meet the growing needs of Northwest Harris County."

Voters' approval of the 1997 library bond issue will help meet the needs of other areas, too. Park said renovation and expansion of the Aldine branch is under way and should be complete by January 2001.

The Tomball Branch, 701 James Street, is also slated for such activity. New facilities are being built in Humble and La Porte for existing branches in those cities.

The county library system has budgeted $2 million for a cooperative effort with the City of Houston to enhance amenities in Clear Lake, and a new branch of the same ambitious scope of the Bush branch will be planned for a Precinct 3 community, Park said.

The Barbara Bush Branch will meet the needs of library patrons by providing more than they are accustomed to in amenities. The new facility will include an activity room, an outdoor play area for children, a large meeting room, a conference room and six small study rooms.

Park said the Cypress Creek branch will be converted into a county community building. Many of its most avid patrons helped spur the drive for a new library.

"In the Cypress Creek Library, we have a very active Friends of the Library organization, which has been very instrumental in getting the bond issue passed and in pushing for a new facility here," Park said.

The group has not rested since being awarded the facility. It's been active publicizing the coming branch, educating area residents on its advanced amenities and acquiring donations for the branch.

"This project has been one of the most exciting I've worked on," said Park, who has directed the county library system's efforts since 1979. "I've seen the libraries grow since I've been here from 17 to 25 branches, soon to be 26, but this elegant, state-of-the-art facility will allow us to provide several different services to the public, and that's exciting."

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