American Conversation Project at the Baldwin BoettcherBranch Library

About Harris County Public Library

When most people think of libraries, they think of books and computers and storytimes. At HCPL, we think of people: all the people it takes to select and order, catalog and process the books that go on the shelves; the people who service and maintain the computers and the network they run on, all the people who plan and organize and perform those storytimes; and, of course, we think of all the people who count on us to keep all those services, and many more, coming. Harris County Public Library is about all the materials and services you expect from your library, but first and foremost, HCPL is about people--the power of human connection and communication. Harris County Public Library enriches lives to strengthen communities. The library has an annual circulation of nearly 14 million items and consistently ranks in the top ten worldwide for digital circulation. HCPL is a network of 27 community-focused branch libraries offering programs and services that nurture literacy and lifelong learning for all ages. In 2023, HCPL was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor for U.S. public libraries. In 2026, the library was awarded the Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize from Library Journal and the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation. Harris County Public Library is committed to providing excellent customer service, strong collections, and cutting-edge information technology for the 21st Century.