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Topic: Library tech upgrades and summer reading programFunding: $449,000+ from Texas State Library and Archives CommissionBranches Affected: 10 Houston library locationsSummer Reading Program: UNEARTH a Story, June 1 – July 31, all agesSource: Houston Public Library (HPL) News
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Good first step: Act Sign up for HPL's 2026 Summer Reading Program
Visit hpl.lib.tx.us or call your nearest Houston Public Library branch to join UNEARTH a Story before June 1!
Big news from Houston Public Library (HPL): a $449,000-plus grant is upgrading internet and technology at 10 branches, and the 2026 Summer Reading Program — UNEARTH a Story — kicks off June 1 for readers of all ages. Here is what you need to know to make the most of both.
The LIFI grant covers network cabling, heating and cooling (HVAC) upgrades in data rooms, better public computers, and other infrastructure work to make digital services faster and more dependable. Five branches — Moody, Pleasantville, Hillendahl, Melcher, and Acres Homes — will close temporarily (roughly one to three weeks each) while construction happens. The Summer Reading Program, UNEARTH a Story, runs June 1 through July 31, 2026, across all 40-plus HPL locations. Sign up, log your reading minutes, complete challenges, and earn prizes including bikes from CYCLE Houston, Nintendo Switch Lite consoles, and Kindle devices. Spanish-language materials and registration options are available. The youth portion is supported by the McGovern Foundation.
Use this information in three practical ways. First, check whether your go-to branch is on the temporary closure list and plan around the dates — Moody closes around early June, Pleasantville mid-June, Hillendahl late June into July, Melcher mid-July, and Acres Homes late July into August. Second, register for Summer Reading early at houstonlibrary.org/srp so you can start logging minutes on June 1. Third, if you want hands-on tech tools, visit TECHLink Scenic Woods on Tuesdays or Wednesdays (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for extra open hours added as of April 29, 2026.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
These upgrades connect directly to HPL's broader goal of giving every Houstonian — no matter the neighborhood — equal access to fast internet, modern technology, and free learning resources. If you use the library for job searching, taking online classes, or accessing city services, stronger infrastructure means fewer dropped connections and better experiences. The Summer Reading Program ties in too: stronger tech at branches means smoother digital registration and more reliable program support all summer long.
Reliable internet and modern computers matter — especially at public libraries, where many Houstonians go to job-hunt, take classes, or get online. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) awarded HPL more than $449,000 through its Library Infrastructure Facility Improvement (LIFI) grant to fix aging equipment at 10 locations. The money flows from the U.S. Department of the Treasury through TSLAC. At the same time, the Summer Reading Program gives every Houstonian — kids, teens, and adults — a free, fun way to keep reading all summer and earn real prizes along the way.
