Houston Public Library

152 Libraries Exceed One Million Checkouts of Digital Content in 2023

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 11, 2024
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CLEVELAND, Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Librarians investing in digital collections for the past year delivered new levels of service to all readers in their communities. In 2023, a record number 152 library systems and consortia in seven countries, from 41 U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces each loaned more than one million ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines for readers of all ages and interests. Readers benefited from libraries' partnership with OverDrive as well as the increased adoption and use of Libby, the award-winning library reading app. The 152 public libraries are the highest performing of 22,000 in the OverDrive network, and are based in the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Germany.  

Key Points: 
  • Readers benefited from libraries' partnership with OverDrive as well as the increased adoption and use of Libby , the award-winning library reading app.
  • In 2023, a record number 152 library systems each loaned more than one million ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines.
  • In addition, students from four K-12 school systems in 2023 accessed more than one million digital books with Sora , OverDrive's student reading platform.
  • Top 10 library systems circulating ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines in 2023:

Statue Dedicated in Honor of Former First Lady Barbara Bush

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 29, 2023
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HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 28, the City of Houston, led by Mayor Sylvester Turner, in conjunction with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Foundation), Houston Public Library Foundation (HPL Foundation), and Houston Public Library, revealed a statue of Former First Lady Barbara Bush and held a dedication at the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza at the Houston Public Library Downtown. The bronze statue, commissioned in partnership among the organizations, will serve as the focal point of the Barbara Bush Memorial Garden located within the Plaza named in honor of the late First Lady.

Key Points: 
  • & First Lady Barbara Bush – Neil Bush (son) and wife Maria Bush, Pierce (grandson) and wife Sarahbeth Bush, Jim Pierce (nephew), and Clemmie Pierce Martin (great niece); Dr. Julie Baker Finck, President & CEO, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation; Licia Green Ellis, Houston Public Library Foundation Board Chair; and Dr. Rhea Lawson, Houston Public Library Director.
  • The custom bronze statue, created by artists at Randolph Rose, took two years to design and create, and  is the first stand-alone statue of the late First Lady Barbara Bush in Texas.
  • (A statue of the late President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush stands in the Bush Convention Center in Midland, Texas.)
  • "Mom championed a literacy movement across America and believed that learning how to read, write, and comprehend was a fundamental human right," said Neil Bush, son of President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush and Co-Chair of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.

Shepley Bulfinch Expands Reach in Houston Market Through New Talent Acquisition & Senior Promotion

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
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Leading architectural firm Shepley Bulfinch announced today the addition of Trent Williams as a Principal and the promotion of Natalie Thurman, AIA, to Principal at its growing Houston studio.

Key Points: 
  • Leading architectural firm Shepley Bulfinch announced today the addition of Trent Williams as a Principal and the promotion of Natalie Thurman, AIA, to Principal at its growing Houston studio.
  • Thurman, who has been with Shepley Bulfinch since 2019, will continue to bring her design leadership both to the Houston studio and across the firm.
  • Williams previously served as the Director of Capital Projects at Texas Medical Center, and before that was the Senior Director, Capital Projects, at the University of Houston.
  • “Houston is a dynamic market and one that is always looking for innovative and new ideas,” said Williams.

Comcast Names Melinda Little Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
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Comcast announced today that Melinda Little has been named Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the company’s ‘Big South’ region.

Key Points: 
  • Comcast announced today that Melinda Little has been named Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the company’s ‘Big South’ region.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230118005160/en/
    Comcast Names Melinda Little Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs (Photo: Business Wire)
    In her new role, she will lead a government affairs and community impact team focused on broadband expansions, franchising, digital equity, and community outreach across the southeast.
  • Most recently, she served as Vice President of Government Affairs at the company’s Central Division Headquarters in Atlanta.
  • Prior to this, she was Senior Director of Government Affairs at Comcast in Houston.

Reliant and the Astros Foundation Launch “Slide Into Summer Reading”

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 27, 2022
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Slide Into Summer Reading is a twist on the summer slide, which occurs when students predominately younger and disadvantaged can lose up to two months of reading achievement while out of school for the summer, negatively impacting their education for years to come.

Key Points: 
  • Slide Into Summer Reading is a twist on the summer slide, which occurs when students predominately younger and disadvantaged can lose up to two months of reading achievement while out of school for the summer, negatively impacting their education for years to come.
  • The new Slide Into Summer Reading program features a book club, reading rallies and educational resources in addition to book distributions.
  • The Slide Into Summer Reading program is a great example of how our organizations can work together, said Paula Harris, Executive Director, Astros Foundation.
  • In addition to the Slide Into Summer Reading program, Reliant powers Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros, as well as the homes of Astros fans with the Reliant Astros plan .

NASA Selects Education Projects to Help Broaden STEM Participation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 9, 2021
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected a diverse group of projects from museums, science centers, library systems, and other informal education organizations across the country as NASA Informal Education Community Anchors.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected a diverse group of projects from museums, science centers, library systems, and other informal education organizations across the country as NASA Informal Education Community Anchors.
  • These projects will bring space exploration to traditionally underserved areas and broaden student participation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
  • These insitutions address community needs related to STEM engagement by using and sharing NASA STEM engagement learning resources and opportunities.
  • Leaders of the selected projects will form the inaugural group of a NASA Informal Education Learning Cohort, organized by the NASA Museum and Informal Education Alliance .