Looscan Neighborhood Library
🏢 Houston Public Library · Houston, Texas
Looscan Neighborhood Library
Houston's first LEED-certified city building, the Looscan Neighborhood Library opened in 2007 in the River Oaks area, honoring the woman who launched the movement that created Houston Public Library in 1904.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 1pm–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2510 Willowick Road, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (832) 393-1900
Website: houstonlibrary.org
Plus Code: 76X6PHV5+45 (Houston, TX)
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📖 About Looscan Neighborhood Library
Named for Adele Briscoe Looscan (1848–1935), the daughter of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the civic leader who founded Houston's Ladies' Reading Club in 1885, this branch honors the woman who did more than anyone else to bring a free public library to Houston. Looscan organized the city's women's clubs into a political force, lobbied City Hall, and helped secure Carnegie funding, resulting in the Houston Public Library opening on March 2, 1904. More than 70 years later, one of the system's first eight branch libraries — opened in 1956 — bore her name, and in 2007 a new, purpose-built facility replaced that original building on Willowick Road. Designed by Jackson & Ryan Architects and opening to the public on September 14, 2007, the 20,400-square-foot building became the first LEED-certified structure ever built by the City of Houston, earning the Houston Business Journal's Landmark Award, the city's first Green Building Award, and two ABC Awards of Excellence in Construction. Its signature feature — the Emily Scott and Joseph Wood Evans Clocktower — houses a unique horticultural archive donated by The Garden Club of Houston. Inside, the Marsha Moody Children's Reading Room features whimsical tree-and-squirrel decor, a dedicated teen reading area, a periodical lounge, a 120-seat multipurpose meeting room, and a 14-seat private conference room, with large expanses of glass flooding the open lobby with natural light.
⭐ What makes this library special
- First LEED-certified building ever constructed by the City of Houston — opened September 14, 2007, designed by Jackson & Ryan Architects (20,400 sq ft)
- Named for Adele Briscoe Looscan (1848–1935), founder of the Ladies' Reading Club (1885) and driving force behind the creation of Houston Public Library in 1904
- Iconic Emily Scott and Joseph Wood Evans Clocktower housing a horticultural archive donated by The Garden Club of Houston
- Marsha Moody Children's Reading Room with tree-and-squirrel decor, plus a teen zone, periodical lounge, 120-seat meeting room, and private conference room
- HPL MYLink card unlocks TexShare databases, Libby eBooks, hoopla, Kanopy streaming, PressReader newspapers, and ComicsPlus — all free
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
HPL cardholders (MYLink) access books, films, newspapers, and research databases free through TexShare and Houston Public Library's digital collection:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and wireless (Wi-Fi) throughout the building
- Mobile printing — send documents from your device and pick up at the branch
- Meeting room reservations — 120-seat multipurpose room and 14-seat conference room (HPL card required to book)
- Free HPL MYLink card for Texas residents (digital card available online; physical card at any branch)
- Interlibrary loan via the Houston Public Library system's 44 service units
- Mobile app for catalog browsing, holds, and digital library card
🎸 Programs
- Storytime for young children — recurring weekly sessions (check HPL Events calendar for current schedule)
- After-school reading and craft activities for families
- Free classes and workshops — subjects vary (see HPL calendar at houstonlibrary.org)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Houston
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Adele Briscoe Looscan, and why is this library named after her?
Adele Briscoe Looscan (1848–1935) was one of Houston's most influential civic leaders. Born in Harrisburg, Texas, she was the daughter of Andrew Briscoe — a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first Chief Justice of Harris County — and great-granddaughter of John Richardson Harris, founder of Harrisburg. In 1885 she founded the Ladies' Reading Club at her mother's Houston home, which grew into the City Federation of Woman's Clubs and successfully lobbied City Hall and Andrew Carnegie for funds to establish Houston's first public library, which opened March 2, 1904. On her death in 1935 she bequeathed her personal library of 1,500 volumes — including rare Texana — to Houston Public Library. When the system opened eight branch libraries in 1956, one was named in her honor.
What makes the 2007 Looscan building architecturally notable?
Designed by Jackson & Ryan Architects and opened September 14, 2007, the 20,400-square-foot building was the first LEED-certified structure ever built by the City of Houston. It earned the Houston Business Journal's Landmark Award for Public/Private Partnership, the city's first Green Building Award from the U.S. Green Building Council, and two Associated Builders and Contractors' Awards of Excellence in Construction. Its standout feature is the Emily Scott and Joseph Wood Evans Clocktower, which houses a horticultural archive donated by The Garden Club of Houston. Large expanses of glass bring natural daylight into an open lobby with monumental stairs, and distinct interior zones serve adults, teens, and young children.
What are the Looscan Library's hours, and does it open late any evening?
Looscan is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10am–6pm; Wednesday 12pm–8pm (the late evening for residents who work daytime hours); Friday 1pm–5pm; and Saturday 10am–5pm. The library is closed on Sunday. Hours can shift on public holidays — call (832) 393-1900 or check the HPL Events calendar at calendar.houstonlibrary.org before visiting on or around a holiday.
What digital resources can I use from home with an HPL card?
With a free Houston Public Library MYLink card you can borrow eBooks and audiobooks through Libby (the HPL and Harris County Public Library collections are linked for maximum selection), stream up to 20 films/month on Kanopy, borrow up to 15 items/month on hoopla (movies, music, comics, eBooks — no wait lists), read current newspapers and magazines via PressReader (including the Houston Chronicle and New York Times), browse comics and manga on ComicsPlus, and access the full TexShare database suite (magazines, encyclopedias, and subject databases from TSLAC). Texas residents can apply for a digital MYLink card online at houstonlibrary.org/mylink.
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