Ring Neighborhood Library
🏢 Houston Public Library · Spring Branch, Houston, Texas
Ring Neighborhood Library
Named in honor of Elizabeth L. Ring — one of the founding mothers of the Houston Public Library system — this 1964 neighborhood branch serves the Spring Branch community from Long Point Road, offering books, digital resources, and a bilingual meeting room just minutes from Houston's inner loop.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 8835 Long Point Road, Houston, TX 77055
Phone: (832) 393-2000
Website: houstonlibrary.org
Plus Code: 76X6RF3R+3R (Houston, TX)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Ring Neighborhood Library
When Houston's first public library opened in 1904, it owed its existence in large part to Elizabeth L. Fitzsimmons Ring (1857–1941), a clubwoman, social reformer, and library trustee who spent more than fifty years shaping the city's civic life. As president of the Ladies' Reading Club in 1899, Ring led a coalition of Houston women's clubs to persuade the city to take over funding of the Houston Lyceum library — and then lobbied Andrew Carnegie directly for the funds to build Houston's first dedicated public library building. She served as a library trustee from 1900 until her death in 1941. In 1964, the Houston Public Library dedicated its Long Point Road branch in her memory. The building, 8,391 square feet on a busy Spring Branch corridor, underwent a $450,000 exterior envelope and roof restoration project beginning in 2022 to extend its operational life. Today it anchors library service for one of Houston's most linguistically diverse neighborhoods, offering English Learner programs, civics-for-citizenship instruction, bilingual family storytimes, and the full suite of digital resources available to every HPL MYLink cardholder.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Elizabeth L. Ring (1857–1941) — Ladies' Reading Club president who lobbied Andrew Carnegie for Houston's first library building and served as an HPL trustee until her death
- Built in 1964 as one of Houston Public Library's original neighborhood branches; 8,391 sq ft in the heart of Spring Branch, one of the city's most multilingual corridors
- $450,000 roof and building-envelope restoration project launched 2022 to preserve the branch for future generations
- HILSC Partner site offering English Learner programs and civics-for-citizenship instruction tailored to Spring Branch's immigrant communities
- Full HPL digital suite — Libby, hoopla (15 borrows/month), Kanopy (20 tickets/month), PressReader, and TexShare databases — free with a MYLink card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Every MYLink cardholder at Ring can access Houston Public Library's full digital collection, plus Texas-statewide resources, from home or in the branch:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and Wi-Fi throughout the branch
- Mobile printing: print remotely and pick up at the branch
- One reservable meeting room (library card required to book)
- MYLink card registration and renewal in person
- TexShare card for borrowing physical materials at 500+ Texas libraries
- Interlibrary loan through the Houston Area Library Automated Network (RFID-enabled collection)
- Self-checkout machines
- Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC) partner site
🎸 Programs
- Bilingual Family Storytime — stories, rhymes, and activities in English and Spanish (and seasonal Vietnamese sessions) for children of all ages
- English Learner Programs — interactive Living English lessons covering everyday topics, vocabulary, and grammar for adult learners
- Civics for Citizenship — instruction and resources to help residents prepare for the U.S. naturalization process
- Family Storytime — weekly read-alouds and literacy activities for young children and caregivers (Mondays)
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Houston Metro
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Elizabeth L. Ring, and why is the library named after her?
Elizabeth L. Fitzsimmons Ring (October 31, 1857 – September 8, 1941) was a Houston-born clubwoman, social reformer, and library advocate who dedicated more than fifty years to public service. As president of the Ladies' Reading Club in 1899, she led the coalition of women's clubs that persuaded the City of Houston to take over funding of the Houston Lyceum and lobbied Andrew Carnegie for the funds to build Houston's first dedicated public library building — which opened in 1904. She served as an HPL library trustee from 1900 until her death. In 1964, the Houston Public Library honored her legacy by naming its new Long Point Road branch in her memory.
What are Ring Neighborhood Library's current hours?
Ring Neighborhood Library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10am–6pm and Tuesday 12pm–8pm. The branch is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Hours are subject to change — call (832) 393-2000 or check the HPL locations page before visiting.
Does Ring Library offer resources for immigrants and English learners?
Yes. Ring is a Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC) partner site, serving Spring Branch's diverse immigrant communities. The branch offers English Learner programs with interactive Living English lessons covering everyday vocabulary and grammar, as well as civics-for-citizenship instruction to help residents prepare for the U.S. naturalization process. Contact the branch at (832) 393-2000 for current class schedules.
What is the TexShare card and how does it benefit Ring Library patrons?
The TexShare card is a statewide library card issued by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission that allows HPL MYLink cardholders to borrow physical materials from more than 500 participating Texas libraries. In addition, TexShare databases — encyclopedias, magazine archives, and subject databases — are available 24/7 to all HPL cardholders at no cost. Ask at the Ring branch desk or visit tsl.texas.gov/texshare for details.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.