W.L.D. Johnson Neighborhood Library
🏢 Houston Public Library — Houston, Texas
W.L.D. Johnson Neighborhood Library
W.L.D. Johnson Neighborhood Library in Sunnyside carries the legacy of Houston's historic Colored Carnegie Library — demolished in 1962 for I-45 construction — and honors W.L.D. Johnson Sr., the educator and civic leader who spent decades fundraising for Black Houstonians' right to a public library.
🕑 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.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 3517 Reed Rd, Houston, TX 77051
Phone: 8323932550
Website: houstonlibrary.org
📖 About W.L.D. Johnson Neighborhood Library
<p>Dedicated on June 16, 1964, the W.L.D. Johnson Neighborhood Library replaced the Houston Colored Carnegie Library, which had been established in 1913 with a Carnegie grant secured by Emmett J. Scott and Booker T. Washington. That original neoclassical building — designed by William Sidney Pittman, a prominent African American architect and son-in-law of Washington — was demolished in 1962 to make way for Interstate 45. The branch is named for W.L.D. Johnson Sr., an educator who served as principal of Blackshear Elementary School for over forty years and led the 1910 community drive to purchase land for the Colored Carnegie Library. Located in Sunnyside on Houston's south side, Johnson Library continues to serve as a vital resource for its majority African American community.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Successor to the 1913 Houston Colored Carnegie Library, one of the South's most significant early African American public libraries
- Named for W.L.D. Johnson Sr., educator and principal of Blackshear Elementary School for over 40 years
- Dedicated June 16, 1964 — a date now also recognized nationally as Juneteenth
- The original Colored Carnegie Library was designed by William Sidney Pittman, a noted Black architect and son-in-law of Booker T. Washington
- Serves the Sunnyside neighborhood, one of Houston's historically Black southside communities
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was W.L.D. Johnson, and why is the library named after him?
W.L.D. Johnson Sr. was a Houston educator who served as principal of Blackshear Elementary School for more than forty years. He led the 1910 community drive to raise funds and purchase land for the Houston Colored Carnegie Library, and served on that library's board of directors. The Sunnyside branch was named in his honor when it opened in 1964 as a successor to that demolished facility.
What happened to the original Houston Colored Carnegie Library?
The 1913 Colored Carnegie Library, designed by architect William Sidney Pittman in the Fourth Ward, was demolished in 1962 to make way for Interstate Highway 45. W.L.D. Johnson Neighborhood Library in Sunnyside opened in 1964 as its successor, preserving the community's library tradition on the south side of Houston.
Does Johnson Neighborhood Library offer evening hours during the week?
Yes — the library is open until 8pm on Wednesdays. All other weekdays the branch is open 10am–6pm (Mon, Tue, Thu) or 1pm–5pm (Fri), and Saturday 10am–5pm. The branch is closed on Sundays.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.