Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) began the process of re-opening buildings on March 15, when five locations resumed in-person service. On Friday, June 4, the library system will welcome patrons back to five additional locations: the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch, the First Colony Branch, the Mamie George Branch (Stafford), the Mission Bend Branch, and the Sugar Land Branch.

The Albert George Branch (Needville) will receive upgraded shelving in June and will re-open at a later date. Curbside pick-up service at this location will be available through June 26, but will not be available once the upgrades begin.

With the re-opening of the additional libraries on June 4, many library services will resume as they were before the pandemic began in 2020.

• Fines and fees will be reinstated for overdue items; adult items, returned or renewed past the due date, will begin to accrue fines.
• The Friends of the Library organizations will begin accepting book donations.
• Test proctoring will resume.
• Notary services will be available at the FBCL Administration building.
• 3D printers will once again be available at George Memorial Library, the Cinco Ranch Branch, the Mamie George Branch (Stafford), the Mission Bend Branch, the Missouri City Branch, and the Sienna Branch.
• Cash will be accepted.
• Computer sessions: Patrons may have up to four 1-hour sessions. The sessions may be consecutive if no one is waiting for a computer.
• Study Rooms: Use of study rooms is limited to 2-hour sessions. The sessions may be extended if no one is waiting to use the space. Study rooms have a maximum capacity of two people.
• Toy kits and story kits, which are found in the children’s department, are available for check-out.
• Also in the children’s department, a limited number of Early Literacy Stations are available for children’s use. These computers are equipped with a wide variety of educational software programs for children aged 2-8. 

Social distancing measures will continue to be enforced. Seating at study tables and at computers will be spaced apart, and meeting rooms and conference rooms will not be available.

Everyone entering the buildings will start at the health screening station; hand sanitizer is also available. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

For now, FBCL still requires face masks. Patrons (age 2 and up) who enter the library building are required to wear a mask and follow all social-distancing guidelines. Patrons who cannot wear a mask will be assisted through the contact-free curbside pick-up service. As the state and local public health guidelines change based on CDC recommendations, FBCL’s mask procedures will be updated accordingly.

Programming and events for children, teens, and adults will remain online and in virtual formats so that patrons may enjoy them from the comfort and safety of home.

The hours for all locations are as follows:

• Mon-Thu – 9 am-6 pm;
• Fri – 9 am-5 pm;
• Sat – 9 am-5 pm at all locations EXCEPT at the Albert George Branch Library (Needville), the Mamie George Branch Library (Stafford), and the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library. For these branches, the Saturday hours are 9 am-1 pm;
• Sun – CLOSED (all locations).

The Books & More Curbside Pick-Up service will continue to be available at all locations. Please pick up items no later than 15 minutes prior to closing. If they are not picked up by that time, they will be held for the next business day.

For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website at www.fortbend.lib.tx.us or call the library system’s Communications Office  at 281-633-4734.