The center is named for Kevin Brady, who represented Texas' 8th Congressional District from 1997 until 2023.
Several hundred community members gathered at the library Sept. 2 to hear from Brady as well as Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler, County Judge Mark Keough and Aaron Cox, president and CEO of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event.
Wheeler said it took the effort of his 56 Precinct 3 staff members, as well as library staff, to move 78,000 books from the previous library location on Lake Robbins Drive to the new location.
As part of the center redevelopment, a renovated retail center was also unveiled earlier this summer.
What they're saying
"This is a place where young people will learn to love to read," Brady said at the opening. "This is a place where our community volunteers and organizations will meet and gather and plan and celebrate together, and it is a great place for visitors coming to our community."
"This was the epicenter of The Woodlands, and it needs to return to that," Wheeler said at the event. "This, along with the retail components that the Howard Hughes Corporation has put together, is what's going to help do that."
“We invite our Montgomery County community and neighbors to visit this new modern public library, a welcoming place for all to discover, connect, and innovate,” said Janna Hoglund, Montgomery County Memorial Library System director, in a statement.
The backstory
The project came about as part of a $16.5 million land swap agreement between Montgomery County Precinct 3 and Howard Hughes Corp. to redevelop the center. The project included building the library and community center at the site of a former Randalls grocery store that closed in 2020. Work on the project began in 2024.
The library features spaces for children, teens and adults, and the complex also features study and meeting spaces and a theater-style classroom. Maker spaces, such as a podcast studio and access to a 3D printer, are among the services available at the new library. The South Montgomery Friends of the Library also has a bookstore in the building.
"I'm going to be able to do programming in the new [young adult] space, which I'm very excited about," said Lacye Lawhon, the library's young adult librarian, on the opening day. "We have a huge space, we're upgrading our technology ... we're just excited to enter this new chapter."
What's next
A public celebration will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 20 at the library. Sponsored by Howard Hughes, the event will include a bounce house and food trucks, according to information from the library system.
