County libraries upgrade tech, facilities

The county is upgrading its public libraries. The system signed up for a new alert service in April while Missouri City patrons can expect renovations to begin at their branch later this year.

A new mobile alert app called BluuBeam for iBeacon will give localized updates for patrons at their respective library branches. App users receive alerts when they move within range of the iBeacon, a wall-mounted device that uses Bluetooth technology, according to the company’s website.     

“[Patrons] did want new ways of learning about our programs and services, and this was a service that our technology department came across,” said Michele Pettigrew, a Fort Bend County Libraries representative.

The free app is available for Android and Apple devices. Updates will go out regularly and will promote programs such as story time or new releases of DVDs and CDs. Pettigrew said the service can also be used for systemwide updates, such as unexpected weather-related closures.

“All updates come from individual branches,” she said.

Patrons at the Missouri City branch—located at 1530 Texas Parkway—will also see construction later this year. Plans to add 9,600 square feet to the 18,462-square-foot building are in development, said Jamie Knight, county director of facilities management and planning.

Built in 1991, the branch is one of the oldest in the library system, Knight said. The $6.4 million renovations, which will take approximately one year for total design and construction, are mainly to modernize the building.

“Group study rooms will be new, and [a] computer lab will be [added],” he said.

The new space will be added to the building’s east side facing Texas Parkway, which Knight said would give it a new image. He said he expected the students coming to Houston Community College’s new campus next door to appreciate the amenity. The campus will be complete in 2017.

“Those students will be using our library a lot,” he said.