IN GENERAL

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 24, art. I

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-1 Definitions.

Sec. 24-1. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) Department means the Houston Public Library System. (2) Director means the director of the Houston Public Library System. (Code 1968, § 25-1; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-2 Department established.

Sec. 24-2. - Department established. There is hereby established a department of the city to be known as the Houston Public Library System. (Code 1968, § 25-2; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-3 Director generally.

Sec. 24-3. - Director generally. There is hereby established the office of director of the Houston Public Library System. The director shall be the head of the department and shall be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the city council. (Code 1968, § 25-3; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-4 Duties of director.

Sec. 24-4. - Duties of director. It shall be the duty of the director to direct, control and manage all libraries, bookmobiles, reading and study centers and other facilities placed under the control of the department by the mayor and city council. (Code 1968, § 25-4; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-5 Rules and regulations.

Sec. 24-5. - Rules and regulations. (a) The director shall have authority, subject to the approval of the mayor and city council, to prescribe rules and regulations for the administration of the department and for the orderly government and use of the library system, provided that such regulations shall not conflict with valid laws or ordinances. Without limitation, the director is authorized to include provisions that govern the use of library premises by the public, including the use of the property around the library, in order to promote an environment that is protective of the health and well-being of patrons and children while at the library facility. A copy of such rules and regulations shall be maintained for public inspection in each library within the system, in the office of the director and in the office of the city secretary. (b) For purposes of this section, library premises means the building and any city-owned property, plaza, green space, or walkway around the building. The term does not include a parking lot. (c) The director and all other employees of the department are hereby individually and severally authorized and directed for and on behalf of the city to notify any person who fails or refuses to comply with any applicable provision of law or of departmental rules and regulations to depart from any city property or building under the control of the department. Any such person who upon such notice fails to depart from any such property or building shall be subject to prosecution under Section 30.05 of the Texas Penal Code for criminal trespass in addition to prosecution for any other crime that he may have committed thereupon. (Code 1968, § 25-5; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 2013-1205, § 2, 12-18-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-6 Use of library system; cards; change of address.

Sec. 24-6. - Use of library system; cards; change of address. (a) No fee shall be imposed for the issuance of a borrower's card to any resident of the State of Texas. (b) It shall be the duty of each person who holds a library borrower's card issued by the department to notify the department of any change of his residence address within five days after the change. (Code 1968, § 25-6; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 83-1228, § 1, 8-9-83; Ord. No. 91-671, § 1, 5-15-91; Ord. No. 98-514, § 1, 6-24-98; Ord. No. 99-813, § 1, 7-28-99; Ord. No. 01-1039, § 1, 11-14-01)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-7 Lost books and other materials.

Sec. 24-7. - Lost books and other materials. (a) A replacement fee is hereby imposed and shall be collected by the department for the loss by any borrower of any book or audiovisual material or other circulated item in an amount equal to the publisher or manufacturer's current suggested list price of the item at the time of payment for the loss. The list price of a substantially equivalent item shall be utilized if an exact replacement of the lost item is no longer available. In addition to the replacement fee, there are hereby imposed processing fees in the amounts established pursuant to section 24-8 of this Code for each item that is lost to defray processing costs for the purchase of the replacement item. (b) No person who is indebted to the city in an amount of $25.00 or more for any fine or fee imposed by or pursuant to this section shall be permitted to borrow any item circulated by the department or be issued any renewal or replacement library card until such fine or fee has been fully paid. (Code 1968, § 25-7; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 83-1228, § 2, 8-9-83; Ord. No. 91-1179, §§ 1, 2, 8-14-91; Ord. No. 01-357, § 1, 4-25-01; Ord. No. 2023-30, § 3, 1-11-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-8 Fees and services.

Sec. 24-8. - Fees and services. (a) The fees for replacement of library items, as referenced in section 24-7 of this Code, shall be in the amounts stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, revisions to which amounts may be established from time to time by motion duly adopted by city council. (b) The department is authorized to offer various services for the convenience of its patrons including, but not limited to, self-service and staff-assisted copying, self-service and staff media printing, staff facsimile transmission, staff reference research, materials reservations, and parking in the Jesse Jones Library garage. The fees for those services shall be in the amounts stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, and revised fees to be charged pursuant to this subsection may be established from time to time by motion duly adopted by city council. (Code 1968, § 25-8; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 83-1228, § 3, 8-9-83; Ord. No. 91-1179, § 3, 8-14-91; Ord. No. 01-357, § 2, 4-25-01; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2023-30, § 4, 1-11-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-9 Handling of fees.

Sec. 24-9. - Handling of fees. The director shall cause all fines and fees collected by the department pursuant to this chapter to be promptly remitted to the city controller. (Code 1968, § 25-9; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-10 Inventory.

Sec. 24-10. - Inventory. The director shall cause an inventory to be maintained of all books and other library materials and equipment of the department. (Code 1968, § 25-9.1; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-11 Reserved.

Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-12 Reserved.

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH24LI_ARTIINGEFetched: 10/26/2026