Cypress Creek Friends of the Library

We use our funds raised through donations and used bookstore purchases to fund children's, teen and adult programs at the Barbara Bush Library. On an annual basis we contribute approximately $60,000 dollars to the library to supplement Harris County funds. Our Board and bookstore "employees" are all volunteers, with many serving a number of years. Our Board admin costs are very low in comparison to other non-profits.
We currently have a fund raiser to upgrade and refurbish areas of the library, including new furniture in the lobby and upstairs lobby, add a tween area to the children's library, refurbish the manager's office and employee break room, and other projects throughout the library.

The Barbara Bush Library Friends has made it possible for the Spring community to enjoy numerous programs for adult, young adult and children. They are an asset for our community.

I am a forever library user, and The Friends group at The Barbara Bush Library makes my library even better! New to texas, i joined the Friends' Board as away to meet new folkls. Volunteersman the Friends' bookstore, we provide funds for new ebooks, offers stimulating programs and social events all ages, and actively supports the summer reading program for the young people in the community. The Board is active, involved, and always looking for new faces and new ideas.

This organization has been a part of my life since 1999. I have even involved my family in their activities. They provide things for the library the County cannot afford to supply. Libraries are an essential part of any community and this organization enhances their presence.

The Friends supplement the County funding for this library, helping to make it a great asset for our community. The library provides print and electronic resources, popular classes, and programs for all ages from infants to seniors. This group has been called the "Rock Star" of Texas Friends groups.

Would be lost without our library. So much outreach to the public,children,adults,seniors alike. A real asset to our community.

The Barbara Bush Harris County Library offers amazing services and exemplary creativity in serving the public. Much of this is made possible by the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library. This organization is a model for what it means to support literacy and learning in America.

As a mature client with mobility issues I have found the library staff to be gracious, informed, and interested in my needs and requests. They have been particularly accommodating with my ipad usage of audio and ebooks.

This branch of the Harris County Library System is a resource this community cannot possibly do without. I have been a borrower and a member of one of its book clubs for the last seven years and just recently, became of member of the Friends board. To say I spend a lot of time here at the Barbara Bush branch, is an understatement but I'm not alone in that. It is one of the most heavily used branches in the system as evidenced by the number of books that pass in and out of circulation. Their children's programs are many and varied, from infants to elementary students. The community outreach is significant, with a considerable number of volunteers who assist the small staff that has survived the cutbacks. I'm constantly amazed at the countless hours Nancy Agafitei, our branch librarian works to efficiently oversee this library and all of its programs. Thanks, Nancy and your staff, for all you do!

I don't know that we would have the Barbara Bush Library without the Friends. They really pushed for the new library and now that it is built they really help keep it the best in the county. They support the library financially and with volunteer hours.

I have been going to this library for the past 25 years. I love the new library! The staff are courteous and very helpful. I think the summer outreach program (that my kids participated in when young) is excellent. I fully support them financially when able and utilize both their hard copy book lending library and the e-book library. A great organization!

Barbara Bush Library Friends offers encouragement and support to a great community resource. Volunteers give countless hours of service to get the good word out to library patrons of all ages. The organization provides funds and encoragement to participants in a myriad of activities that bring families and individuals together. They also work cooperatively with neighboring organizations to enrich our cultural opportunities.

I see the Friends as a crucial part of the library and its outreach into the area. The summer children's program, supported by the Friends, is a source of family fun and learning during the time away from school.

The Barbara Bush Library Friends support financially the programs and activities that are offered to the Cypresss Creek community. The Friends are a diverse group of people who have the goals to serve the residents in a variety of ways and to make a difference in people's lives.

Without the BBLF we would not have all the programs that the library provide through out the year. Thank you for all that you do for the Barbara Bush Library.

I am a donor to this charity every year. It is an outstanding charity. They do great things for the Library. They are constantly providing resources for the Library that the community could not have at their disposal if it was not for the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library. They are truly a charity that helps the community.

The Barbara Bush Library Friends is a generous supporter of the Literacy/ESL programs conducted at the library. The classes are taught by 30 volunteers accommodating more than 60 students. A few success stories: five students became U.S citizens in the past year, two became licensed drivers, one recently passed the GED, several have found jobs or have been promoted, and many are communicating confidently with their children’s teachers, their doctors and others in the community . With help of the Friend’s funding, the library is able to train volunteers and provide materials for the students, thus keeping the program free and open to everyone.

The library is one of the most useful institution for the community! We can continue our education, relax, be entertained and help each other as good neighbors.



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My time at the Barbara Bush Library is one of the most rewarding volunteer
opportunities I'm involved with. I volunteer with the field trips arranged thoughout the year by our school district. My Husband enjoys purchasing used books and I like the book club. In every way the library far exceeds our expectations. They have wonderful after school programs which our grandchildren are are able to paricipate. They are friendly, courteous and always helpful. Sarene Smith

I have checked out many books, had tutoring sessions in the small rooms upstairs, had books sent to and from this library with inter-library loan and been part of a meeting group here. There have also held early voting at this library over the years. They offer programming for the whole community from movies to book discussions to reading times and classes in multiple languages to all age ranges. The librarians are helpful in assisting all the people that come to the library. It is truly a community center.

The Barbara Bush Library is the centerpiece of our local community. As a Board member of Barbara Bush Library, it is such a pleasure to help contribute to the success of this library. The numbers don't lie ... the staff and services at Barbara Bush library is outstanding.

I am now a library patron, but at one time I worked in the Acquisitions Dept of the library system. My dept ordered materials for all the branches and my co-worker and I were always amazed at the extra materials we were able to order for the Barbara Bush library due to the generous donations from the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library. They managed to provide items that just could not be funded through the library's budget. This is so very important now with state and local budget cuts. They are a strong and generous group working to help the whole community.

I have benefited from the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library since I first came to this branch in 1983. The Cypress Creek Friends of the Library (now known as Barbara Bush Library Friends) provide extra funds for extra library staff during the busy summer season, and also members of the Friends shelve books regularly to supplement our shrinking shelving staff, among other things.

The Best - many excellent programs and dedicated staff.

This library has the most helpful and sincere staff. They are always eager to help in any way and incredibly knowledgeable. In addition to having a wide variety of resources, this library is a great place to go to study in a quiet environment.

This library is absolutely the best. The volunteers and paid employees are extremely friendly and helpful. The library is also very clean and maintained. I love taking my daughter to the library and we spend a couple hours just walking around the HUGE Children's section. We have attended a few of the children's programs (a marionette show and a movie day- Lion King) and they were fantastic!
I love this library! I also love that I can sign online, reserve a book for me, pick it up, and spend a couple hours reading it in the Children's section while my daughter explores the gorgeous facility.

My family and I moved here from Corpus Christi Texas and were very excited to find the Barbra Bush library so close to us. We have four children who all love books. We really liked the children's book area and the staff was very helpful in assisting us with what we were looking for.

I moved here from a little town in LA after Hurricane Katrina. The local library was tiny, no working computers, and was on the verge of closing due to lack of parish funding.
I walked in to the Barbara Bush library with my kids and was amazed at the light airy rooms filled with books. It has been a pleasure going to the library, the staff in the children's area are very helpful and nice.
I also enjoy the book sale room.

When I first moved to Spring a year ago, I sought out the library near my apartment. From the moment I stepped inside, I was warmly welcomed by staff and volunteers. No question was too strange or annoying either! The entire experience that I've had in borrowing items has been quick, easy and very convenient. I've recommended several people to the BB/Cypress Creek Library numerous times. It's outstanding!

This is a fantastic resource for the Spring area. The facility houses a very nice collection, an excellent children's section and features plenty of activities for seniors. It is as close as I have seen, in this commuter area of town, to a community hub. Further, it forms the backbone, together with the new museum and the frequent concerts at the church across the street, of a growing cultural nexus in this largely suburban-rural community

The staff is first rate, if overworked, and are always helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

I fell in love with this library when I first moved here 8 years ago. The building itself was beautiful, but that it was a hive of activity is what appealed to me the most. One time I was at the library returning a book that I had not quite finished, so I sat down to read. As I came to the end, I was puzzled, not understanding the ending, not happy with it. I marched in to the head librarian's office, wanting an explanation. Now I'm sure this is not specifically in her job description, but, nonplussed, she began researching the book on her computer, as if crazed readers who want to discuss a story's ending were every day events! I was hooked. It truly is a place that serves the community. The staff upstairs were friendly as they helped familiarize me with the book collection, always going the extra mile to locate items for me. I was lucky to become involved as a volunteer with the ESL Tutoring program students who enriched my life. I met many interesting people when working in the Book Store. I enjoy helping out with The Barbara Bush Friends of the Library and witnessing their dedication to support this fine library.

Every week I go to this library with my wife and son. We want to encourage him to love reading like we do, so we choose books each week and read to him before bed every night. Without the service this library gives us we wouldn't be able to afford new books for my son to experience. He already will often prefer sitting in my lap to read a book than playing with a toy.

The programs offered by the CCFOL at Barbara Bush Libarary are excellent. Years ago my children all enjoyed story times. Now my oldest is out of college and my youngest is finishing high school. Every one of them found great programs as they grew. They enjoyed the library so much that they frequently asked to stop for a book after we would visit a nearby park for a soccer game or picnic. The Friends of the Library have helped to make this place the kind of community hub that it should be.

I love the summer programs for kids. When my kids were small they loved storytime. Last summer my preteen son learned how to play go and looked forward to playing every week. I also like the self checkout.

This place is fantastic! I love being able to download audio books and load them on my MP3 player. This is a great way to keep up on my reading while working out. I hope they get more because there is no way I could enjoy all the books and movies I have without the library.

I have been on the Board of the CCFOL, now known at the Barbara Bush Library Friends for over 12 years. This group works hard to provide materials and services the county is unable to provide. They built a computer lab, supported the installation of a mural in the children's area, continue to provide funds to hire 2 - 4 extra part time staff in the summer, and buy books and other materials for the library just to name a few. They are professional in all aspects of what they do. I have stayed on the board for as long as I have because I believe in what they do.

Wonderful library, staff is friendly and also helpful. Many activities for all - story time, teen programs, yoga, book club, science club for kids. Each year all the third grade students from Klein Independent School District are presented a program to familiarize each student with the library and then given a tour of the facility.
Due to budget constraints our library is now closed on Sundays which is very sad for working families.

My wife and I have been members of the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library for over 15 years. I am currently on the Board of the Barbarra Bush Library Friends. We love the Library and have spent many hours involved with Library activities.

I belong to the Enrichment and Brotherhood Organization of Northwest Youth. We have held our meetings at the library for over 20 years. Four years ago, the librarian asked us to co-sponsor the African American Read-In at the library. In addition to using the library facilities to host the event, the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library were very instrumental in helping us with the event. They provided financial assistance and very friendly volunteers to help on the day of the event. This is a community event and it would not be successful without the support of the Cypress Creek Friends of the Library.

I stopped working three years ago. I was lost for what to do with myself. Then, I read my local community paper and saw an announcement for a book club meeting at the BB library. I was excited. i have never been in a book club before. I love to read and be around people, especially to discuss books! When, I attended my first meeting, I was made to feel right at home. It really made a newly lost person feel found. I felt hope for the first time that maybe I would be okay without a career to define me. I have met some brilliant ladies and gents in my group. I look forward to our meeting every month. They have interesting stories and come from all kinds of backgrounds that keep me engaged and inspired. I feel like I am given an injection of motivation every time I go there. It is a very special time for me. I am very grateful that I found it, made new friends, read many wonderful books, and been involved in so many rejuvenating discussions. It motivated me to join two more off campus book clubs!

I LOVE this library!! They have so many great programs for adults and children alike, the staff are always friendly and you just feel so happy to walk in the door and experience the wonderful atmosphere. In my 20+ years of library borrowing, this is my favorite library!

As a volunteer, I see how many people benefit from the Library. In addition to the usual services, providing reading and reference materials, the library offers computer and ESL classes, provides internet access for people who would not normally have it and has a large media section with selections for adults and children. The Friends of the Library help out by funding the purchase of materials and programs and providing volunteers. Their work is escpecially important right now with all the budget cuts, so the Library can keep up with the needs of the community.

Thank you for this opportunity.

When my grandchildren come from Virginia, the first place they want to go is the library. This is a reflection of the dedicated staff and volunteers who give so much of their time. The best part is the time they take..they really seem interested in the children.
My favorite is the Volunteers' Used Book Store. The books are displayed by people who obviously love reading and they are reasonably priced. This encourages me to donate back to the library

The Barbara Bush library is the busiest library in the county. This is not simply because they have a large population: it reflects their dedication to providing the collections and the services needed by their community. The library is an active member of the Cypress Creek community providing meeting space, story times, and services such as early voting.

I have been going to the Barbara Bush at Cypress Creek library for 22 years, before they moved into their beatifulnew building. I always find something good to read and their are helpful librarians if I need help. My daughters made many trips to the library for school projects and always got the help they needed. I recently took my granddaughter to lap sit story time and she had a great time. She got to hear a story, play under the parachute and play with the musical instruments. Since I retired, I have been writing and shelving holds as a volunteer. This library has some of the nicest people to work with and I make sure to go as often as possible. They always make it a fun and rewarding experience.

Nothing warms my heart more than to see a smile on my gran childs face. This library is more than books lining the shelves it is alive with animals, paintings and the people that make it a wonderful place for all ages to visit

The Cypress Creek Library has been an incredibly important facility for our family over the years. Besides all of the wonderful books, movies and music you can find there (including all of the latest items) there are wonderful programs for members of all ages. This is by far the best library I have ever belonged to and hope that it has the opertunity to serve the public and all who need it for many years to come.

The Cypress Creek Friends of the Library, today known as the Barbara Bush Library Friends, provides invaluable support for the work of the Barbara Bush Library. This group provides both volunteer hours and monetary support that enhance the library's staff, materials, programming, and supplies. The Friends helped form the original Cypress Creek Library (a branch of the Harris County Public Library) in 1976, and later helped raise more than $500,000 to supplement the collection and furnishings of the new Barbara Bush Library which replaced it in 2002. Today they continue to make the library a wonderful resource for people of all ages and backgrounds in our community.