Browse all items in the collection. Or visit the digital exhibit Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library.
Branch History
Baldwin Boettcher was a prominent businessman in the Westfield area during the first part of the 20th century. In 1982, six of his hairs donated two acres of land to Harris County Public Library. Construction of the new library, named in his honor, began in 1985, and the branch officially opened to the public on August 18, 1986.
The library is next to the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, a scenic 393-acre park featuring themed gardens and miles of picturesque trails. Cypress Creek runs along the northern edge of the park. While the area experienced flooding a few times in the late 1980s, the water never reached the library. However, the library did face recurring roof issues, which were resolved when the roof was replaced in 1992.
Tropical Storm Allison caused damage in June 2001, closing the library for nine months. In April 2002, it reopened as part of the HCPL 2.0 campaign, with new features including additional seating, a refreshment area, and self-checkout stations.
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey brought severe rain, and Cypress Creek overflowed, causing about 5 feet of water to flood the building. This flood destroyed all the furniture, technology, books, and audiovisual materials. While staff salvaged one scrapbook of memories from the early 2000s, much of the library's history from the previous 30 years was lost.
In the spring of 2018, the library temporarily relocated to a small, one-room building within the Mercer Botanic Gardens, affectionately called "The Little Blue Library." The library operated out of this building until early 2023, when they moved into a small room off the Visitors Center.
The Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library fully reopened in January 2025 with a thoroughly remodeled interior and a brand-new collection of books.
Further Exploration
View the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library Memory Book, containing photos of the branch from 2003 to 2007.
