History

The Cinco Ranch Branch Library opened as a mini-branch, called Katy/Fort Bend Branch Library, in June 1998, in a small room on the University of Houston’s Cinco Ranch campus. It was operated entirely by volunteers. Rapidly outgrowing its small space, the branch was moved in 1999 to the former sales office of the Cinco Ranch development company, as a result of efforts led by the Katy/Fort Bend Friends of the Library. The little library’s collection, services and programming was very limited by space, and as the community continued to expand, demand for a larger library increased. The late Judge Jim Adolphus negotiated the donation of a library site from Cinco Ranch developerTerrabrook, secured a challenge grant, and co-hosted (with county judge candidate Bob Hebert) a fundraising gala for the challenge grant. The community, led by the small but effective Friends organization, worked with county officials to find funds for the construction of the new 33,500-square-foot building. The new library opened for business April 3, 2004.