The African American Library at the Gregory School
It is Houston’s first colored public school located in historic Freedmen’s Town and serves as a resource and repository to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich history and culture of African Americans in Houston, the surrounding region and the African Diaspora.
Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research
It is consistently named one of the best family history research libraries in the United States. Family history research materials are available in print, microprint and online. Visit us to explore these collections as well as digitized records on FamilySearch.org.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center
This collection includes archival, Texan and local history, and special collections departments with the primary objectives of locating, preserving, and making available to researchers the documentary evidence of Houston's history. This collection is accessbile in the historic Julia Ideson Building.
It is an effort to record and preserve the dynamic history of Houston through the stories and experiences of its residents. It is a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, the Houston Public Library and the University of Houston.
Houston Area Digital Archives 
Houston Area Digital Archives provides open, online access to the library's rich collections and other community archives. We digitize books, audio and video materials, documents, photographs, manuscripts, maps, memorabilia and more, making them freely available for research.
Central Library's Special Collections
Foundation Center Funding Information Network Partner
Access authoritative print and electronic philanthropic resources.
This collection supports nonfiction books on music, art, antiques, architecture, cooking, and travel including the history of any of these subjects and biographies of persons connected with any of these subjects. In 1977, Jacob Greenberg endowed the Fine Arts Department with a trust fund established in memory of his deceased spouse, Lurine Karon Greenberg.
Government Documents
It has the oldest and largest collection of government publications in the Houston area. We are a selective depository library for U.S. government document publications since 1884.
World Languages Collection
This collection serves Houston's culturally diverse communities by offering opportunities for learning, fun and access to technology in multiple languages through a central complex and neighborhood branch libraries.