Houston Public Library(HPL) Department recommends the City Council approve a motion to name the newly constructed Library at 5505 Belrose Dr, 77035, the Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library. Construction is expected to begin early calendar year 2022 with substantial completion early calendar year 2023.
Council Member Castex-Tatum conducted a naming campaign involving the surrounding community. A press release was sent out on May 3, 2021 to various organizations in the area. An online form was created to collect submission ideas from the public. The form closed on May 24, 2021. There were 352 submissions. A committee made up of seven stakeholders from the surrounding communities met to narrow the selections down to five possible names. These five selections were then voted on through a two-week, online Citywide poll that closed on July 14, 2021 to arrive at the aforementioned name. Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library received 40% of the votes.
Dr. Walker attended Westbury High School (formerly Westbury Senior High), Meyerland Visual and Performing Arts Middle School (formerly Johnston Junior High and later Johnston Middle School), and Parker Elementary, all in Houston Independent School District. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in physics from Rice University in 1987 and completed her master of science in 1992 and a PhD in space physics in 1993.
The HPL Foundation must approve the naming of new, relocated or significantly remodeled buildings. The Foundation voted and approved the of naming the newly built library as the Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library by the 2/3rds vote required on July 29, 2021.