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VISITING THE HOSPITAL
Pi Beta Phi Patient/Family Library

Established in 1983, the Pi Beta Phi Patient/Family Library provides a cheerful and welcoming space on the 16th floor of the West Tower.  The library's collection includes more than 10,000 fiction and non-fiction books for all ages; a foreign language area with resources in Spanish, French, Arabic and Vietnamese; VHS and DVD movies; board games; and puzzles.

The Family Resource Room, off the main library, offers a selection of books on medical topics for families, computers with Internet/e-mail access, a fax and copy machine. The list of recommended read-aloud story books for patients and their siblings includes books about anger/anxiety/feelings, autism, bereavement, cancer, cardiology, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, hospitals/surgery/transplants, nutrition, and special needs/handicaps.

In 1999, Pi Beta Phi Book Nooks were introduced in waiting rooms in the Clinical Care Center for the reading enjoyment of patients and their families who come for clinic visits. In addition, there are 45 Book Nooks located on Texas Children's main campus and 45 more in the waiting rooms of Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates practices and Texas Children's Health Centers.

Library staffing includes a full time library coordinator, the library assistant/Book Nook coordinator and 25 volunteers. The library averages 50-60 visitors a day.

The Houston Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club provides principal funding. Other donations may be given "in honor of "or "in memory of "special friends and family members.

The library is open 7 days a week. Volunteers are scheduled daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The hours are as follows:

Monday - Friday
Monday - Thursday
Saturday and Sunday
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For more information, contact:

Julia D. Allison
Library Coordinator
E-mail Julia

Phone: 832-826-1619
Fax: 832-825-1601

Catherine Zdunkewicz
Library Assistant/Book Nook Coordinator
E-mail Catherine