Back to June, following Mayor Hofheinz told this new board to desegregate the newest collection, Reynolds penned toward area lawyer having recommendations
She requested if there had been rules demanding segregation, either of collection by itself or out-of business like lavatories and you can consuming fountains for the 
collection. New reply regarding town lawyer was dated July 21, the day of one’s board’s appointment, and also the minutes don’t reference they, it seems unrealistic one to Reynolds got seen it through to the conference taken place. Just what Urban area Attorneys Sears shared with her was that panel had full power and you may responsibility to have governing and controlling the library, according to Town Code. The guy as well as detailed you to constitutional law necessary that one segregated business otherwise qualities the latest collection you will provide would have to be “drastically equal.” (13)
However, it small bit of analysis may have been available in service out of Gran Hofheinz’s expressed trust you to definitely since merely big and you may polite blacks carry out make the most of their brand new collection privileges and you may would follow the legislation, whites had absolutely nothing to anxiety off opening new collection on them
At board’s 2nd fulfilling inside the August, Valenti gone “That mature facilities at the central collection getting open to Negroes; and, one to for this function, an adult means anybody of high school many years or over.” Waldo Bernard seconded the fresh actions and all of eight board users acknowledged. Mrs. Roland Band, board secretary, registered regarding minutes that Valenti, Bernard, and Billy Goldberg agreed that board’s choice depicted improvements. Panel people agreed that they do display screen developments and you can think increasing accessibility later on. Ring along with recognized for the new record you to adult learning bedroom, mature choices, and adult clubrooms was discover to be used because of the African Africans due to the fact regarding August 21, 1953. In keeping with brand new mayor’s wishes, the collection won’t declare the insurance policy change to anyone. (14)
Written down, the alteration made some two hundred,000 library guides additionally the central and you may part libraries available to Houston’s black people. However, as opposed to a public statement, black colored people read of their accessibility simply slow. The first to check in performed so on August twenty eight, merely a week after the authoritative decision. A tx Southern area College or university getting Negroes (TSUN) pupil, he appear to likely to end up being turned into aside when he expected so you’re able to use books. Library group reported that the library’s desire to help you topic your an excellent borrower’s card took him of the shock. Towards the end of the season, fewer than 50 blacks got joined just like the individuals at the central library; really was indeed TSUN college students. The library’s yearly report to own 1953 listed that they came back the brand new lent books punctually, with only that exception to this rule. (15) That librarian consider it noteworthy suggests that specific white employees professionals could have assumed you to definitely black colored clients was irresponsible.
Probably the partial desegregation of Houston’s main library lay one to service in advance of many other associations in town. It wasn’t up to February cuatro, 1960, one black colored students inside Houston, pursuing the direct depending in the first food avoid stay-within a month prior to from inside the Greensboro, New york, started initially to stage remain-inches or take other designs away from head action that triggered eating, instruct programs, vehicles, rooms, and other personal organizations and you can societal rentals begin to desegregate (Cole, 1997). It was not until September from 1960 one to personal colleges in the the metropolis began progressive integration, six ages after the Brown decision and something day just after a beneficial government district judge ordered desegregation of all the very first-stages groups (Hurley, 1966).