On February 24, the Fort Bend County Library System became aware of a network disruption that impacted some of its services. Upon learning of the incident, the library’s IT professionals took immediate action to mitigate its impact, and most online resources have since been restored, according to a March 12 press release from the library.

“We are also working with cybersecurity professionals to investigate the matter,” the release said. “We recognize that this may cause concern regarding the security of patrons’ personal information. We want to reassure the community that the library intentionally limits the types of personal information it collects from patrons. The library does not store personal information from patrons that could easily be used to commit identity theft or fraud—such as social security numbers or financial information. Our primary objective is to restore full services and ensure the security of the library’s network.”

County Librarian Roosevelt Weeks said, “We sincerely appreciate your patience during this time, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, our branches remain open, and our staff is available to assist with any service needs. As more information becomes available, it will be shared with the public on the Fort Bend County Library system’s website.”