University of North Texas 
Chris Arrowood has officially stepped into the role of Director at the Bellaire City Library, following a period of significant transition for the staff. Since October, three long-time employees—each with over 25 years of service—have retired. During this time, Arrowood moved from Assistant Director to Director, a new Assistant Director and Youth Librarian were hired, and two full-time Library Assistants joined the team. In total, five of the library’s seven staff members are either new or recently promoted.
Before entering librarianship, Arrowood worked as a band director in Texas for 28 years. After retiring in 2012, he began working at the Houston Public Library (Kendall Library) as a part-time technical instructor through the BTOP-TEAL government grant program. This experience led him to pursue a career in public libraries.
He was soon promoted to full-time Library Service Specialist at Kendall Library, and later to Senior Library Service Specialist at both Hillendahl and Ring Neighborhood Libraries, where he focused on youth services and technology. In 2014, he was selected to participate in the inaugural HPL Leadership Academy and also received the Friends of the Houston Public Library Scholarship to pursue an MLIS degree.
Arrowood earned his MLIS with an Advanced Management Certificate from the University of North Texas, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and joining the Beta Phi Mu, Beta Beta Nu Chapter for Outstanding Academic Excellence. He credits professors Dr. Larry Enoch, Dr. Ana Cleveland, and Dr. Suliman Hawamdeh as key influences during his time in the program.
While completing his degree, he served in several interim management roles before becoming the Manager at Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library. Since then, he has held management and administrative positions at Hillendahl and Ring Libraries, the George & Cynthia Mitchell Library in Montgomery County, and most recently, the Bellaire City Library.
Arrowood continues to support others pursuing careers in librarianship. This past month, he assisted new Library Assistant Karina Rodriguez in applying to and being accepted into UNT’s MLIS program.