Elizabeth H. (Howard) West (March 23, 1873 – January 4, 1948), was a librarian and archivist active in the United States during the early 20th century.

[2][4] West moved to Texas when her father, a Presbyterian minister, assumed duties at a church in Bryan when she was twelve years old.

An avid learner who was intent on attaining as much education as possible, West would go on to earn two bachelor's and one master's degree.

)[1][2] She later received both a bachelor's and master's degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin where she focused on the expansion of French and Spanish settlements in North America.

[1][2][6] West was also notable for lobbying the state for tenure for librarian staff as well as for increased salaries for all library employees.

[2][4] This resulted in the opening of numerous new county public libraries including four in the first two years after the law was passed.

[2][4] She repeated this as State Librarian, commencing services in alternate format books for Blind patrons in September 1919.

[2][4] Her efforts were well received, and members of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired alumni association formed a volunteer service to promote embossed text literacy which was named the Elizabeth H. West Home Teaching Circle in honor of her work.

[2][4] It would be decades before African Americans would gain full and unfettered access to libraries in Texas, but West's efforts were instrumental in facilitating the process.

[2] Watkin provided initial sketches for the new structure, but the stock market crash that fall and the ensuing Great Depression halted the plans.

[8] West would persist in pursuing funds, and in June 1937, the state provided a $275,000 appropriation for the construction of a new library.

[2] After suffering a heart attack in 1946, West retired from Texas Tech in 1947 and moved to Pensacola, Florida.