Friends of the Dallas Public Library is a trusted non-profit that works in partnership with the City of Dallas.
For 75 years, Friends of the Dallas Public Library has been the driving force behind our city’s vibrant library system. Since our founding in 1950, we’ve raised over $60 million and countless volunteer hours to enrich our libraries and foster community connections.
Contributions to the Friends fund:
- Transformative Impact: Your contributions help fund essential programs, facilities, and supplies, ensuring our libraries remain vital community hubs.
- Innovative Initiatives: From early childhood initiatives to workforce development to the SMART Summer Program, we’re committed to reaching every corner of Dallas, bringing the library to everyone.
- Cultural Enrichment: Funding library programs that reflect our diverse community by funding enriching experiences that celebrate literature and the arts.
- Legacy of Advocacy: Since advocating for a new Main Library in the 1950s, we continue to advocate at City Hall for library funding and have supported every bond issue that expanded access to our neighborhoods, creating a library system that truly belongs to the community.
- Rare Treasures: Our dedication to collecting significant works—like those in the Virginia Lazenby O’Hara Rare and Fine Books Collection—preserves our cultural heritage for generations to come.