Our mission is to advocate for our libraries, highlighting their indispensable role in our community, the dedicated staff who work there, and the countless individuals who rely on their services every day.
In recent years, we have launched grassroots campaigns to restore city funding for libraries. These efforts have enabled expanded hours, increased staffing, and enhanced services, helping our libraries recover from years of budget cuts. Notably, we played a key role in passing the 2017 bond issue, which funded the construction of a new library, the replacement of another, and significant maintenance improvements at the Central Library.
We also enhance our libraries by raising funds for programming, staff development, and other needs beyond the city’s budget. By securing grants, we enable the Dallas Public Library to evolve into a leading programming institution, comparable to America’s finest public libraries.
We spearhead major renovations and provide funding for the Dallas Public Library’s needs that fall outside the taxpayer-funded budget. This includes essential programs and resources that ensure free services for all Dallas residents.
Our mission is to inspire, secure, and grow philanthropic support and advocacy to benefit the Dallas Public Library and our diverse community. We safeguard the future of our libraries by serving as the Dallas Public Library’s advocate and nonprofit partner, ensuring that our city’s libraries remain great. We work to ensure that both our elected officials and the general public recognize the vital importance of libraries to Dallas.
Since our founding in 1950 by 23 prominent Dallasites, including Stanley Marcus, Leon Harris, Everette DeGolyer, and Rabbi Levi Olan, Friends of the Dallas Public Library has been committed to maintaining a library system worthy of our great city.
Thank you for joining us in this quest.
Officers
Ken Benson - Chair
Nicole Paquette - Vice Chair
Leigh Hopkins - Secretary
Melissa Chalmer -
Assistant Secretary
Stephanie Williamson – Treasurer
Larrie Weil - Assistant Treasurer
Gary Gadson –
Immediate Past Chair
Directors
Pat Altschuler
Zhen Barrientos
Anne Besser
Christa Camp
Meagan Camp
Kara Cecala
Farheen Charanya
Patti Clapp
Annette Corman
Juliette Coulter
Philip Crew
George de Verges
Steven Dominguez
Sarah Evans
Susan Fleming
Tony Font
Susan Harris
Sharolyn Headroe
Rebecca Jerry
Timm Matthews
Denise McGovern
Lacy Naylor
Andrea Pender
Ann Piper
Pat Porter
Cynthia Rutherford
Nikita Sarin
Neil Schlager
Marrie Smith
Megan Townsend
Barbara van Pelt
Jenae Ward
Ex Officio
Jo Giudice
Anne Harding
Advisory Council
Pat Bowman
Carole Braden
Louise Caldwell
Charlene Howell
Sandra Johnigan
Brooks McCorcle
Sandy Melton Stephens
Pam Meyercord
Bob Mong
Bette Mullins
Nancy Nasher
Caro Stalcup
Don Stone
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