HELP US ROAR BACK!

After two years of limited services, the Dallas Public Library – and the Friends of the Dallas Public Library – have come roaring back in a big way.

All 30 Dallas Public Library locations are open again and the creativity and innovation that the staff developed to serve Dallas remotely during the pandemic have made the library system even better.

At City Hall, the Dallas City Council also made a strong statement in support of our public library system increasing funding that will allow 15 branches to be open more hours – with plans to increase hours at the remaining locations to at least six days a week in the next fiscal year.

The Council also added $300,000 to the initial budget plan for library materials, helping the library keep pace with rising costs.

But there’s more good news to report. The Friends board of directors has approved an ambitious $1.1 million campaign in support of library programs this year, it's largest undertaking of monetary support in many years.

The $1.1 million investment by the Friends will fund many enhancements beyond the city budget including:

• A $200,000 investment in new Reading Ready Play Spaces in all 30 libraries. These spaces, designed for children 0-5 and their caregivers will provide designated spaces for children to develop essential skills to prepare for Kindergarten.

• Significant funding for Dallas Public Library’s early childhood literacy programs, multicultural programming for families, and educational programming for school-age children in science, math, art, reading and technology including the annual Express Yourself Youth Poetry & Art Competition and the SMART Summer Reading program.

• Adult education and workforce development initiatives including high school equivalency preparation classes, GED testing scholarships and English language learning classes.

• A $250,000 commitment over two years to help the city fund Dallas Public Library’s Master Facilities and Strategic plan that will guide the future of our library system.

Even with this good news for the Dallas Public Library, our work is far from done. We must help our library continue its phased reopening and restore full service to the community as soon as possible. We must maintain and grow library programming to serve a city where a strong, free, public library is more important than ever. With more fiscal uncertainty on the way, we must ensure that our political leaders and the general public understand that Dallas Public Library is a vital civic institution deserving their full support.

We know this continues to be a difficult time, but as the year draws to a close, we ask for your help again. Your tax-deductible contribution, of any amount, will go directly to our unrestricted general fund, allowing us to respond quickly to the Library’s current needs, while also securing its future. 

Again, thank you for your consideration. Happy holidays, and here’s to another year of perseverance and gratitude.

Warm Regards,

Mary Wilonsky

Executive Director

Friends of the Dallas Public Library