Dallas Public Library

Last updated
Dallas Public Library
The easily identifiable (thanks to its huge artistic sign) downtown J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, across from City Hall LCCN2014633408.tif
Location1515 Young Street
Dallas, Texas, United States
TypePublic
Established1901
Branches30 [1]
Collection
Size4,972,494 [2]
Access and use
Circulation10,236,949 [3]
Population served1,317,210 (2024) [4]
Other information
Budget$43,489,755 (FY 2023-24) [5]
DirectorMary Jo Giudice [6] [7]
Employees346.7 FTE [5]
Website Dallas Library
References: [8]

The Dallas Public Library (DPL) is a public library system in the city of Dallas, Texas, United States. With more than 4 million items and 30 locations, the Dallas Public Library is the largest public library system in North Texas. [9]

Contents

The library system of Dallas has more than 300 employees, which make up the total 15,000 employees in the City of Dallas. Notary services are offered at no charge to DPL customers at several locations. [10]

Residents may borrow up to 100 "circulating" items. Within the 100 item limit, there is a limit of 10 DVDs, 10 Music CDs, 10 Audiobooks, 10 Blu-ray discs, and 10 DVD box sets per library card.

The library accepts gifts and donations with specific requirements. Although the library does not provide appraisals for the value of donations, all gifts are tax-deductible. The Dallas libraries accept new, like-new, or gently used materials only. Books and magazines at the circulation desks. [11]

Classes are available for preparation for the G.E.D. (high school equivalent) exam. Computer, smartphone, tablet computer, mathematics, science, art, engineering and chess classes are also offered at most locations. Most library locations serve a Super Snack to kids and teens underage. [12]

Because of Dallas's international community, the library also offers U.S. citizenship preparation classes and English language classes. [13]

All library branches in Dallas offer registration forms to vote in elections. [14] Auditoriums and study rooms are provided in the Dallas libraries. Every week in the library auditoriums there are music and entertainment classes for minors.

Each year, Dallas libraries also provide income tax professionals to provide the service free of charge to patrons and employees on a scheduled basis. [15] As well as celebrating holiday events throughout the year, that occur days before the holiday date, with like food and gifts, including outside libraries for local communities and visitors. [16]

Dallas libraries, in partnership with external companies, provide personal free assistance to people seeking U.S. federal assistance. Some of the federal assistance offered are Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Health insurance marketplace, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). [17]

Night drops are available at all branch libraries, including the Central Library. Recent innovations include several LEED certified buildings and Bookmarks at NorthPark Center, the first children's library to be located in a shopping mall in the United States. [18] Dallas libraries and recreation centers provide free menstrual products, like tampons and pads. In addition to other personal hygiene products for both sexes. [19]

The monthly average in total numbers from all 30 public libraries in Dallas are 648,840 items circulated (digital & physical), 3,398 new library cards, 628 technology checkouts (wi-fi hotspots & laptops), 679 volunteer hours, 120,058 online visitors. [20]

History

The cornerstone of the old Carnegie Library, which was demolished in 1954 DallasPublicLibrary Cornerstone.jpg
The cornerstone of the old Carnegie Library, which was demolished in 1954

In 1899, the idea to create a free public library in Dallas was conceived by the Dallas Federation of Women's Clubs, led by president Mrs. Henry (May Dickson) Exall. She helped raise US$11,000 from gifts from public school teachers, local businessmen, and Alfred Horatio Belo of The Dallas Morning News .

The library became a reality when Mrs. Exall requested and received a US$50,000 grant from philanthropist and steel giant Andrew Carnegie to construct the first library building in Dallas. On October 22, 1901, [21] the Carnegie library opened at the corner of Harwood and Commerce streets with a head librarian, three assistants, and 9,852 volumes. The first story held the entire collection; the second floor held the Carnegie Hall auditorium and an Art Room. The art room was the first public art gallery in Dallas and eventually became what is known today as the Dallas Museum of Art.

An Oak Cliff branch opened in 1914 to serve the citizens of the area, annexed into Dallas in 1903. Four more branches opened in the 1930s including the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library, which was the first to serve the African American population of Dallas. This began under the director of Cleora Clanton. [22]

The modern Dallas Public Library building opened in 1954 and included controversial artwork DallasPublicLibrary02.jpg
The modern Dallas Public Library building opened in 1954 and included controversial artwork

In World War II, the library was fully established as a War Information Center. By 1950, the library resources and facilities were stretched to the limit, so supporters formed an auxiliary organization called the Friends of the Dallas Public Library to lobby for better library services.

By the 1950s, the Carnegie Library was badly deteriorating and overcrowded, and a new modern library was built on the same site. During construction, the Library was housed temporarily on the mezzanine of Union Station. The new building, now known as Old Dallas Central Library, had room for over 400,000 volumes and opened in 1954.

Growth: 1960 to 2000

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Dallas Public Library added 17 branches to the system. In 1962, Lillian M. Bradshaw was named Library Director, the first woman to head a department in the City of Dallas, marking a milestone in the civil rights and women's liberation movements of that era. [23]

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in the Government District of Downtown Dallas Biblioteca Dallas Interior.jpg
The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in the Government District of Downtown Dallas

Days after she was put into office, she faced a censorship push from a Dallas council-member, but the community and media rallied to her defense. The City Council, in response, overwhelmingly approved her appointment and passed a resolution not to censor books purchased by the library. [24] By the 1970s, the Central Library had again become overloaded and was unequipped to handle emerging technology. [25] (This was partly a result of the federal Library Services and Construction Act, which had enabled the addition of an unexpected number of volumes to the collection in a relatively short period of time.) In 1972, the City selected a 114,000 square feet (10,600 m2) site at Young and Ervay across from the Dallas City Hall for a new central library facility.

In 1982, the technologically sophisticated structure opened its doors. [25] It was one of the first libraries in the nation to include an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities. It was renamed the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in 1986 in honor of the former mayor who played a large role in the library system's development. [25] [26]

By the 2000s, the system had 27 branch locations with over 2.5 million volumes, including books, magazines, videos, and cassettes. The system currently attracts 2.8 million visitors per year and has 540,000 cardholders who check out more than 3.8 million books and other materials per year. The Library also operates a "Library on Wheels" Mobile Learning Center to service Dallas communities. [26]

Historic documents

The Dallas Public Library is home to a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, the only copy in a US public library outside of New England. It was purchased by the Dallas Shakespeare Club in 1984 at a cost of $275,000 and was gifted to the Library in 1986. [27] It is displayed on the 7th floor. [28]

A Dunlap Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence is also housed on the 7th floor. Printed by John Dunlap of Philadelphia, it is one of only twenty-six known to survive. This is the only copy west of the Mississippi, and one of only 3 displayed by a public library. It was purchased by a number of individuals for $500,000 and given to the city. [29] [30]

Branches

Forest Green Branch Library Forest green library dallas texas 2009-08-22.jpg
Forest Green Branch Library
Skillman Southwestern Branch Library Skillman southwestern library dallas texas 2009-08-22.jpg
Skillman Southwestern Branch Library

The library operates 30 branch locations throughout the city, [31] and an 8-story main branch, the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, in the Government District of downtown. It also operates the Bookmarks Children's Library located in NorthPark Center.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas</span> City in Texas, United States

Dallas is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the most populous city in and seat of Dallas County with portions extending into Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties. With a 2020 census population of 1,304,379, it is the ninth-most populous city in the U.S. and the third-most populous city in Texas after Houston and San Antonio. Located in the North Texas region, the city of Dallas is the main core of the largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States and the largest inland metropolitan area in the U.S. that lacks any navigable link to the sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Cliff</span> Neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Oak Cliff is an area of Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff on April 04, 1903. It has since retained a distinct neighborhood identity as one of Dallas' older established neighborhoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)</span> Light rail line in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

The Blue Line is a light rail line in the system of mass transit in Dallas, Texas (USA), operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. Along with the Red Line, it is one of the original modern rail lines in Dallas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Lawn, Dallas</span> Place in Texas, United States

Oak Lawn is a neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, defined in Dallas City Ordinance 21859 as Planned Development District No. 193, the Oak Lawn Special Purpose District. The unofficial boundaries are Turtle Creek Boulevard, Central Expressway, the City of Highland Park, Inwood Road, and Harry Hines Boulevard. It is over 12 square miles (31 km2) in area. Officially it is bounded by the City of Highland Park, the North Central Expressway, Stemmons Freeway, Woodall Rodgers Freeway, and other roads. The district is within the boundary defined by the City of Dallas law, excluding any existing planned development districts within.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Independent School District</span> School district in Texas, United States

The Dallas Independent School District is a school district based in Dallas, Texas (USA). It operates schools in much of Dallas County and is the second-largest school district in Texas and the seventeenth-largest in the United States. It is also known as Dallas Public Schools (DPS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NorthPark Center</span> Shopping mall in Texas, United States

NorthPark Center, sometimes referred to as simply NorthPark, is a enclosed shopping mall in Dallas, Texas. It is at the intersection of Loop 12 (Northwest Highway) and US 75. Opened in 1965, it now has over 235 stores and restaurants and annual sales of over $1 billion. It is the 20th-largest shopping mall in the US. The mall features the traditional retailers Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus, in addition to AMC Theatres, and Eataly. The mall features prominent specialty retailers such as AllSaints, UpWest, Psycho Bunny, Vuori, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, and Versace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Highlands</span> Neighborhood of Dallas in Texas, United States

Lake Highlands is a neighborhood constituting most of Northeast Dallas. The neighborhood is a collection of dozens of subdivisions served by Richardson ISD and Dallas ISD public schools, as well as an array of private schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Dallas (1874–1929)</span>

The history of Dallas, Texas, United States from 1874 to 1929 documents the city's rapid growth and emergence as a major center for transportation, trade and finance. Originally a small community built around agriculture, the convergence of several railroads made the city a strategic location for several expanding industries. During the time, Dallas prospered and grew to become the most populous city in Texas, lavish steel and masonry structures replaced timber constructions, Dallas Zoo, Southern Methodist University, and an airport were established. Conversely, the city suffered multiple setbacks with a recession from a series of failing markets and the disastrous flooding of the Trinity River in the spring of 1908.

Dallas, Texas, United States, has a number of universities, colleges, schools and libraries.

Dallas is a city in Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickery Meadow, Dallas</span> Neighborhood in Dallas, Texas

Vickery is an ethnically-diverse neighborhood consisting almost exclusively of apartment complexes in Northeast Dallas, Texas, United States. The Midtown Improvement District states the neighborhood is bounded by Northwest Highway, Royal Lane, Central Expressway, and Abrams. The City of Dallas Office of Economic Development states that the boundaries of the Vickery Meadow Tax Increment Financing district, which was established in 2005, are “the east side of the intersection of US 75 and Park Lane and extends eastward along Park Lane to the ‘Five Points’ intersection at Park Lane, Fair Oaks Avenue and Ridgecrest Road.” Leslie Minora of the Dallas Observer described it as "a dense swath of about 100 apartment complexes cradled by NorthPark Center and Whole Foods to the west and Half Price books [sic] to the south. It's an overlooked anthill, population 25,000, packed with people here by circumstance."

Thomas Lafayette Marsalis was an American developer. With John S. Armstrong, the founder of Oak Cliff, he was one of the key developers of what is now known as the Dallas area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DART Light Rail</span> Light rail system in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

DART Light Rail is the light rail system serving the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas and is owned and operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). The DART Light Rail system opened June 14, 1996 and serves 65 stations and four lines, covering 93 miles (149.7 km): the Blue Line, the Red Line, the Green Line, and the Orange Line.

East Dallas, also referred to by the East Dallas Chamber of Commerce as the Lake & Garden District, is an expansive area of numerous communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas, United States that border nearby suburban cities to the east such as Garland, Mesquite and Balch Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Dallas</span> Place in Texas, United States

North Dallas is an area of numerous communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas. The phrase "North Dallas" is also sometimes used to include any suburb or exurb north of Dallas proper within the metropolitan area. The majority of North Dallas is located in Dallas County, while a small portion is located in Collin and Denton counties. North Dallas generally includes areas of Dallas north of Northwest Highway, along with Lake Highlands and areas of Dallas north of IH-635 known as Far North Dallas. The area has strong social and economic ties to the Dallas enclave of Park Cities, and two inner suburbs of Dallas, Richardson and Addison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far North Dallas</span> Place in Texas, United States

Far North Dallas is the section of the city of Dallas, Texas which extends north of the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. Far North Dallas is part of North Dallas but is viewed as a distinct area. The area has strong social, economic, and political ties to two inner suburbs of Dallas, Richardson and Addison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whispering Hills, Dallas</span> Neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, United States

Whispering Hills is a neighborhood consisting of 615 homes within the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas, Texas adjacent to the suburbs of Richardson and Garland. It is generally bounded by Buckingham Rd along the Richardson border to the north, to the east by the Garland border near Plano Rd, to the south by Walnut St, and to the west by the KCS Railroad and Audelia Branch Greenbelt near Audelia Rd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakewood Heights, Dallas</span> Neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, USA

Lakewood Heights is a residential neighborhood in Dallas, Texas (USA), bounded by Abrams Road to the east, Monticello Avenue to the north, Skillman Street to the west, and Richmond Avenue to the south. It located in East Dallas. Lakewood Heights is approximately one-half mile (0.8 km) wide (east-west) and three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) long (north-south). It covers approximately 240 acres (97 ha) or slightly less than 0.375 square miles (0.97 km2). It is adjacent to several East Dallas neighborhoods, including Lakewood, Lower Greenville, and Wilshire Heights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleora Clanton</span> American librarian (1891–1968)

Cleora Clanton was an American librarian. She helped open a branch library for the community in Dallas, Texas.

References

  1. ↑ 30 branches - Dallas Public Library
  2. ↑ "The Nation's Largest Libraries: A Listing By Volumes Held".
  3. ↑ "Dallas Public Library -- Dallas Public Library".
  4. ↑ Population of Dallas
  5. 1 2 "General Fund 2023-24 - Budget & Management Services" (PDF). Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ "City of Dallas Hires Mary Jo Giudice as new library director". The Dallas Morning News. December 19, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Dallas PL Names Permanent Director".
  8. ↑ "Dallas Public Library". libraries.org. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  9. ↑ Dallas Public Library numbers
  10. ↑ City of Dallas employees
  11. ↑ Donations - Dallas libraries
  12. ↑ After school programs available in Dallas
  13. ↑ Classes for Citizenship and ESL
  14. ↑ Registering to Vote
  15. ↑ Dallas Public Library - Federal Tax Help
  16. ↑ Dallas Public Library - Events
  17. ↑ National assistance - Dallas Public Library
  18. ↑ Bookmarks Library
  19. ↑ Free menstrual products
  20. ↑ DPL in numbers
  21. ↑ Elizabeth York Enstam, Women and the Creation of Urban Life: Dallas, Texas, 1843-1920 (Texas A&M University Press, 1998) p102
  22. ↑ Michael V. Hazel (2001). The Dallas Public Library: Celebrating a Century of Service, 1901-2001. University of North Texas Press. pp. 67–99. ISBN   9781574411416 . Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  23. ↑ Simnacher, Joe (February 12, 2010). "Lillian Moore Bradshaw: Library director cleared path for women in city government". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  24. ↑ "Lillian Moore Bradshaw: Library director cleared path for women in city government". Dallas News. 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
  25. 1 2 3 Murray, Brandon (April 18, 2022). "Tales from the Dallas History Archives: The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library Turns 40". D Magazine. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  26. 1 2 "History". Dallas Public Library. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  27. ↑ Anthony James West, "The Shakespeare First Folio: The History of the Book; Volume II: A New World Census of First Folios", Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN   9780198187684
  28. ↑ "Dallas Public Library - Site Map".
  29. ↑ "First-edition copy of the Declaration of Independence is one of Dallas' undiscovered treasures | Dallas-Fort Worth Communities - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News". Archived from the original on 2011-07-04.
  30. ↑ "Dallas Public Library - Site Map".
  31. ↑ DallasLibrary.org. Retrieved on 3 March 2024.
  32. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Arcadia Park Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  33. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  34. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Audelia Road Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  35. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  36. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Bachman Lake Branch Library. Retrieved on 21 January 2012.
  37. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  38. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Dallas West Branch Library. Retrieved on 3 March 2024.
  39. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  40. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Dallas West Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  41. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  42. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Fretz Park Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  43. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  44. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Forest Green Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  45. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  46. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Grauwyler Park Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 April 2007.
  47. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  48. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Hampton-Illinois Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  49. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  50. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Highland Hills Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  51. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  52. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Central Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  53. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  54. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  55. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  56. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  57. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Martin Luther King Jr. Library and Learning Center. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  58. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  59. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Mountain Creek Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  60. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  61. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – North Oak Cliff Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  62. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  63. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Oak Lawn Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  64. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  65. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Park Forest Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  66. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  67. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  68. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Pleasant Grove Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  69. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  70. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Polk-Wisdom Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  71. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  72. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Prairie Creek Branch Library. Retrieved on 21 January 2013.
  73. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  74. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  75. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Preston Royal Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  76. ↑ Scoggin, Andrew. "Preston Royal library branch marks 50 years with celebration." The Dallas Morning News . March 28, 2014. Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  77. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Renner Frankford Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  78. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  79. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  80. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Skillman Southwestern Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  81. ↑ "Skillman Southwestern Branch Library." Dallas Public Library. Accessed October 10, 2008.
  82. ↑ "Resource Book Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine ." Vickery Meadow Improvement District. Accessed October 10, 2008.
  83. 1 2 Coleman, Rufus. "Library fills need of area, Long-awaited opening fills needs of northeast Dallas neighborhood." The Dallas Morning News . August 15, 1996. Retrieved on May 27, 2009.
  84. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Skyline Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
  85. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  86. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Timberglen Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 April 2007.
  87. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  88. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – Vickery Park Branch Library. Retrieved on 11 April 2007.
  89. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  90. ↑ Dallas Public Library Birthdays
  91. ↑ DallasLibrary.org – White Rock Hills Branch Library. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  92. ↑ "APA/GCPD Accessibility Awards". Office of the Governor. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  93. ↑ "" Dallas Public Library. Retrieved on 21 January 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.