\t\t\t\t\tOverview:<\/p>\n
The City of Dallas has proposed a $4.5 million cut to the Dallas Public Library budget over the next two years, which could result in the closure of up to five library branches, reduced staffing, and fewer community services. The impact will be huge for families who rely on their local branch for the internet, students who come to do homework, seniors who depend on cooling and warming centers, and residents without cars who walk to their neighborhood library. Dallas is already lagging behind when it comes to library support, and once library budgets are cut, it takes years to recover. The Friends of the Dallas Public Library is calling the community to action to attend Budget Town Hall meetings and contact their City Councilmember directly.<\/p>\n
More Than Just Books<\/p>\n
When we think of public libraries, a lot of folks might picture dusty shelves and old books. But for Dallas, our libraries are something bigger: they\u2019re classrooms, cooling centers, job resource hubs, Wi-Fi access points, and cultural gathering places. And right now, they\u2019re on the chopping block.<\/p>\n
The Proposed Cut<\/p>\n
The City of Dallas has proposed a $4.5 million cut to the Dallas Public Library (DPL) budget over the next two years. That might not sound like much compared to the city\u2019s $2.5 billion general fund (just 0.02%), but the impact will be huge. We\u2019re talking about the possible closure of up to five library branches, reduced staffing, and fewer community services for neighborhoods that already face inequities in access to resources.<\/p>\n
Manya Shorr, the new Library Director for the city of Dallas, is behind these library-slashing suggestions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to create meaningful connections with our community,\u201d Shore suggests in the Dallas Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Workshop. Shore would rather the city of Dallas take on fewer branches and maintain them at a higher quality.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shore\u2019s replacement idea for libraries set to close? Book vending machines or pop-up libraries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if the Skillman Southwestern Branch is spared for another year\u2014something City Council would have to approve\u2014at least four additional branches could close. Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert has not yet decided which specific branches would face closure.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n For families who rely on their local branch for the internet, for students who come to do homework, for seniors who depend on cooling and warming centers, and for residents without cars who walk to their neighborhood library, this is more than an inconvenience. It\u2019s a blow to community life.<\/p>\n Falling Behind Other Cities<\/strong><\/p>\n Dallas is already lagging behind when it comes to library support. Among nine peer cities, it ranks sixth in library spending per capita, at just $28.90 per resident. Compare that to Austin, which spends $67.29 per person\u2014despite serving a smaller population.<\/p>\n And history shows that once library budgets are cut, it takes years to recover. After the cuts in the late 2000s<\/a>, Dallas libraries needed nearly a decade to rebuild funding levels, and inflation meant they never fully caught up. Former City Manager Mary Suhm\u2019s substantial chops to the Dallas Public Library system nearly left the city\u2019s libraries with \u201cDraconian\u201d hours and poor attendance.\u00a0<\/p>\n Community Steps Up<\/strong><\/p>\n Dallas residents aren\u2019t taking this sitting down. The Friends of the Dallas Public Library (FODPL), a volunteer advocacy and fundraising group<\/a>, has been standing up for local libraries for 75 years. At a time like this, FODPL is calling the community to action. They\u2019re organizing residents to attend Budget Town Hall meetings this August,<\/a> offering free advocacy t-shirts, and providing easy-to-use online tools so folks can contact their City Councilmember directly.<\/p>\n \u201cLibraries are about equity,\u201d says Sarah Evans, chair of the FODPL Advocacy Committee. \u201cThey\u2019re one of the few truly public spaces where everyone\u2014no matter your age, income, or background\u2014can learn, connect, and create.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s at Stake<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever used a library to print a resume, attend a children\u2019s storytime, surf the web with a stable internet connection or cool off in the summer heat, you already know the value of what\u2019s at stake. These branches are more than buildings with books\u2014they\u2019re anchors in our neighborhoods.<\/p>\n As budget debates continue, Dallas residents have a chance to speak up. Because when libraries close, it\u2019s not just about losing shelves of books\u2014it\u2019s about losing community.<\/p>\n How To Stand Up for Dallas Libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n