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Reimagining the Dallas Public Library
As part of the City Manager’s proposed budget, Dallas Public Library has been asked to find $3.3 million in savings. To help meet this goal while maintaining access to library services across Dallas, the library has proposed changes to its hours and service model.
If approved by the Dallas City Council, the new hours will take effect October 5, 2026.
Under this new structure, five locations will operate as “flagships,” providing expanded hours, services and programming. The 21 neighborhood branches will have standardized hours offering core library services. Arcadia Park Branch will focus on serving the elementary school community, while Bookmarks at NorthPark Center will expand to Sunday afternoons.
The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library will shift its hours but remain open 6 days a week.
What is a Flagship Library?
To address budget challenges while protecting long-term access to library services across the city, Dallas Public Library is proposing a flagship library model that would provide expanded hours, services and programming at five locations. All neighborhood branches and the Central Library would continue to operate with adjusted hours.
View the presentation given to the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture City Council Meeting on April 20, 2026.
How did we get here?
September 2025
During the budget process in August/September 2025, the library was asked to find savings of $2.6 Million for FY27. A regional plan that included closing four branch libraries was proposed and approved as part of Dallas City Council’s two-year budget adoption in 2025.
January 2026
Library staff worked with Office of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence to analyze community need, library usage and library coverage to identify the branches to recommend for closure. Read how the data was analyzed.
The Regional Model was presented to the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on January 20. View the presentation Council Members asked the Library to prepare a follow-up presentation with more information on the community significance of the branches and alternatives to the regional model.
Survey Results
Based on the Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee’s January feedback, the Library sought community input through a survey conducted by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library. The survey was conducted over two weeks in February 2026. The survey received over 4,000 respondents. The link below shows those results.
With increased budget pressure projected for fiscal year 2027, Dallas Public Library has reached a tipping point. Continuing under the current model with a reduced budget would require even deeper cuts to hours, staffing and services across the entire system. A regional model stabilizes library service across the City and positions Dallas Public Library for the future. The regional plan was approved as part of the Dallas City Council’s two-year budget adoption in 2025.
April 2026
At the Quality of Life, Art and Culture City Council Committee Meeting on April 20, Dallas Public Library presented three proposed service models: the flagship model, the regional model or maintaining its current model. The committee was in favor of the Flagship Model and keeping all branches open. This feedback will be incorporated as the City Manager prepares the FY27 budget to be presented in August.