Dallas Public Library launches curbside service at new $8 million Vickery Meadow location
Beginning Tuesday, February 2, curbside service will be available at Dallas Public Library’s new Vickery Park Branch located at 8333 Park Lane at Ridgecrest Road. The new building is nearing completion with interior finishes and other amenities incomplete. However, Dallas Public Library desired to begin serving this community as soon as possible.
“The long-anticipated Vickery Park Branch will be a natural gathering place for this community,” said Councilmember Jennifer Staubach Gates, citing the multiple meeting rooms, outdoor play area, and enhanced spaces for children and teens funded by Crystal Charity Ball.
When the 18,000 square foot branch is open to the public, there are plans for program offerings that will assist job seekers and English language learners, early literacy workshops for parents and toddlers, and STEM programs for children and teens that include use of technology not readily available at their school or home. Construction of the $8 million building was part of the 2017 bond package approved by voters. Park funds were used to build the play area, and a $752,000 grant from Crystal Charity Ball funded enhancements to the children and teen areas, including furniture and technology for use in out-of-school-time programming.
Director of Libraries, Jo Giudice said the Library considered the unique needs of the Vickery Meadow community at every step of the planning process, identifying services that are hard to come by in the neighborhood such as internet and computer access. The library boasts 90 Wi-Fi hotspots available for checkout and soon will begin loaning laptops to card holders to use at home. Plans are underway to extend the free public Wi-Fi signal to allow free internet access from outside the library while the building is closed, as has been done at other branch libraries during the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, because of COVID this is not the grand opening we wanted,” said Director of Libraries Jo Giudice. “But I hope residents will start taking advantage of our Library To Go service to check out materials and maybe get a library card for the first time.”
Customers may start requesting materials on the Library’s website or by calling the branch directly at 214-671-2101. The Library To Go service will be available by appointment on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m.
All Dallas Public Library locations are closed to the public and offering curbside and virtual services only during the pandemic.
For information on the many free programs and services available at Dallas Public Library, visit www.dallaslibrary.org.
*Header photo source: www.studiooutside.us/vickery-meadows-branch-library
