Seventh floor renovations now underway at Dallas Public Library

A new Gallery with limited viewing of rare books and artifacts, display cases to better showcase unique collections and exhibits and a new sound system are some of the renovations planned for the Texas/Dallas History & Archives division at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young St.

“This renovation will allow us to re-purpose and re-organize the 40,000 square-feet of space on our seventh floor to better serve our customers’ needs,” said Dallas Public Library Director Jo Giudice. The seventh floor will be closed to the public during the renovations, expected to be completed by summer 2016. Beginning April 20, a limited selection of Dallas reference materials will be available on the first floor of the Central Library.

The Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division collection is one of the largest in the nation and includes one of the few remaining copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed on July 4, 1776; and William Shakespeare’s first folio. The seventh floor also houses the Library’s Fine Books collection containing more than 2,750 volumes donated by Dallas citizens or purchased with endowment or gift funds.

The new Kenneth Jonsson Gallery will feature new exhibit space to provide for limited viewing of rare books and artifacts and the O’Hara Exhibit Hall will be updated to include a new sound system and furniture. The renovation will increase public access to the Library’s special collections and provide additional public meeting spaces and research areas, including the Stone Meeting Room and a study room adjacent to the main Reading Room.