Timberglen Branch Library Friends

Possible City Tax Increase

2010-09-14T15:49:00.002-05:00

CLICK HERE for a link to the newspaper article.

Councilman Ron Natinsky Discusses the Budget

2010-07-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

He will be in the auditorium at Timberglen on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, to discuss the upcoming budget. Be there. 7:00 pm.

Pink Slips

2010-07-17T14:07:00.001-05:00

Dallas city manager expects to cut 500 jobs
Thursday, July 15, 2010
By RUDOLPH BUSH / The Dallas Morning News

About 500 city employees will get pink slips this year as Dallas works to balance its budget in a time of sinking tax revenue, City Manager Mary Suhm told a North Dallas service club Wednesday.

Suhm provided new details about her efforts to craft a budget to present to the City Council in August, saying that she has reduced the expected gap between revenue and expenses from a high of $130 million to about $18.8 million in a roughly $2 billion operating budget.

That reduction has come through plans for heavy cuts in city services but also from a series of savings measures like putting off the purchase of new police and firefighting equipment. In addition, recent indications that sales tax revenue may be on the upswing could help the city's bottom line.

Suhm said she now expects to be able to restore a number of high-priority services that were set to be cut.

For example, 34 of the city's 43 recreation centers will open for at least 40 hours a week under the current plan, instead of only 23 centers.

"Everybody in the organization is looking at the way they do business in an effort to maintain the services we provide," she said.

But when the City Council passes a balanced budget in September as required by law, there will be a definite impact that regular users of city services will see.

Libraries, cultural centers, and parks and recreation centers will all see funding slashed.

In a talk to the North Dallas Golden K Kiwanis Club and in an interview later, Suhm said she is working to minimize the effect of those cuts in a variety of ways.

Library cuts

Hours at branch libraries, for example, are not expected to be cut.

But of the 500 employees who will be laid off – almost 4 percent of the total city workforce – some 90 are library pages who spend much of their time shelving books. And even as workers are let go, funding for new books, magazines, and other materials will be cut yet again this year.

"Are the books going to be slower getting back on the shelves? Yes. Are the materials going to be fewer? Yes. But the libraries are going to be open," Suhm said.

Parks, too, will suffer from less attention by fewer employees. Litter won't be picked up as often and mowing will be decreased.

And though hours are expected to be restored at a number of recreation centers, it's unlikely those will operate at the same level if fewer people are available to staff them.

Members of the Kiwanis Club asked Suhm about plans for the Walnut Hill Recreation Center, where they meet. She said efforts are focused on keeping centers across Dallas open early in the mornings, when they are frequented by seniors, and during the hours after school, when many children rely on them as a place to go.

She stressed, though, that the services many people have come to expect from the city may not be available, or not available at the same level, perhaps for a long time to come.

"I do not think the economy will come roaring back. I do think it will come back, but I think that the slope on that line will be very slow," she said.

Suhm did not provide an exact breakdown of city employees who face pink slips because she said she did not want to identify any individuals.

The city currently has 12,875 employees. Of those, 7,411 are civilians and 5,464 are police officers and firefighters.

Though no sworn employees are expected to be laid off, there will be reductions of staff in most city departments. The library system is expected to lose the largest number of employees of any department.

Suhm said that most employees who are let go shouldn't expect to find work in other city departments – something that has been common in the past. The vacant jobs simply won't be available this year, she said.

Suhm already has said she expects civilians will face eight unpaid furlough days next year. In addition, they can expect a nearly 2 percent pay cut on average, she told the Kiwanis club.

"We have done this before. I'm hoping it's temporary and we can restore these cuts in pay over time," she said.

Union meetings

She continues to meet, meanwhile, with representatives of police and fire unions. But the city's sworn employees are still expected to take 5 unpaid furlough days next year.

There are also efforts to have them take comp days instead of overtime pay if they work more than 40 hours a week, she said.

Efforts to save money at City Hall are paying off, she said.

The city's new electricity contract will save the general fund – which pays for most city services – about $2.8 million next year. A new auditing contract will save about $500,000. The numbers are small relative to the city's total budget.

But in trying to close her deficit, and already having cut services and employee pay last year, Suhm said she was looking for "nickels and dimes in the couch."

• • • • •

Aug. 9 – City Manager Mary Suhm presents a proposed budget to the City Council.

Sept. 22 – The council adopts a balanced budget and sets the property tax rate.

Furlough Day

2010-06-25T15:13:00.000-05:00

All Dallas city offices, including libraries, will be closed Friday, July 2, 2010.

Mary Suhm Narrows Deficit

2010-06-23T13:13:00.000-05:00

The Dallas Morning News, June 19th, 2010:

Dallas budget gap whittled to $34.9 million

By RUDOLPH BUSH

Dallas' massive budget gap is slowly being narrowed through a series of difficult decisions and proposals that now includes five furlough days for police officers and firefighters.

Late Friday, City Manager Mary Suhm released her latest budget update, which includes $23 million in savings she expects from furloughing or otherwise reducing the compensation of police officers and firefighters.

That money, along with a host of other cuts and savings, has reduced the city's budget gap from a high of $131 million to $34.9 million, according to the presentation Suhm will give to the City Council on Wednesday. Dallas operates on roughly a $2 billion annual budget.

Suhm said that getting to this point in the process has been difficult. And it will only get more difficult as she pushes forward to close the remaining difference between anticipated revenues and the cost of providing city services.

"It's taken a lot of work to get here, and the budget still has some painful components so we're going to spend the next five weeks to get a budget that's responsive to the economic challenges and balances the impact on services," she said.

Suhm must present the council with a balanced budget in August. The council must approve a final budget in September to take effect Oct. 1.

The savings from furloughing sworn employees will help provide funds to restore some services that were on the chopping block, including drastic reductions in street maintenance and library hours.

Suhm said the current budget plan restores street funding to its current $28 million level, meaning there will be some money for rehabilitating sections of streets that have badly degraded.

She also restored some funding for branch libraries. Those will continue to operate on their current schedule, albeit with reduced staffing.

The central library, meanwhile, will be open 40 hours a week, compared with the 24 hours per week that was originally planned. However, the library's specialized subject floors will be open just three days a week.

Though some high-profile services are now funded, many more are still certain to be cut, and the size of Dallas' roughly $1 billion general fund budget will shrink by at least $50 million next year.

Suhm said she anticipates hundreds of the city's nearly 14,000 employees will receive layoff notices.

Remaining civilian employees will face eight unpaid furlough days. For five of those days, City Hall and other municipal buildings will close. Three furloughs will be taken when employees choose.

There will also be tiered pay cuts for many, with executives taking the highest percentage, until all civilian personnel costs are reduced by 5 percent, Suhm said.

Police and fire associations have not yet signed off on a final cost-cutting plan, but Suhm said she was hopeful she will realize the $23 million in savings that she included as a key highlight of her briefing to the council.

All police and fire furlough days would be scheduled on an individual basis by officers and firefighters and would not affect day-to-day operations.

Dallas Police Association President Glenn White could not be reached for comment.

It was all but assured that police officers and firefighters would share in cuts in the coming budget. The police and fire departments consume 60 percent of the city's general fund dollars, so balancing the budget without reducing their costs would have been all but impossible.

And while sworn city employees were largely spared from pay cuts last year, their civilian counterparts were hit with five unpaid furlough days.

Suhm stressed Friday that even as layoffs and pay cuts will deepen in the coming year, the budget cannot be balanced simply by reducing staff pay and numbers.

"It's important when you talk about services you want to maintain, employees provide those services," Suhm said.

Increased taxes and additional fees also won't close the budget gap.

Instead, it will take a combination of cost cutting and more sources of revenue to make up for the plunge in Dallas' property values that has swept tens of millions of dollars off the city's balance sheets.

Suhm has left open the possibility of recommending a tax increase for next year, although the council is closely divided on the issue.

Even a relatively steep 2.7 percent increase of 2 cents per $100 valuation in the current tax rate of 74.79 cents would raise just $15.4 million, less than half the remaining budget gap.

A plan to introduce some new fees, including one for Dallas residents to use city streets, has gotten a lukewarm reception from the City Council.

Other fee proposals may well be adopted, however. Those include charging residents $5 for a garage sale permit, increasing the multi-tenant building registration fee from $6 to $10 and increasing from $8 to $15 a tax on coin-operated amusement machines.

Suhm has already calculated revenue from those three fees into the budget plan she will present to the council Wednesday.

She said she will continue to hunt for ways to somehow raise revenue or cut costs to close the remaining $34.9 million gap and pay for the services it is intended to fund.

Those include such things as hours and programs at city recreation centers, school crossing guards, police community outreach and homeless outreach programs.

"I do think those are critical, and the difficulty will be figuring out how you are going to fund them," she said.

One Idiot's Opinion

2010-06-10T17:06:00.007-05:00

Shawn P. Williams: Budget woes a chance to remake libraries

Rumors of the public library's decline are proving fairly accurate: Patronage and lending are down while the cost of operation remains quite high. In this age of quick and fast, the library is too often slow and methodical.

That reality needs to guide City Hall's decisions as it puts the Dallas Public Library system on the budget chopping block. Yes, the slashing will be painful and messy, with inevitable cutbacks in operating hours and staff. And as someone whose mother insisted I have a library card growing up, that's disappointing.

But the truth is that libraries are not dying, they're dead. And these tough times offer our library system and its allies an opportunity to find new methods. We're all learning to do more with less, and the library is no exception.

What does less look like when it comes to the library? Besides fewer hours and staffers, it may mean fewer branches. Perhaps the system could expand its Bookmobile program, a perfect example of the library literally meeting customers where they are.

The library must be less museum – waiting for an audience to admire its wonder – and more laboratory. It must give residents more reasons to walk through the doors.

For example, a popular attraction is when authors or even residents come into a branch to read to patrons. And some have performing spaces, such as the Black Box Theater at the Hampton-Illinois branch. Additionally, the "how to" features deserve expansion, with more classes such as how to build a website or create a Facebook page.

A recent Dallas Morning News article noted that the library system has 805 computers. That's not nearly enough. When I was a sales representative, I often stopped at libraries during my lunch hour to browse the internet. Whether at the Oak Lawn or Park Forest branch, there was almost always a wait to use a computer.

Computer access is definitely a resource residents are looking for. Not only should the library system assess its budget priorities to get more computers into the system, but also secure other technology aimed at e-book reading.

Sure, nothing beats the feel, the smell or the texture of a book. You can't turn down the pages on an eReader or scribble notes with a pencil in the margins. But these are the delivery methods young people are looking for, and libraries should become the place to find them.

While the library is still vital for families, it was never designed to only serve children. Libraries compete with big book stores for adult patrons and must find a way to lure them back. It's going to take more than lattes and paninis to win back those who now use coffee shops and cafes as their study hall and meeting place.

Why can't the library start selling new books? If scores of patrons are on a waiting list to check out the new Oprah biography, might some buy a new copy from the library if it was available? As a southern Dallas resident, at least a couple of libraries are closer to my house than the nearest major book store. And when was the last time that your favorite author held a book signing at the local library?

I'm not advocating abandoning the system as we know it. But budget cuts are coming, so what better time to transform libraries from a relic of the past into a tool for the future

About Noon

2010-06-04T15:23:00.000-05:00

That's when the Dallas Public Library turns on the air conditioning. All branches are controlled from downtown. So sad.

Library Budget Part 2

2010-06-02T15:15:00.000-05:00

from The Dallas Morning News, May 29, 2010.

Library budget cuts a sad story for all of Dallas
by James Ragland

Once upon a time, the Dallas Public Library boasted a $32 million annual budget.

Those were the good old days.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone – siphoned off by a revenue drought that, once again, has the city dipping into every well it can find to fill a projected $130 million budget gap.

It's a familiar storyline, to be sure – one that's playing out in cities across the state and the nation.

But the Dallas library, once a sacred cow of sorts, is beginning to feel more like a sacrificial lamb in the city's numbers-crunching game.

The library's budget was cut to $28 million two years ago. Last year, the city tapped it for $6 million more in cuts.

This year, city officials are looking to drain up to $9 million from the library's bottom line, which would drop it to as low as $13 million next fiscal year.

Enough is enough, say some library protagonists, who are more than ready to throw the book at City Hall.

"We expected it to be tough, but not this tough," said Michelle Manners, chairwoman of Friends of the Dallas Public Library, a nonprofit advocacy group that also raises funds and supports literary and educational programs. "That, combined with the recreational cuts – what are kids going to do?"

Good question.

Better question: What are library patrons and supporters such as Friends of the Dallas Public Library going to do?

"We're definitely ramping up our efforts," said Manners. "We're working on an advocacy campaign to try to get in front of some people."

Her group soon will hand out bumper stickers and other paraphernalia that read, "I Love My Public Library."

They're working on fliers to help draw public support. They're also planning to dispatch messengers from their speakers bureau to any group that wants to learn more about the library's role – and its budget woes.

"We're hoping we can turn this around," said Manners.

To that end, ardent library supporters are poised to challenge Mayor Tom Leppert's position that the city needs to hold the line on spending and avoid raising property taxes to balance the budget.

"People who dogmatically say they're opposed to tax raises haven't thought through the consequences of that ideology," said David Kusin, past chairman of the library group now chaired by Manners.

Kusin won't have any problem finding council members sympathetic to his cause.

Indeed, most southern sector council members have expressed growing concern about how potentially deep cuts to parks, recreation centers and libraries will affect working-class neighborhoods.

I'll say this much: They're succeeding in getting taxpayers like me to think long and hard about whether the city is being pennywise and pound foolish.

As a taxpayer, I for one am willing to chip in a few more bucks to keep libraries and recreation centers open. There's certainly a compelling case to be made.

"I don't disagree," said Manners. "We have a horrible dropout rate in this city, and we need to keep the library doors open."

It's not like the mayor and City Manager Mary Suhm don't get that. They do.

Heretofore, both were considered leading advocates of reading and literacy. Suhm even worked at the library for a spell.

That's why outgoing library director Laurie Evans, whose last day with the city is Tuesday, finds it hard to blast either Leppert or Suhm for the difficult choices they are making.

"We know that everybody is hurting," Evans said, adding later that Suhm has been "an enormous advocate of the library, both personally and professionally."

Still, the stage is set for what is sure to be a contentious budget battle all summer, especially if the mayor sticks with his no-new-taxes mantra.

"The mayor's pretty firm on that," Chris Heinbaugh, the mayor's chief of staff, said Friday. "He understands all that, but he still sees the bigger picture. I don't see him going in another direction on that."

Library Budget Part 1

2010-06-02T14:20:00.001-05:00

from The Dallas Morning News, June 1, 2010:

Dallas library backers rally to fight city's proposed cuts
By STEVE THOMPSON / The Dallas Morning News

Supporters of Dallas libraries are marshalling their forces to wage a public relations campaign against drastic cuts to libraries proposed by city officials battling a sizable budget shortfall for next year.

"The message is so key," library board member Ed Palmer said, "and that message is that literacy is a vital component of the city's infrastructure."

If proposed cutbacks are implemented, the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library would be closed Monday through Wednesday, cutting its hours from 44 to 24 per week. Funding is also in jeopardy for neighborhood libraries, which could be cut from 40 to 20 hours per week.

The library system's budget for materials, which for years hovered at more than $3 million, was slashed to about $1.7 million this year and could be cut in half again next year.

"We need to continually remind everyone of how important and how devastating this particular cut that is proposed happens to be," said Palmer, rallying other board members during their regular meeting last week at the downtown library.

The board is planning to distribute bumper stickers, pins and what Palmer called a "selling sheet" to tout the importance of Dallas libraries.

"We need to use the Internet whatever way we can, Facebook whatever way we can to get the message out," Palmer said.

Library supporters argue that a healthy library system is critical to the city's literacy rate, which translates to lower crime, reduced jail populations, a higher-quality workforce and a more attractive atmosphere for business.

"We're talking about cutting hours for the library and chasing kids out of a place where they can raise their literacy level," board member Sharan Goldstein said. "We can't afford that."

This fiscal year, city officials cut the library budget from $28 million to $22 million. If cutbacks now under consideration are implemented, the department's budget next year could be slashed by another $9 million.

Tax rate

The potential cuts come alongside likely cuts to street services, recreation centers, municipal swimming pools and other services. There's even talk of furloughs or pay cuts for police officers.

Many City Council members say such cuts are too painful and advocate raising property taxes to spare some of them. But about an equal number of council members, including the mayor, advocate holding the line on taxes.

The city property tax rate stands at 74.79 cents per $100 in value. Raising that by 1 cent would bring in an additional $7.7 million for City Hall and cost the average homeowner with a homestead exemption $17.02 per year in added taxes.

"With two pennies, you take care of all of the recreation centers and all of the libraries," Palmer said.

Last week at the downtown library, officials put on a storytelling session as part of a news conference about the mayor's 2010 Summer Reading Program.

A group of elementary school students listened to a staffer in a lion suit read about a dog who discovers he can fly.

"What did Sid need so he could fly?" the lion asked the kids when he was finished.

"Happiness. ... Inspiration. ... He needed to believe in himself," came the answers.

Often, kids read well in school, said Mayor Tom Leppert, who spoke after the lion.

"But then all of the sudden they don't have exposure during the summer," he said. "And when they come back in August and September, they've fallen off a couple of levels, and we just can't have that happen."

After the news conference, the mayor was asked whether holding the line on taxes, which he says is critical to attracting businesses to the city and expanding its tax base, is worth drastic cuts to the library system.

"We know we can't do everything," Leppert said. "I can tell you if we had another $200 million, I couldn't do everything that I wanted to do."

The mayor said city officials must prioritize, and he pointed to public safety first.

"I think that's a real straight important one," he said. "I think we've also got to protect the libraries, we've got to protect the recreation centers. Those are things at the core of what we do."

Leppert said he hoped that before the final budget is adopted in late September, drastic cuts to the libraries can be avoided.

"There are no guarantees, so don't get me wrong, but I can tell you that's one that we worked hard on last year, and I want to work hard on this year," he said.

Potential void

Asked what his position would be if a tax increase turned out to be the only way to prevent the library cuts, the mayor declined to say: "I'm not willing to go into hypotheticals."

At the branch library on Martin Luther King Boulevard last week, Chiquita Peterson showed up with her 10-year-old daughter. They live nearby and come a few afternoons each week.

"We walk and talk on the way," Peterson said.

Her daughter, Malika, picked out a book titled Girls Out Late.

"Anything about girls, or ice cream, or food or something – that's what I like," Malika said.

Malika has books at home, but nothing like the variety she can find at the library, her mother said. She hopes the library won't have to reduce its hours.

"We would have to fill that void with something," said Peterson. "It would be difficult."

May Furlough Day

2010-05-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

All Dallas Public libraries will be closed on Friday, May 28, 2010.

DVDs

2010-04-28T14:09:00.001-05:00

One of Timberglen's biggest draws is its DVD collection. Regardless of whether it's a book, DVD, CD, or magazine, each item checked out is counted as a "hit" for this branch. Each branch is rated by the number of items checked out. So look at your DVD collection and donate some (most) to Timberglen. They will stay in this branch. Hey, if you want to watch it again, just come and check it out.

AFI's 100 years...100 movies

Another list

OverDrive

2010-04-28T13:52:00.001-05:00

OverDrive Introduction

The Dallas Public Library is bringing to its patrons a new service called OverDrive. This service will allow
to download and use eBooks, audiobooks, and music anytime from anywhere!

How to Use the Service

•Download and install free software
•Activate the software
•Check out, download, and enjoy

Types of Materials

You will be able to check out and download the following types of digital materials:

•Adobe® EPUB eBooks
• Adobe® PDF eBooks
• OverDrive WMA Audiobooks
• OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks
• OverDrive Music
•OverDrive Video

What Do You Need to Access

• A valid library card
• Internet access
• A computer or device that meets the system requirements for the type(s) of digital materials you wish to check out

Features

•Search for digital materials using a variety of criteria on the advanced search page
• Take digital materials with you on-the-go—many audio titles can be burned to CD, and most audio titles can be burned to CD, and most audio titles can be transferred to supported portable devices

WAY COOL! LINK

Virtual Branch

2010-04-24T15:48:00.000-05:00

Check out the library from your home while clad in your bathrobe and drinking a cup of coffee. Go to the VIRTUAL BRANCH. 24/7/365.

A Little History of the Dallas Public Library

2010-04-20T14:12:00.003-05:00

from The Dallas Morning News, April 18, 2010

The circulation desk of Dallas' first public library opened to borrowers on Oct. 29, 1901.

The original building was at Commerce and Harwood streets.

Strong women play big part in shaping history of Dallas Public Library

By MICHAEL V. HAZEL/Special contributor

As librarian Cleora Clanton frequently pointed out in the 1930s, "Probably no institution in the city touches the lives of the citizens at more points than the public library."

(Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library)
Clanton, who headed Dallas' library system from 1922 to 1954, defending it from budget cuts during the Great Depression and from right-wing political attacks early in the McCarthy era, is one of the library's many unsung heroines. Women, ranging from prominent civic leaders to underpaid librarians, have sustained the Dallas Public Library for more than 100 years.

The tradition began with May Dickson Exall, who organized the Dallas Federation of Women's Clubs in 1898 with the express purpose of securing a public library for Dallas.

The city had ranked as the largest in Texas in the 1890 census, having grown rapidly into a regional merchandising and manufacturing center. But civic leaders recognized that Dallas needed intellectual as well as economic resources if it was to compete on a national scale.

Campaign begins

And it lacked one asset that was coming to be viewed as essential: a free public library. Under Exall's leadership, women took up the challenge, and the campaign launched by the Federation of Women's Clubs soon resulted in formation of the Dallas Public Library Association.

With spirited publicity in The Dallas Morning News organized by Isadore Miner, its women's editor and author of a weekly column signed "Pauline Periwinkle," this group quickly raised $6,000 and secured a commitment of property and funding from the city. Col.onel A.H. Belo, publisher of The News, helped launch the fund drive with a $1,000 donation.

Exall, the association's president, then wrote to Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate who had begun distributing his fortune to construct libraries throughout the nation. In her letter, Exall shrewdly reminded Carnegie that he had just granted $50,000 to neighboring Fort Worth, "a town about half the size of Dallas."

A month later, Carnegie responded, "Surely I shall do for Dallas what I did for Fort Worth," agreeing to provide $50,000 if the city would increase its annual fiscal commitment from $2,000 to $4,000, which he felt was more realistic for a city the size of Dallas.

The library association hired Rosa Leeper as the first librarian, and Col. Belo was among civic leaders who donated funds to purchase books. The building committee monitored expenses so closely that total construction costs came to $50,097, only $97 over the amount donated by Carnegie. This had to be one of the lowest cost overruns on a municipal project in the city's history.

The new Dallas Public Library opened at the southwest corner of Commerce and Harwood streets to great celebration on Oct. 29, 1901. During the first 10 weeks, nearly 3,000 people obtained library cards, and more than 15,000 books were checked out.

The children's collection attracted especially heavy use, as school principals sent classes to the library, and teachers presented lectures on art and music in the children's room. A tradition of heavy use, straining available resources, had begun.

By the 1920s, the central library building was seriously overcrowded, and it was deteriorating. But tax dollars never seemed available, and a bond proposal was shelved with the advent of the Great Depression. Not until the early 1950s, with strong support from the new Friends of the Dallas Public Library, was the old Carnegie structure torn down and a modern building constructed in its place. Within 25 years, it, too, had become obsolete.

No book bans

But beginning in 1961, the library system was led by another in the line of tireless heroines, Lillian Moore Bradshaw. Like Clanton before her, she was a staunch defender of intellectual freedom.

When a right-wing councilman tried to ban books, she told her husband, "I am going to fight this. I do not believe that an adult should be made to read on a child's level." With support from the rest of the City Council, she won the fight.

Lillian Bradshaw fought off a ban. George Schrader, who was city manager during Bradshaw's first nine years as library director, described her as "a take-charge director who would not be denied. Lillian could have run the Fire Department, the Police Department, or any other department." It was under her administration that the third — and current — J. Erik Jonsson Central Library was constructed across from City Hall in 1982. And, of equally great significance, branch libraries were built throughout the city; today they number 25.

The library's current director, Laurie Evans, has overseen remodeling of the Central Library and the opening of an imaginative children's library at NorthPark Center, one of the first in the nation.

As the Dallas Public Library adapts to meet the needs of a changing audience, its use is heavier than ever. The total number of materials circulated and used in the library last year was nearly 11 million. Clearly, the tradition continues.

Michael V. Hazel is author of The Dallas Public Library: Celebrating a Century of Service 1901-2001, among other books on Dallas history.

Also, CLICK HERE, then hit the back arrow button.

Book Sale

2010-03-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

The Friends of the Timberglen Library will have a semi-annual book sale on Friday and Saturday, April 10th & 11th, from 10:00 am - 5:45 pm. Paperback fiction titles are just 25¢, most other paperback genres are $1.00. Most hardbacks are $2.00. Cash only.

We are always asked if there will be a presale on Thursday, and the answer is no. However, we do need volunteers to help set up the sale that afternoon and that would provide an opportunity to see what we have. But please come to help, and leave your scanners at home.

March Meeting

2010-03-09T14:38:00.000-06:00

The March monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Timberglen Library is scheduled for 3/13/10, 10:15 am, in the Classroom. All are welcome. Among other things, we'll be discussing the empty magazine shelves and what can be done about them.
Bring:

More Budget Cuts

2010-03-05T15:26:00.003-06:00

Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm has given department heads guidelines for preparing preliminary budgets, which could change dramatically as the year progresses. Suhm says that no decision on a property tax increase request has been made.

Cut spending by 30 percent in most departments.
Cut spending by 5 percent in police, fire and code compliance departments.
Assume no salary increases will be granted in 2010-11 for city employees.
Plan for five furlough days in 2010-11 for most city employees

Per The Dallas Morning News. For the complete article, CLICK HERE.

Magazine Madness

2010-02-06T15:27:00.005-06:00

As part of the budget cutback, the following periodicals will no longer be available at the Timberglen Library:

•Architectural Digest
•Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel
•Barron's
•Batanga
•Better Homes and Gardens
•Black Enterprise
•Bon Appétit
•Book of Lists (included with Dallas Business Journal)
•Brides
•Business Week
•Cooking Light
•Cosmopolitan
•D Home & Garden
•Dallas Business Journal
•Entertainment Weekly
•Esquire
•Forbes
•Glamour
•Good Housekeeping
•GQ
•Harper's Bizaar
•Health
•Inc
•Instyle
•Ladies Home Journal
•Money
•More
•NADA Official Used Car Guide
•National Geographic
•Neil Sperry's Gardens
•Newsweek
•Parenting Early Years
•PC World
•Prevention
•Real Simple
•Rolling Stone
•Science News
•Seventeen
•SmartMoney
•Smithsonian
•Southern Accents
•Sports Illustrated for Kids
•Texas Highways
•Texas Monthly
•US News and World Report
•USA Today
•Value Line Investment Survey
•Vanity Fair
•Vogue
•Wall Street Journal

If you would like to donate a subscription for one or more of these, please contact Eric or Francisco at Timberglen. 214-671-1365. If the issues are sent downtown first, they will be barcoded and thus available for check out, as long as they're not the latest issue. If the magazines come directly to Timberglen, there will be no barcode and thus not available for check out.

These periodicals will remain:

•Comsumer Reports
•D Magazine
•Dallas Morning News
•Ebony
•People
•People En Español
•Sports Illustrated
•Time

For a link to the top 100 magazines per paid and verified subscriptions, CLICK HERE.

DART Service to Timberglen

2010-01-20T16:36:00.000-06:00

Route 341 has a stop at Lina and Timberglen Rd, its closest to the library, and operates during branch hours. Service is every 30 minutes to one hour Monday-Friday, and every 45 minutes on Saturday. Call 214-979-1111 for more information. When speaking to their representative, give your start or stop point as Lina and Timberglen, not the library's address. Or you can use their pathetic excuse for an Internet trip planner by clicking on this link. The walk should take less than 10 minutes, but give yourself 15 should the bus be running early or late. In case of rain, have an umbrella handy. In case of a tornado, stay home, jump in a bathtub, and pull a mattress over it. If there's a blizzard, you're in the wrong city.

The cost for a day pass, which will also take you to the zoo, is $4.00. Cash. Have correct change. Paper money accepted.

Writers' Workshop

2010-01-14T16:47:00.000-06:00

Do you write stories? Would you enjoy feedback from other writers? This may be for you. Join us any Thursday at 6:00 pm in the classsroom (lobby area). You need not bring any of your work for review. This is an informal workshop designed for writer development. Most of what's discussed is short fiction, but longer pieces are accepted. All genres covered. Monitored by Jasmine of the Timberglen staff.

Cold Libraries

2010-01-13T15:25:00.002-06:00

In New York City, a Chilly Library Has Its Rewards

In the pantheon of New York City jobs, many people face rugged extremes. Ironworkers brave fierce winds high on beams. Subway track workers traverse dank tunnels. Firefighters climb through flames.

But inside some city public libraries, the definition of extreme trends more toward turtleneck than breakneck.

Under a little-known contract provision titled “Extreme Temperature Procedures,” unionized workers at branches of the New York Public Library can accrue compensatory time when the temperature inside dips below 68 degrees for a couple of hours. Similar clauses exist for libraries across the city.

For the complete story, use this link.
From The New York Times, January 11, 2010

February, 2010

2010-01-13T14:59:00.001-06:00

All Dallas Public Libraries will be closed Friday, February 12, 2010. This will allow employees and patrons to catch the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games taking place in Vancouver. Is curling a sanctioned sport? Is it even a sport?

2010 Timberglen Friends Annual Meeting

2009-12-12T11:48:00.002-06:00

The 2010 annual meeting of the Friends of Timberglen Library will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010, in the classroom (lobby area) of the library. It will begin promptly (or thereabouts) at 10:15. Election of the Board of Directors will occur, an amendment to the bylaws will be introduced, and other business will take place as time allows or until we run out of coffee. All members in good standing, which means you're current with dues, may vote. Everyone is welcome. Bring donuts.

Timberglen End-of Year 2009 Hours

2009-12-10T17:47:00.001-06:00

All Dallas Public Libraries:
Christmas
All libraries will close on Thursday, December 24 at 5 p.m. and will be closed on Friday, December 25, 2009 (official City of Dallas holiday). Regular hours resume on Saturday, December 26.

New Year's Day and Furlough Day
All libraries will be closed on Thursday, December 31, 2009, (City of Dallas furlough day) and January 1, 2010 (official City of Dallas holiday). Regular hours resume on Saturday, January 2, 2010.

Timberglen 2009 Thanksgiving Week Hours

2009-11-12T14:18:00.003-06:00

Sun 22nd closed
Mon 23rd closed
Tue 24th 12:00-8:00
Wed 25th closed*
Thu 26th closed
Fri 27th closed
Sat 28th 10:00-6:00

*city mandated furlough day

New Lochwood Branch

2009-11-09T15:51:00.005-06:00

The long-awaited 19,500-square-foot Lochwood Branch Library opened on Nov. 7, 2009.

Part of the excitement is that the new library, at 11221 Lochwood Blvd., replaces a neighborhood eyesore. A YMCA used to sit on the property, which grew ugly after it was abandoned for years.

City officials say the Lochwood library, which replaces the smaller Casa View branch on Ferguson Road, will house 70,000 volumes of books, computers, a black box theater, public meeting space and classrooms.

Timberglen Staff

2009-11-04T15:44:00.003-06:00

Kraig — Branch Manager¹
Erik — Assistant Manager
Joanne — Children's Librarian
Francisco — Library Associate (FT)
Jasmine — Library Associate (PT)
Kelly — CSR Supervisor¹
Sara — CSR (FT)
Cassie — CSR (FT)
Linda — CSR (FT)
Agdas — CSR (PT)
Kendall — Page (PT)
David — Page (PT)
Razi — Page (PT)

¹Also responsible for the Renner-Frankford Branch
CSR - Customer Service Representitive They check out your books and set you up with a library card or TexShare card.
Page - They check in books and shelve them.

Other Libraries' News

2009-10-24T14:57:00.004-05:00

Richardson library is latest to charge nonresidents for checkouts

By IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News imccann@dallasnews.com
Headed to the Richardson Public Library to find your next good read? If you're a Dallas resident, be ready to pay a hefty fee.
Nearly a fifth of the library's 46,742 users were coming from Dallas – a number that Richardson officials feared would skyrocket after Dallas cut library hours during a budget crisis over the summer.
So, as of Oct. 1, Richardson adopted a reciprocal policy: If your city makes Richardson residents pay to check out books, Richardson will charge you the same amount. The new rule affects residents of Dallas and Highland Park.
"You face economic realities," Richardson library director Steve Benson said. "We were so stretched trying to serve everybody."
Dallas charges nonresidents $250 per year for unlimited use of its library system, so residents there must now pay that amount for a Richardson card, which lets people check out materials and use computers. Highland Park residents will be charged $150 per year.
Some effects are already being felt at the Richardson library, located at the civic complex near Arapaho Road and Central Expressway.
There are no more waiting lists for computers, and lines at the checkout desk are far shorter. Just 10 Dallas residents have paid the fee, and about 160 others have received waivers for volunteering at the library or for being Richardson school district students, teachers or librarians.
For cities' librarians, the question of whether to charge people to borrow books is a difficult one. Ideally, there would be free access to reading and educational materials. But in the real world of budgets and managing limited resources, that's not always possible.
"I hated doing it, but I felt that it had to be done," said Kathleen Edwards, library director in Coppell, which instituted fees two years ago. "My goal is to put quality library services in everyone's hands."
The cities with fees implemented them to recoup the cost of providing service to people who didn't pay taxes to support the libraries. Also, outsiders were diminishing the quality of service to residents by straining capacity.
"It got to the point that all we could do was issue library cards and check out materials and check in materials," Highland Park library director Bonnie Case said. "Some people thought it was an excellent value, and some didn't."
In Highland Park, more than 50 percent of users were nonresidents before the fee was instituted some decades ago. Today, there are about 1,500 resident library cards and 150 nonresident ones.
Coppell uses a "reciprocal and comparable" system to determine who must pay a fee. Visitors whose home cities charge Coppell residents must pay $40 a year. They also pay if Coppell determines that their cities' per-capita funding is below Coppell's.
The arguments that suburbs are making for charging fees are precisely the ones made when Dallas implemented nonresident fees in 1976: People were using services without paying for them with property taxes.
That's an argument many can accept. But a $250 fee seems too steep to some.
"I was shocked," Dallas resident and longtime Richardson library user Stefani Blackman said. "We were willing to pay $250 if it was a one-time fee, not an annual one."
She said her family uses the Richardson library because it is close to home and because the children's section is far better than the one at the Fretz Park Branch, the Dallas library closest to her.
There are other options for people besides paying fees. Anybody can go to his or her hometown library to get a TexShare card, which offers some borrowing privileges at city and university libraries throughout the state. And people can still read or study at the libraries at no cost.
Laurie Evans, Dallas' library director, said few people from outside Dallas actually pay. Just 66 punch cards were sold in the past year, most at the five-books-for-$25 level. Nearly all of the $250 unlimited cards went to Addison, which bought 330 for its residents.
"Anybody can get a TexShare card," she said. "We give people so many ways to use us."
MAKING VISITORS PAY
A handful of Dallas-area cities charge nonresidents to use their libraries, with the goal of recouping the cost of serving people who do not pay local taxes.
COPPELL
•Charges $40 per year, roughly equivalent to the property taxes that residents pay to run the library.
•The fee, instituted two years ago, is paid by nonresidents whose cities either charge Coppell residents for library use or fund their libraries at lower levels than Coppell.
DALLAS •Since 1976 has let nonresidents buy punch cards to check out materials. Levels range from $25 for five books to $250 a year for unlimited use of the library.
HIGHLAND PARK
•Started charging nonresidents more than 20 years ago.
•The current fee, $150 per year, has been in place since 2000.
RICHARDSON
•Put its system in place Oct. 1.
•A nonresident is charged the same amount that a Richardson resident would pay in that person's city.
•Exceptions are granted to library volunteers; children who live in the Richardson school district; people who attend any school, including a college, within the school district boundaries; and any teacher or librarian from a school within the Richardson school district's boundaries.

November Book Sale

2009-10-10T16:19:00.003-05:00

Friday & Saturday — November 6th & 7th

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

in the Library Auditorium

All genres.

Most paperback fiction 25¢

Most hardback $2.00

Cheap

Code of Conduct

2009-09-28T17:24:00.002-05:00

Using the Library: Libraries & Recreation Centers Code of Conduct

City staff is committed to providing the best possible customer service in an open and inviting atmosphere and the City of Dallas Libraries and Recreation Centers Code of Conduct is designed to ensure this atmosphere is maintained at all times.

Violations of the City of Dallas Libraries and Recreation Centers Code of Conduct or procedures may result in the expulsion of individuals from City premises and/or criminal prosecution.

In keeping with the City’s commitment to customer service and the provision of a safe and inviting atmosphere, the following guidelines are set forth to define those activities that are inappropriate for our users and prohibited. City staff will enforce these guidelines in a consistent and impartial manner.

The following behaviors, conduct and activities are expressly prohibited:
Prohibited behaviors under the Texas Penal Code:

•Recklessly damaging or destroying City materials or property, or the personal property of building

•Gambling in any form on City property. (Texas Penal Code § 47.02)

•Making offensive gestures, cursing or using obscene, abusive, profane or threatening language. (Texas Penal Code § 42.01)

•Displaying or distributing obscene material. (Texas Penal Code § 43.22 and § 43.24)
Engaging in acts of sexual misconduct, including, but not limited to, indecent exposure, sexual contact and sexual intercourse. (Texas Penal Code § 21.07 and 21.08)

•Stalking other customers or staff including looking into an area, such as a restroom, that is designed to provide privacy to a person using the area. (Texas Penal Code § 42.01 and § 42.072); (Dallas City Code § 31-36)

•Exhibiting signs of being under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. (Texas Penal Code § 49.02)

•Displaying firearms or other deadly weapons on City property in a manner calculated to alarm. Exemptions from this prohibition are recognized for Law Enforcement Officers and individuals licensed to carry handguns in accordance with state law. (Texas Penal Code § 42.01 and § 30.06e)

•Engaging in physical altercations including assaults and fighting. (Texas Penal Code § 22.01)

Prohibited behaviors under the Dallas City Code

•Entering or remaining in a City building before or after posted hours of operation without the express permission of the Department Director Director’s designee. (Dallas City Code § 31-37)

•Smoking or using tobacco products in City buildings. (Dallas City Code § 41-2)

•Entering into staff work areas not open to the public. (Dallas City Code § 31-14)

•Littering. (Dallas City Code § 7A-3)

•Consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages on City property or while in a public park. (Dallas City Code § 6-6.1 and § 32-11.3)

The following behaviors are prohibited if in the clear judgment of city staff, on a case-by-case basis, they disrupt the environment for other users of the facilities:

•Conversing, laughing, or otherwise talking or shouting in a loud and disruptive manner, banging on computer keyboards or disruptively using devices, including cell phones, CD players, MP3 players, walkie-talkies, PDAs, laptop computers or any other instruments. (Making sounds that are considered loud or disruptive when they are clearly audible from a distance of 3 feet by any other building user or staff member.) Sound generating or amplification devices employed by building staff or used by persons with the authorization of building staff for authorized events are exempt from this prohibition.

•Using City buildings for other than their intended purpose, including: loitering, sleeping, changing clothes, bathing (except for washing hands or face), shampooing, shaving, washing clothes or utensils, preparing meals or food, or personal grooming unless it is considered appropriate for an approved activity. Changing clothes in building bathrooms and applying makeup is permitted in preparation for a city-approved program or event with express permission of City staff.

•Eating, drinking, or bringing food or beverages in open containers into a City building is prohibited, except in cases where an event has been previously approved.

•Bare feet and bathing suits or clothing that does not cover both upper and lower torso is prohibited in public areas unless it is considered appropriate for an approved activity.

•Introducing any animals, insects or other living organisms into City buildings without express permission of the City staff, with the exception of service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs or other guide-trained animals.

•Using wheeled recreational devices such as skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, bicycles, and scooters in or on City property, except in designated areas.

•Entering, or attempting to enter City buildings possessing such defects of bodily hygiene as impairs a clean and sanitary environment, as it is intended for enjoyment of the building. This includes individuals whose neglect of bodily hygiene gives offense and therefore constitutes a nuisance to others and staff.

•Entering into or remaining in City buildings while emitting odors (including bodily odors or perfumes), which interfere with the use of services by other users or the work of staff.

•Entering into City buildings with large framed backpacks, bedrolls, blanket rolls, or more than three grocery-sized paper or plastic bags or parcels. Personal belongings including purses or cell phones must not impede access to doors, services or materials. Customers must keep personal belongings with them at all times. The City is not responsible for unattended personal belongings.

•No soliciting or proselytizing on City property, except as authorized. No panhandling at any time.

•Neglecting to provide proper supervision of children.

•Using areas for any activities, other than their intended purpose.

•Physically blocking aisles, exits, or entrances, including sitting or lying down in them.

•Moving, altering, or rearranging furniture or equipment; altering the configuration or settings of electronic equipment without the authorization of staff; or otherwise using furniture or equipment for other than its intended purpose.

•Using electronic equipment in excess of posted duration limits if other customers or staff are waiting to use the equipment.
•Assembling more than two people around a computer if it creates a disturbance to others.

•Use of parking lot before or after hours of operation or for performing non-emergency automotive repairs or maintenance at any time.

•Engaging in any other activity that disturbs normal activities and/or the environment for other users and City staff.

Hi Melissa

2009-09-18T16:14:00.000-05:00

We are glad you are following this blog. Drop in for one of our monthly meetings and introduce yourself. We meet the second Saturday of each month at 10:00am in the classroom.

Discount Prescription Card Available at Timberglen

2009-09-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

Save on your prescriptions wth this card. They're FREE. Pick them up at any Dallas library.

Link for more information.

From the Dallas Business Journal:

Since the card can be used nationwide, it can also be used by family members living outside the county, and even pets.

Link for full article.

New Hours

2009-09-14T14:42:00.000-05:00

Effective October 1, 2009

Sun Closed
Mon Closed
Tue 12pm - 8 pm
Wed 10am - 6pm
Thu 12pm - 8pm
Fri 10am - 6pm
Sat 10am - 6pm

These hours are for Timberglen only. Renner Frankford will have the later hours Wednesday, and the earlier hours Tuesday. The Downtown Library will be the only one open on Sunday, 1pm - 5pm. Arcadia Park and Hampton Illinois will be the only ones open on Monday, 7:45am - 8pm, as they are associated with adjoining schools.

Defending the City's Libraries

2009-09-04T13:55:00.000-05:00

(from The Dallas Morning News)

David Kusin: In defense of our city's 'information brain'

Monday, August 31, 2009

It usually takes centuries to build great institutions. Yet citizens of Dallas have been quietly and steadily fostering the development of the Dallas Public Library into one of the finest free public library systems in the country.

Equally important, over the past 108 years, the library has become perhaps our most beloved civic institution and one of the truly indispensable necessities of public service. Any day at any time in any open branch, citizens are searching for practical, often vital, information on jobs, health, business, current affairs and general knowledge on thousands of topics.
Where does the young family go on its weekly outing to fill its tote bags with CDs and storybooks to enliven bath and bedtime? To one of the 27 neighborhood branch libraries.

This remarkable tax-supported institution did not achieve this level of service without infrastructure deliberately established to provide all citizens with equal access to its global resources: no one lives more than about 10 minutes from a branch library, and all are located on public transportation lines.

The basic business of the free public library could not appear simpler: the efficient gathering together of the comprehensive materials – books, periodicals, journals and magazines; tapes, CDs and DVDs of stories, movies and music; databases and online tutorials, to name a few – that preserve and present our collective knowledge and culture.

The annual budget for acquisition of these materials has been running just under $4 million for the Dallas system. This is at the very low end of a per capita scale for obtaining what equivalent public libraries must spend to meet their fundamental obligations, according to the American Library Association.

Despite this minimal materials budget, our librarians have done a remarkably effective job of institution-building over the past several decades. During 2007, the Dallas Public Library circulated more than 4 million items for the 840,000 holders of its free library cards, representing 68 percent of Dallas' population.

The library's stature is not the product of local hyperbole. Out of the more than 9,000 public libraries in the U.S., the Library of Congress has located one of its nine Centers for the Book in our downtown Erik Jonsson Central Library, the only library in Texas to be selected. This national recognition provides extra resources for the region and is matched only by the acclaim and devotion that local library users offer every day.

To have achieved such standing – in record time, given the long institutional viewpoint – many different tasks have been accomplished simultaneously and exceedingly well.
Not least among them is obtaining and managing the continuing inflow of essential materials. These provide what amounts to a brain for the entire library system.

Unfortunately, the current draft of the Dallas city budget would effectively lobotomize the institution by cutting its already lean materials budget by 66 percent. More alarming still is the poor budget prognosis for the following budget year, during which these cuts would be sustained. Such a reduction will induce what amounts to institutional coma.

Even though some of the initially proposed cuts to library hours have been restored, that improvement will provide cold comfort to patrons when valuable materials – online job search databases, for instance – are no longer available. While such budgetary tinkering may provide "feel good" politics, it fails to preserve the core function of our free public library.

The fate of our greatly beloved library now lies in the hands of the Dallas City Council.

Fortunately, it seems that some council members are beginning to understand what sustaining this treasure is worth versus the long-term cost of letting it wither. Will all their colleagues on the council join them? We'll know soon, won't we?

David Kusin is an economist and board chairman of the Friends of the Dallas Public Library. His e-mail address is davidkusin@kusin.com.

Budget Cuts

2009-07-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

(From The Dallas Morning News)

Dallas budget cuts curb library hours, collection additions

09:23 AM CDT on Monday, July 20, 2009
By RUDOLPH BUSH / The Dallas Morning News
rbush@dallasnews.com

Whether you're hunting for a job, looking for a place to take the kids for an afternoon, seeking to learn about a new hobby or just trying to find the latest best-seller, chances are a Dallas Public Library could help you out.

But like so many other city services that residents have come to take for granted, there will be less of the libraries to go around come late September.

That's when the city of Dallas will adopt a new budget that shaves about $190 million from the planned $1.9 billion operating budget.

Libraries will bear a significant part of that burden. According to a June briefing, the library budget will slashed by a third to just under $22 million.

Under a proposal that must be approved by the council, most branch libraries will open for 23 hours week, less than half what they average now. The central library will close on Sunday and Monday, shaving 28 hours a week from its current 68-hour schedule.

All of the libraries will have to share in about 5,000 new books and other print materials the city can afford to buy, a stark drop-off from the 52,000 that the current budget year allowed.

Corinne Hill, assistant director of resource management for the library system, acknowledged it will be a difficult adjustment for many people.

"It is what it is. We won't be able to buy as many copies of things so people will wait longer," she said.

And they may find that their neighborhood branch isn't open at the hours they like to go there.

But, Hill said, the libraries will try to make the cuts less painful, largely by staggering hours at branches that are close to each other.

And even if there's only one copy of the latest best-seller, and it's already checked out, there are about 4 million other titles to chose from at the libraries.

"The thing to remember looking at the popular items is we are a library, not a bookstore. We have a very rich collection," she said.

But Dallas' libraries have developed into much more than a place to go to check out a book.

For some neighborhoods, they are the computer lab, the job resource center, the place for children's story time and more.

One of the busiest branches, Hampton Illinois in Oak Cliff, is an example.

On a recent morning, a group of high school volunteers were setting up a video game day for local kids. A grade school teacher was tutoring a young student. A grandmother was reading quietly with six of her grandchildren.

Sylvia Collins takes her grandchildren to the library most days, often for five or six hours at a stretch, she said.

"We can come here and read quietly. At home it's different. You can jump and run and play with colors or something else," she said.

Collins is among the lucky library patrons. Hampton Illinois and Arcadia Park are the two library branches that won't see their hours cut because they are connected to DISD schools.

For someone like Isabel Sarduy, that's very good news. She frequently goes to Hampton Illinois with her sisters for lots of reasons, she said.

"My little sister goes to [high] school, and we don't have a computer at home. This is the only way she gets her work done," Sarduy said.

Cuts in library hours will be inconvenient, but they don't worry David Kusin so much as the planned cuts to the new materials budget.

Kusin, chairman of the Friends of the Dallas Public Library, said the plan to stagger hours is a good one and most people should be able to find a library open not too far from their home or work.

"The materials budget is to the library what the brain is to the human body," he said.

Kusin said so far there's been little headway in persuading City Council members or the city management to increase the materials budget.

Though libraries have a strong constituency and organized representatives like the Friends group, there are so many competing demands at City Hall this year – and such large cuts needed – that getting support from the powers-that-be is more difficult than ever.

"People are making no commitments and no comments," Kusin said. "This is really an unprecedented situation the city of Dallas is in. There are no desk manuals on how to do it."

BY THE NUMBERS: LIBRARY CUTS

$22 million
Proposed library budget for 2009-10

$32.5 million
Amount needed to maintain current service

5,000
Number of new books and other print material budgeted for purchase in 2009-10 vs. 52,000 this year

4,300
Number of videos, music recordings, audio books and other media budgeted for purchase in 2009-10 vs. 20,000 this year

Proposed hour cuts:

Central library: Will close Sunday and Monday, operating 40 hours a week vs. 68 hours currently.

23 branch libraries: Will operate 23 hours a week vs. an average of 47 hours currently.

2 branches: Hampton Illinois and Arcadia Park will remain open 55 hours per week

Fire Truck Visit

2009-07-18T13:59:00.000-05:00

The Dallas Fire Department sent a fire truck to the library for a children's education program on June 16th. Attendance was 40+. Afterwards Friends handed out popsicles.

Teen Center Wii Games

2009-07-13T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hosted by Jasmine every Friday at 2:00 pm in the Auditorium. Play Rock Band 2, Super Smash Bros. BRAWL and Mario Kart.
The Friends of Timberglen Library allocated $850 for the equipment.

Party Pets

2009-07-13T17:10:00.000-05:00

A program for children presented in the auditorium Tuesday, July 21st at 2:00 pm. The $150 cost has been paid by the Friends of Timberglen Library.

A Gift From the Friends

2009-07-11T16:10:00.000-05:00

Today we approved spending $159.99 for the Fleur Rollercoaster Table. It will be placed in the children's area. A smaller model will be purchased also.

Another Poem

2009-06-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

Homework! Oh, Homework!by Jack Prelutsky
============
Homework! Oh, homework!

I hate you! You stink!

I wish I could wash you

away in the sink.

If only a bomb

would explode you to bits.

Homework! Oh, homework!

You're giving me fits.

I'd rather take baths

with a man-eating shark,

or wrestle a lion

alone in the dark,

eat spinach and liver,

pet ten porcupines,

than tackle the homework

my teacher assigns.

Homework! Oh, homework!

You're last on my list.

I simply can't see

why you even exist.

If you just disappeared

it would tickle me pink.

Homework! Oh, homework!

I hate you! You stink!

Test

2009-05-31T15:41:00.000-05:00

The Purple Cow

I NEVER SAW A PURPLE COW,

I NEVER HOPE TO SEE ONE;

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, ANYHOW,

I'D RATHER SEE THAN BE ONE!

Gelett Burgess

Attention Addison Residents

2009-05-31T14:36:00.000-05:00

We are your library. Our location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=18505+midway+road,+dallas&output=html
(if necessary: highlight, then copy and paste to the address bar)

Per the Town of Addison web site:

Addison offers commitment to service by providing easy access to library membership. Residents may obtain a library card from the Dallas Public Library. Membership is free of charge to Addison residents. Proof of residency is required.

Family membership to Dallas Public Library can be obtained at Addison Town Hall, 5300 Belt Line Road. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. During official holidays, call 972-450-7000 to confirm hours.

Addison Town Hall location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=5300+belt+line+road,+addison&output=html
(if necessary: highlight, then copy and paste to the address bar).

VHS Tape Sale

2009-05-31T14:20:00.000-05:00

Remember those? We are practically giving them away. Over 1300 tapes for sale one day only.

Saturday, June 6, 2009 — in the library lobby.

25¢ each or 5 for $1.00. Cheap.

Bring cash and a bag.

April Book Sale

2009-03-03T16:53:00.000-06:00

Read all about it.

Friday 4/3 10:00—5:00
Saturday 4/4 10:00—5:00
Sunday 4/5 1:00—3:00*

In the Library Auditorium. Included is a large collection of boxed National Geographic magazines. We are currently accepting books and DVD's for this event. Please use the drop box next to the Copy Room door.

If you would like to receive an email notice of the next sale, please send a request to timberglenfriends@gmail.com. In the subject line simply write "Book Sale" and we will put you in a special contacts list. You will not be spammed.

*Our Sunday sale hours will also be used to pack up and store stock. Come early for best selection.

Book Sale! Book Sale! Book Sale!

2008-11-16T15:55:00.000-06:00

Gently-read books. Hardbacks, paperbacks, novels, non-fiction, travel, children, cooking, self-help, history and a very special collection of National Geographic.

Friday & Saturday, December 5th & 6th, 9:00 am — 5:00 pm.
(plus try us Sunday while we're cleaning up...beginning at 1:00 pm).

Terms are cash. Sorry, no plastic.

We are always accepting books for our sales. Simply drop them in our container by the Copy Room inside the library. We are always in particular need of children's, DVDs, Spanish language and cookbooks.

Sorry, but when textbooks and computer books have become out of date for you, they are out of date for everyone. Please recycle paperbacks and magazines. The City of Dallas does not accept hardbacks for recycling.

Come browse. And join the Friends.

Open House

2008-08-16T16:09:00.000-05:00

The Friends of the Timberglen Library will host an Open House and Membership Drive on Saturday, August 23rd, from 10:00—1:00. Join us at the library for refreshments and to learn more about becoming a Friend of Timberglen Library.

Be A Friend to Timberglen!

2008-02-21T11:32:00.001-06:00

Joining the Timberglen Friends is as easy as filling out a small piece of paper. There are different levels of membership, all affordable and tax-deductible. Your membership helps to support the group that provides programs, supplies and materials for the Timberglen Branch Library. For more information, please email us at timberglenfriends@gmail.com. Be a Friend to Timberglen!

Save the Date: 2008 Friends Book Sale

2008-01-22T10:07:00.000-06:00

SAVE THE DATE!
The Timberglen Friends Book Sale will be held for THREE days in April 2008 in the library's auditorium. Mark your calendar in order to visit the library for some wonderful book and media purchases!
Friday, April 18, from 12pm to 4pm
Saturday, April 19, from 10am to 4pm
Sunday, April 20, from 1pm to 4pm

If you would like to volunteer to help at the booksale, email the friends at timberglenfriends@gmail.com.

Join the Friends

2008-01-07T12:51:00.000-06:00

The Timberglen Branch Library Friends exist to enable the Branch to meet the needs of all its patrons through: Encouraging gifts and fund raising for the Branch, Organizing and hosting Branch program and special events, Volunteering in the Branch at the Direction of the Library Manager or his/her delegate, Publicizing the activities of the Friends of Timberglen Branch Library to the media and patrons in cooperation with the Public Information Officer of the Dallas Public Library, Advocating for the Branch and the Dallas Public Library, Enhancing the physical plant, and Encouraging involvement of patrons of all ages.

They are an important part of supporting successful programs, materials and a comfortable environment for all. Please take a minute now to learn how you can join the Friends by contacting timberglenfriends@gmail.com or stopping by the branch to pick up your membership form!

Starlight Stories creates Bilingual story magic!

2007-12-10T19:22:00.000-06:00

The Timberglen Friends were pleased to be part of a program that focused on family literacy at the Timberglen Branch. Starlight Stories was held last week Tuesday to a group of families who are committed to reading together to promote literacy. Children's librarians Miss Joanne and Miss Lila read stories in Spanish and English that held the childrens' rapt attention. Families participated in creating a book of The Story of their Family, made together at craft tables, while enjoying refreshments. Each family took home a bilingual book of stories to read together and each child received a book of their own. The branch thanks its sponsors, Target and the Timberglen Branch Library Friends.

Book Sale a Success!

2007-12-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone to came out to support the Timberglen Friends Book Sale. After many hours of sweat and tears, we had a great turnout for our second book sale. The Town of Addison was kind enough to share their leftover books from their big sale last month and we were able to sell, sell, sell and raise some funds to support programs at the library! We're going to take a little break but you can save the date for the next book sale, which we'll make at least two days, on April 18th and 19th, 2008.

Next Book Sale!!

2007-10-31T23:35:00.000-05:00

Mark you calendar for the next Timberglen Branch Library Friends Group Book Sale!

Saturday, November 17th

from 10am to 3pm

in the classroom at the branch

18505 Midway Road, Dallas

Shop early so you don't miss out!

Need more information? Contact the Timberglen Friends at

timberglenfriends@gmail.com

Just Announced!

2007-09-12T13:24:00.000-05:00

THE NEXT TIMBERGLEN FRIENDS BOOK SALE DATE

JUST ANNOUNCED!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH

10-4

Keep checking the library for details!

BOOK SALE SUCCESSFUL! WANT TO JOIN US?

2007-08-27T14:14:00.000-05:00

Timberglen Branch Library Friends' first book sale was a tremendous success! Thank you to all of you who came out to support the friends and either bought, browsed, volunteered or promoted the event.

If you had a chance to see the library and meet a few Friends, why don't you take a minute to join us? Membership is inexpensive yet it is the backbone of the group that supports all the great programs of the Timberglen Branch. Email the Friends Group at timberglenfriends@gmail.com or pick up a brochure the next time you are at the library.

BE A FRIEND TO TIMBERGLEN!

FRIENDS BOOK SALE THIS SATURDAY!

2007-08-22T14:32:00.001-05:00

TIMBERGLEN BRANCH LIBRARY FRIENDS BOOK SALE

One day only!

Saturday, AUGUST 25TH

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Support your local library & its programs!

Hardcover & Paperback Books,

Magazines & Media Materials

Timberglen Branch Library

18505 Midway Road, Dallas

(Midway & Timberglen Roads, North of Frankford)

214-671-1365

Email: timberglenfriends@gmail.com

BOOK SALE AUGUST 25TH

2007-08-13T13:20:00.000-05:00

Don't miss your opportunity to support the Timberglen Branch of the Dallas Public Library!

The Friends of Timberglen are hosting their first ever book sale!

Saturday August 25th from 9 to 3 pm

Classroom of the Library

18505 Midway Road

(corner of Midway & Timberglen, north of Frankford)

214.671.1365

FRIENDS BOOK SALE AUGUST 25TH!

2007-08-01T17:04:00.000-05:00

TIMBERGLEN FRIENDS BOOK SALE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 9AM-3PM
Classroom at the Timberglen Branch Library

18505 MIDWAY ROAD
DALLAS, TEXAS 75287
214.671.1365

If you have books you want to donate, please email the Timberglen Friends Group at timberglenfriends@gmail.com.

If you want to VOLUNTEER on that date, please also email the Timberglen Friends Group at timberglenfriends@gmail.com or call the library.

Timberglen Friend Wins Volunteer of the Year

2007-05-21T14:50:00.000-05:00

Our own Ken Grigg won the A.C. Greene Award for the 2007 volunteer of the year for the Dallas Public Library.

His award was presented at the Friends of Dallas Public Library annual luncheon on Tuesday, May 8th at the Central Library surrounded by the Friends of Dallas Public Library, Library Administration and staff, Friends Group members, volunteers and special guests.

Please congratulate our friend Ken when you see him as this is a wonderful honor.

Here is the official announcement from the Friends of the Dallas Public Library.

Ken Grigg, an ultimate volunteer at The Timberglen Branch is the 2007 A. C. Greene award winner. Ken logged over 110 volunteer hours in a very short five week period to help insure that Timberglen would open on time. Ken took the volunteers under his wing and trained them and worked with each of them is such a way that a true bond was formed between the volunteers and staff. Ken continues to volunteer day after day and be a real champion for our new Timberglen Branch.

Next Meeting!

2007-05-21T14:47:00.000-05:00

The next meeting of the Timberglen Branch Library Friends will be Saturday, June 9th at 10:30 a.m. in the classroom.
If you would like to join the Friends, please email the group at timberglenfriends@gmail.com or call the branch at 214-671-1365.

Be A Friend to Timberglen!

2007-05-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

What Do Friends Do?
A Friends of the Library group is a coordinated group of people who are interested in supporting, extending and promoting the Library’s services and strengthening the library’s links with the community.

The Timberglen Library Friends is an organization which promotes the well being and enhances the excellence of the Timberglen Branch. Friends have the opportunity to volunteer their time and talents for a variety of projects. Funds raised by the Timberglen Friends are used to provide extra resources and services beyond the scope or reach of the library budget.

Membership Levels
Individual: $15
Family: $25
Corporate: $50
Donation: Your donation

TIMBERGLEN BRANCH...Located in far northwest Dallas on Midway Road just south of the George Bush Turnpike, the Timberglen Branch is one of the newest editions to the Dallas Public Library System. The building is over 18,000 square feet and is located next to the Timberglen Recreation Center and features many energy saving qualities. The kinetic sculpture On The Wind located in front of the building was designed by David B. Hickman especially for the library. Visually, the work has imagery relative to the library in the form of two open books merging with CD’s. The work also provides a shaded area for quiet reflection or reading. The sculpture acknowledges the green building concept by using wind power to provide the circular movement as well as the presentation of key works to reinforce the ideas of learning and conservation.

PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
The library will feature preschool story times on Mondays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. There are 2 computers for very young children and 3 computers for elementary school age children with internet services including connectivity to Dallas Public Library’s DASH (Dallas After-School Homework Help) e-tutoring program. There is a separate Teen Center complete with 4 computers for young adults. For adults, the branch has 16 computers (4 with the Winway Resume Program) all with 55 minute internet access, a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Collection, and programs such as a book discussion group the last Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. (beginning in April).

Please make check payable to the Timberglen Branch Friends and mail or bring to: 18505 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75287.
All membership contributions are tax-deductible.
If your company has a matching gift program, please send us the appropriate form so that we can double your donation.

Please join the Timberglen Branch Library Friends and help be a catalyst for our library to do great things in our community!

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. ~Anonymous

Branch Alliance Meeting

2007-04-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

The Timberglen Friends group was represented at the Branch Alliance meeting downtown at the Central Library on Saturday, March 31st.

We have the information necessary to move forward with establishing the EIN and 501(c)3 so we will be discussing this at the next meeting. As you know, we have members with the experience to help us with this paperwork.

Timberglen Branch Library Friends

2007-03-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

The inaugural meeting of the Timberglen Branch Library Friends Group was held on Saturday, March 24th in the classroom of the library. It was a well attended meeting and we are moving ahead with our plans to create a viable Friends group and Friends Board!

Meetings will be held every second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the classroom. We welcome members to attend and to contact us at the library to inquire how to join the Timberglen Branch Library Friends.

Timberglen Branch
Dallas Public Library
214.671.1365
Staff Liaison: Denise Lyons, Assistant Manager
denise.lyons@dallaslibrary.org