Story by Jennie Trejo. Photos provided by Friends of the Dallas Public Library.
This year marks a major milestone for one of Dallas’ most enduring advocates for education and equity: the 75th anniversary of Friends of the Dallas Public Library (FODPL).
Since its founding in 1950, the nonprofit has served as both a fundraising partner and a passionate advocate for the city’s library system. Over the decades, FODPL has raised and donated more than $60 million to support a wide range of library services—from early childhood programs to adult literacy and beloved summer reading initiatives.
But for Executive Director Mary Wilonsky, the heart of the organization’s mission lies in its advocacy. “Even though we serve as a philanthropic entity, the most important work has been our advocacy,” she said. “That includes library bond initiatives and fighting every year for the library’s share of taxpayer dollars. It’s a city department, and it’s continuously fighting for those very precious city resources.”
That commitment has led to tangible improvements. “Several years ago, libraries weren’t even open 40 hours a week,” Wilonsky explains. “Through our efforts, we got them back to six and seven days a week. After COVID, that progress collapsed—but now, every branch is open six days, and Vickery is open seven.”
Operating on an annual budget of $40 million, the Dallas Public Library system spans 29 branches, including the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, and is staffed by nearly 450 dedicated professionals. The needs it meets are vast and often underappreciated.
“Our library has something for everybody from birth to death,” Wilonsky says. “The programming spans every age, every demographic. It’s hard to communicate all of that, so we focus on sharing impact stories–because different things resonate with different people.”
This year’s Literary Lions Luncheon served as both a celebration of the organization’s 75th anniversary and a powerful reminder of the work still ahead. The event was co-chaired by FODPL board members Anne Besser and Nicole Paquette, and featured National Book Award finalist Ben Fountain as the keynote speaker.
Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit all 29 branch libraries, the central library, and the nearly 450 staff members who keep the system running each day. Funds raised will also support educational programming aimed at elevating literacy and learning across the Dallas community.
Fountain, a longtime Dallas resident, spoke passionately about the role libraries play not only in our economy, but in our cultural and emotional lives.
“Public libraries are not a luxury. They are a necessity,” he says. “They’re drivers of workplace skills and clearinghouses for information, especially for people who don’t have internet or computers at home. But beyond that, I think they’re essential for our souls.”
Fountain also reflected on the deep artistic community that has grown in Dallas– and the way libraries help nourish it.
“If you are an artist in Dallas, a working artist, you really mean it. It must be a powerful thing in you,” he said. “The literary community in Dallas is stronger than ever… Writers and artists need to help each other and be engaged with one another’s work. It’s great for the head, heart, and soul,” Fountain explains.
Recently nominated as Texan of the Year by The Dallas Morning News, Fountain closed with a call to action that echoed FODPL’s mission: get a card, visit a branch, donate, advocate. Because for 75 years, Friends of the Dallas Public Library has reminded us that access to knowledge is not a given– it’s something we fight for.
Sign up with your email address to receive good stories, events, and volunteer opportunities in your inbox.
