New Hampton-Illinois Branch Library will open Aug. 5 Replacement library will be connected to the Jimmie Tyler Brashear ES
DALLAS, July 24, 2006 – The city’s newest replacement branch library will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at 2919 S. Hampton Road. The 24,000 square-foot branch will be co-located with the Jimmie Tyler Brashear Elementary School. Brashear was the Dallas Independent School District’s first African-American Administrator, and is considered a pioneer in the field of early childhood education. “This expanded facility will allow us to provide more services and programs to the community,” said Director of Libraries Laurie Evans. “We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from the community, and look forward to our partnership with the Dallas Independent School District.” The new branch will also be the first library in Dallas to share an auditorium and Black Box Theater, a type of minimal performance space equipped with overhead lighting and movable seating. Four months out of the year, the 120-seat theater will be used by the Office of Cultural Affairs to present programs and productions. The rest of the year, the library will use the theater for community and library events and programs. The new facility will have twice as much space as the original Hampton-Illinois Branch, built in 1964 at 2210 W. Illinois Ave. The city has not yet determined what they’ll do with the old building, which was the last of four libraries built under the 1962 municipal bond program. The new library will feature wireless internet access, curbside book/video drops, two classrooms, a main reading room, express checkout, more computer workstations, two conference/group study rooms and a children’s story time area. Tours of the library will be provided after the ceremony. Dallas City Councilman Ed Oakley, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia, Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa, City Manager Mary Suhm and Director of Libraries Laurie Evans will be among the speakers at the library opening.
