The West Garland Library opened October 25 at 3921 W. Walnut St., replacing the outdated Walnut Creek Branch with nearly double the space in a colorful, light-filled building featuring vibrant glass and high windows.
Funded by the 2019 Build Garland bond, the 18,700-square-foot facility shares Hollabaugh Park with a recreation center — the city’s only site combining both types of facilities. Library Director Karen Archibald called it “a space built with purpose, vision and deep pride in what this community can become when we invest in learning, in imagination and in one another.”
She added the pairing will allow “truly community-driven programs that support learning, wellness, creativity and connection for all ages,” opening “fresh opportunities for residents to grow, play and thrive. All in one place.”
Amenities include dedicated children’s play and reading areas, teen spaces for study, gaming, and socializing, adult quiet zones and tech workspaces, plus public Wi-Fi, upgraded computers, charging stations, and audio-visual equipment.
The Makerspace area is equipped with items that creatives can use free of charge, such as circular knitting machines, a 3-D printer, sewing machines, and more.
Outdoor green spaces, a covered patio with tables and chairs, and a connecting plaza link to the recreation center.
Collections feature new titles alongside favorites, including donations from the Vietnamese American Association.
A steady stream of visitors toured the new library on Saturday to check out the new facilities and enjoy the opening day events, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and refreshments at 10 a.m. Performances by the Tu Van Lion Dance Troupe and the Ms. Asia America International Pageant Princesses entertained the crowds. Library workers demonstrated how to use the equipment in the Makerspace area, and instructor Erin Thomas taught guests how to play American Mahjong.
Special activities for kids included face painting, balloon artists, music and movement storytime, and a scavenger hunt.
The $14.2 million West Garland Library is the second new library space to open recently in the city. In July, the 60,912-square-foot Garland Central Library reopened after an $18 million renovation, as reported by The Dallas Express.
In neighboring Richardson, just west of Garland, a massive $34.1 million public library renovation currently underway is anticipated to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. The building was gutted to the exterior walls, so that all new steel girders and structural supports and plumbing, mechanical, and electrical equipment could be installed. Once construction is completed, the library’s footprint will have increased from its previous 71,583 square feet to 83,576 square feet.
In nearby Dallas, however, public libraries are closing. Just last month, the Skillman Southwestern Library shuttered its doors, and several other Dallas libraries could face a similar fate. In an update published in early October, the Dallas Public Library stated that it is developing a “regional model that will concentrate services and extend hours at geographically dispersed locations around the City while closing and/or reducing hours at the remaining branches.”
“The Library is not funded at a level to provide impactful, meaningful service at 28 locations and 8 floors at the Central Library,” the statement read. “A regional model will allow for deeper service in the community because the budget and staffing will not have to be stretched to operate as many service points. No branches have been identified for closure at this time. Many data points and other criteria are being considered.”
Some have concluded that Dallas’ library budget shortfall is connected to increased spending on public safety under Proposition U, passed by voters last year. However, Proposition U only requires that new revenue above the previous year’s budget be directed toward police staffing and pensions — it does not reduce existing city funding for other services such as libraries.