Joaquin Zihuatanejo. Photography by Shelby Tauber.
Friends of the Dallas Public Library is holding its first gala since fall 2019, and a couple of our neighborhood’s literary greats are participating.
Author Jim Schutze, who lives in East Dallas, is among the panelists, along with noir novelist Harry Hunsicker, philanthropist Donna Wilhelm and young adult writer Erin Yun.
Dallas’ first poet laureate, Joaquín Zihuatanejo, is moderating the discussion. Zihuatanejo grew up in our neighborhood and attended Woodrow Wilson High School.
The annual gala has raised nearly $400,000 in support of the Dallas Public Library since 2013. And over the past seven decades, Friends of the Dallas Public Library has donated more than $50 million for library renovations, acquisitions, programs and bookmobiles.
The new budget passed by the Dallas City Council allocates funding for 15 branches to be open more hours, and there are plans to allow the other branches to open six days a week in the next fiscal year.
Appetizers, entrees and dessert will be provided by Gil’s Elegant Catering.
Tickets to the event, which has a “love local” theme this year, cost $150 each and can be purchased here.
The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.
