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Dallas Public Library outlines Smart Summer learning program; staff say it is privately funded and serves thousands

3726886 · June 9, 2025
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Summary

Library staff told the Quality of Life Arts and Culture Committee on June 9 that Smart Summer, the library’s summer learning program, runs May 31–Aug. 9, is funded by Friends of the Dallas Public Library and partners, and recorded about 9,000 registrations, nearly 42,000 program attendees and nearly 16,000 free meals last year.

Heather Lowe, interim library director, and Melissa Deese, interim assistant director, briefed the Quality of Life Arts and Culture Committee on June 9 about Smart Summer, the Dallas Public Library’s annual summer learning program.

Melissa Deese said Smart Summer runs May 31 through Aug. 9 and “is completely privately funded,” noting that the Friends of the Dallas Public Library raise funds each year and that the library attracts regular corporate and nonprofit sponsors. She said the program uses the SMART acronym—science, math, art, reading and technology—and that the library shifted from a summer-reading model to a broader summer-learning model to address declines in multiple academic areas during the summer.

Deese provided participation figures…

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