Dallas Public Library has 30 branches all over the city! Amazing, right?! But our favorite? None of them. In our humble opinion, Lewisville Branch Library — also known as Lewisville Public Library (LPL) — is the best in the entire metroplex! With the latest books, phenomenal programming, and access to high-tech gear like laser cutters and 3D printers, this library has everything!
Here’s What’s Up Dallas!
Table of Contents:
- What Makes the Lewisville Branch Library Special?
- Fantastic Library Ingredients
- Where Lewisville Branch Library Shines!
- Bonus: Digital Catalogue and Texshare
- Summary
What Makes the Lewisville Branch Library Special?
Okay, no offense to libraries (they’re awesome), but when blogging about things to do in DFW, we try to aim a little higher than public resource. However, Lewisville Branch Library is 1000% blog-worthy! Why? Because it’s available to all Texas residents!
Most libraries are like schools — you can only go to the ones corresponding to your district. If you’re not zoned for the library you want, prepare to pay as much as $50 a year to access it.
But Lewisville Public Library is built different!
They don’t deny a library card to people who live 15 minutes away but in the ‘wrong’ direction (looking at you, Frisco Library!), stop you from booking meeting rooms even after paying a $40 annual non-resident fee (Carrollton Library, explain yourself!), or force you to loan your card to a friend just because they moved 20 minutes up the road (Dear hometown library, we are disappointed!).
No, unlike these other jokers, Lewisville Public Library really puts the public in public resource! If you live in Texas, you can get this library card for free.
All jokes aside, it takes more than access to make a library stand out, which begs the question: what makes a fantastic library?
Fantastic Library Ingredients
A fantastic library…
📚 Offers a huge selection of books, audiobooks, and digital resources.
📖 Has cozy, inviting spaces for reading, studying, and gathering.
🎉 Hosts engaging events, workshops, and talks.
🖥️ Provides free Wi-Fi, computer access, and cutting-edge tech.
✍️ Promotes literacy for children and adults alike.
🌟 And most importantly — goes above and beyond!
Note that last bullet point, because that’s really the X factor. You want a library that’s extra!
Take Austin Public Library — one of our favorites. They have a board game rental shelf, a rooftop garden with life-sized chess, and even a studio for recording podcasts and YouTube videos!
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Rest assured, DFW has libraries that go the extra mile too! Frisco pulled a Perot Museum by putting a dinosaur skeleton in their lobby. And Lewisville? They built an echo room in the children’s area — pure, chaotic fun.
Say what you will, but that’s the energy we’re looking for! These little, nonsense touches delight us and show that a library is serious about pleasing its patrons.
Where Lewisville Branch Library Shines!
There are so many things about this library we love, but in the name of being concise, we’ll condense it to just three things: the programming, the makerspace and the book selection! Also their study rooms that we regularly reserve and use for free, but maybe that’s for another post.
Classes, Programs and Event Calendar
Remember how we said Lewisville Public Library has phenomenal programming? We’re not exaggerating.
We have fond memories of Double Dutch workshops, seminars on hydroponics, and huge book sales where we snagged armfuls of retired library books for just $5 a bag (yes, you read that right)! And when it comes to the number of crafts we’ve done at Lewisville Public Library, there are too many to count!
We’ve learned how to ice cookies from a professional baker, make our own terrariums, decorate book bags using fabric paint and do countless other random activities! And who could forget the library’s huge summer bash, complete with In-N-Out food trucks serving up free burgers and fries? Okay, that one wasn’t a craft — but it was definitely a lot of fun!
These are only a few of the many memorable experiences at Lewisville Public Library, but that describes most of the the events — memorable.
That’s true for all the regular, recurring events too! A great library isn’t just about books — it’s about bringing the community together. Lewisville Public Library’s calendar is always filled with workshops, classes, and events for all ages.
Take the summer reading program, for example. One of us has an entire collection of branded, color-changing thermal pencils, courtesy of Lewisville Public Library and a summer spent binging Gordon Korman books and the entire Warriors series by Erin Hunter. You don’t forget this stuff.
Lewisville Public Library has it all, including:
👶 Weekly (almost daily) story time for little ones.
🖥️ Tech and business workshops for leveling up your skills.
🎨 Crafting and maker sessions for unleashing creativity.
📚 Author talks and book clubs!
✍️GED Classes, Citizenship Classes, ESL Classes and so much more!
Basically, if you’re looking for something fun, educational, or just different, LPL will accommodate. All you have to do is check out their event calendar!
P.S. That summer reading program we mentioned isn’t just for kids (though they go all out for them). Teens can join in too, and adults even have their own reading program, with much less guaranteed but much more lucrative gift card prizes!
The Hive Makerspace & Other Resources
Now, this is another area where LPL gets next level. They have a makerspace called The Hive, and it’s exactly what it sounds like — a buzzing hub of creativity with high-tech gadgets you usually only see on TikTok.
Here are just a few of their machines!
We’re talking 3D Printers, Laser Cutters, Sewing and Embroidery Machines, a Carvey CNC Milling Machine, a Sublimation Printer and more! The best part? You can use this stuff for FREE after a quick training session. Whether you’re a hobbyist or just someone who wants to play with cool tech, The Hive is a game-changer. And there are regularly held events in the Hive using the equipment!
One of us recently used the Sublimation Printer to design earrings for a friend (came out great!), and the Helix Laser Cutter to decorate a box to put the earrings in (came out even better!). And the only cost was materials! So fantastic!
Pro-Tip: If you sign up for an event, even the materials are free! I once made a book lamp in The Hive and everything was provided. And guess what? I still use that lamp almost every night to this day!
Lucky Day Books & More!
And the physical book collection? It’s fantastic! The books are well-kept, and if a title is relatively popular, LPL will have multiple copies. Plus, sequels often hit the New Reads shelf around the time they’re released. This library does an excellent job of keeping up with new books!
But what about the super popular books that are always rented out, you know, the ones where the book is waitlisted for months? Can LPL help you there too? Yes, because Lewisville’s Lucky Day Books section lets you skip the line, provided you’re lucky enough to spot the book you want. It’s first come, first served! So if you see it, it’s your lucky day!
We legit find some of our favorite books on this shelf. Just the other day, there was Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintura. So good and very binge-worthy!
And if that’s not enough, LPL has even more perks, including Interlibrary loans (because sometimes, one library’s selection isn’t enough), movies for checkout (yep, they have those too) and printing, faxing, and scanning (because adulting is hard).
Honestly, Lewisville Public Library just gets it!
P.S. Did we mention LPL doesn’t charge late fees? Like we said, this library is the best!
Digital Catalogue and Texshare
Not in the mood to leave the house? Same. Luckily, LPL’s digital collection means you don’t have to. Borrow books, audiobooks, and magazines instantly—no late fees, no waiting, no hauling around a bag of books like you’re training for a weightlifting competition. We routinely rent books with iCloud Library, no fuss, no delay. One second, we’re thinking about a specific book; the next, it’s downloaded and ready to devour.
Do you get what we’re saying? Let us say it louder. Even if you have zero plans of visiting Lewisville Branch Library outside of setting up your card, you can still take advantage of their massive collection of books through their huge digital catalogue. You’re welcome!
And if you’re feeling productive, there are also free research and learning tools. You can stay up to date with the latest news, dig into academic resources, or just impress your friends with random facts. However you want to take advantage of the digital resources, they’re there for you to use!
Fun Fact: You might be able to access even more library catalogues! Did you know you can purchase a TexShare card to get access to dozens of other libraries across Texas, including J. Erik Jonsson Central which has a Fiber Arts Workroom? The more you know . . . You’ll never run out of things to read or do! Or, you can just get a Lewisville Public Library card, which might be easier and just as good!
Summary
Unlike most libraries that gatekeep access based on where you live, Lewisville Public Library welcomes all Texas residents with open arms. Not only does LPL have a killer book selection, it has some of the best programming we’ve ever seen and a fantastic makerspace with high-tech equipment that you can reserve and use for free!
Don’t just take advantage of Lewisville Library’s wonderful Summer Reading Program. Take advantage of the entire event calendar which is packed with everything from cookie decorating to citizenship classes. There’s always something happening, especially at The Hive Makerspace — where you can design your own clothing, laser-cut custom items, or in general, make something new (for free if you snag an event spot!). Also take advantage of the study rooms that, once again, you can reserve and use for free!
With a digital library for on-the-go reading and a Lucky Day shelf that lets you skip the waitlist, LPL makes sure you never leave empty-handed. Long story short? The Lewisville Branch Library is awesome and you should get yourself a card!
Also, if you like reading (which is a safe guess if you’ve read to this point), you should check out our post on book festivals in Texas! And as always, if you’re looking for more things to do in Dallas and things to do in DFW, subscribe to our newsletter where we share everything! Until next time!
