The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas turns 40 years old next week, so it's celebrating the library's 'birth' year, 1982.
"It's the first big event we've been able to do in almost three years, it seems like, so we're very excited," said Kristen Calvert, Central District manager.
The 40th Birthday Extravaganza will be Saturday, April 9th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Central Library. Then at 6 p.m., the library hosts an '80s Dance Party.
The afternoon event will include an '80s craft for kids and a special podcast recording session in the library's Story Center.
"In the Story Center, we have podcasting equipment and we are going to create an episode of our podcast where people can share their memories of the Central Library," Calvert said. "We're going to put that together and put it online through our Personal Librarian podcast".
You can also explore modern mixtapes - or make some legwarmers in the library's Fiber Arts Workroom.
The '80s Dance Party will include retro snacks, breakdancing and beverages provided by Pegasus City Brewery.
"The brewery is also hosting an after party. So if you're already downtown and want to stay and hang out downtown, they've hired an 80s band and they're going to have live music," Calvert said. "So it's going to be good time downtown this weekend".
The Central Library opened on April 14, 1982. It's eight floors house a range of different subjects. The library is also home to an original broadside of the Declaration of Independence, Shakespeare's First Folio, and fine art pieces by Bertoia, Hepworth and Rauschenberg.
"The heart of the library is really community," Calvert said. "We strive to be a place to bring people together for all different reasons. We try to find where there's community need and find ways to meet those needs".
The birthday bash is also the unofficial relaunch of the library's Creative Spaces, three makerspaces opened in 2019.
All events are sponsored by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library.
40th Birthday Extravaganza, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; The '80s Dance Party, 6-8 p.m. Saturday at J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.