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The Clifford Crossing Library will open Aug. 31 at 9336 Clifford St., Fort Worth. (Cecilia Lenzen | Fort Worth Report)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CliffordCrossingLibrary2-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CliffordCrossingLibrary2-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C585&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>After years of anticipation, northwest Fort Worth’s District 7 is slated to get its first library branch: the Clifford Crossing Library will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 31. Named after the shopping center it resides in, the new library branch is located at 9336 Clifford St., next door to an Albertsons and nestled between small businesses. This is the second library branch opened by Fort Worth in a shopping center, following La Gran Biblioteca’s opening in La Gran Plaza more than two years ago. “When it comes to new libraries, it’s a lot easier to get settled in (a building) that’s already established, as opposed to creating a new library from scratch,” library communications specialist Francisco Aguilar said. “The city saw that District 7 was in need of a new library and felt like this was the right opportunity for that.” The district, which includes parts of west and northwest Fort Worth, has been without a library since the city finished redistricting in 2022. When asked why it was selected as the recipient of a new branch, Aguilar said staff had been looking for locations outside of West Loop 820 and the Clifford Crossing space was available and met the library’s needs. City Manager David Cooke is recommending an allocation of $557,046 for the branch’s operation, Aguilar said. Council member Macy Hill, who represents the area, said she’s “thrilled” to finally have a library in her district. “This is a great location,” Hill said. “I feel like it’s accessible, it’s easy access off the highway, and it’s going to be in a shopping center, so easy parking. We’re looking forward to it.” The 5,110-square-foot space will feature a collection of 17,468 items, according to a city news release. Hill said the library came partly in response to demand from her constituents but also as a proactive measure from city staff. She described the new branch as “the missing piece of the puzzle” in her district’s infrastructure. “​​As District 7 continues to grow and expand with new residents coming in, and especially with the downtown library closing, I feel like we need to have locations that can service our communities,” Hill said. Earlier this month, City Council voted to purchase a historic downtown building to repurpose as the downtown library branch after the city’s former Central Library closed in 2023. Aguilar said the Clifford Crossing branch’s location inside the shopping center may help attract new library users. “Anytime we can bring our services and activities and programs closer to the home of the residents, I think that’s a win for us,” Aguilar said. Hill, along with other elected officials and library staff, will host the branch’s grand opening at 10 a.m. Aug. 31. The ribbon cutting will be followed by a day full of family-friendly activities. Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org or @bycecilialenzen. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.