Fort Worth Public Library — Downtown Express
🏢 Fort Worth Public Library · Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth Public Library — Downtown Express
Fort Worth's downtown library outpost — open since March 2024 inside City Hall — answers the call of residents, workers, and visitors who lost their Central Library when it closed in 2023, offering book checkout, a full catalog kiosk, and free Wi-Fi steps from Sundance Square.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–5pm (lunch break 1–2pm) |
| Tuesday | 8am–5pm (lunch break 1–2pm) |
| Wednesday | 8am–5pm (lunch break 1–2pm) |
| Thursday | 8am–5pm (lunch break 1–2pm) |
| Friday | 8am–5pm (lunch break 1–2pm) |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 200 Texas Street (City Hall, 1st Floor), Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 392-7715
Website: fortworthtexas.gov
Plus Code: 8644PMX9+PP (Fort Worth, TX)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Fort Worth Public Library — Downtown Express
When Fort Worth sold its longtime Central Library at 500 W. 3rd Street in 2023 to fund a purpose-built replacement, downtown went without a library for nearly a year. District 9 Councilmember Elizabeth Beck championed an interim solution: a compact branch on the first floor of City Hall at 200 Texas Street, which opened with a community celebration on March 29, 2024. Library Director Midori Clark designed the space to serve those who live, work, and visit downtown while the city develops a permanent full-service facility. The branch carries a curated collection of more than 800 items, a digital catalog kiosk for placing holds on any of the 18-branch system's 2 million-item collection, self-checkout technology, and outdoor book drops. The Fort Worth Public Library system — founded in 1901 with Andrew Carnegie's $50,000 gift — operates 18 branches across Tarrant County and circulates roughly 4 million items per year.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened March 29, 2024 inside Fort Worth City Hall at 200 Texas Street — the library's answer to downtown losing its Central Library (500 W. 3rd St.) in 2023
- Curated collection of 800+ items plus a digital kiosk giving access to the full 2-million-item, 18-branch Fort Worth Public Library catalog
- Convenient City Hall location — steps from Sundance Square, the Tarrant County Courthouse, and major downtown employers — open Mon–Fri 8am to 5pm
- Self-checkout technology and outdoor book drops so patrons can return materials without staff assistance
- Fort Worth Public Library cardholders access Libby eBooks, Ancestry, LinkedIn Learning, TexShare Databases, and 100+ more digital resources from any device — no branch computers required here
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Fort Worth cardholders enjoy a rich digital library from any device — ideal for Downtown Express patrons who need resources beyond the branch's physical collection:
📚 Services
- Book checkout and returns (curated collection of 800+ items)
- Digital catalog kiosk to search and place holds across the entire 18-branch Fort Worth Public Library system
- Self-checkout station
- Outdoor book drops (24-hour returns)
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the City Hall first-floor space
- Library card registration and renewals (cards work at all 18 FWPL branches)
- TexShare Card for borrowing at other participating Texas libraries
- Interlibrary loan requests via the Polaris catalog
🎸 Programs
- Full system programming calendar accessible at all branches — place holds at the Downtown Express kiosk and pick up at your preferred location
- Library cardholders attend programs at any of the 18 branches, including storytimes, STEAM clubs, music classes, and book clubs
- Adults access LinkedIn Learning and Udemy on-demand training free with a card — ideal for the downtown workforce
📍 Nearby Libraries in the DFW Metroplex
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Downtown Express inside City Hall, and is it temporary?
Yes — it is a planned interim branch. Fort Worth sold its former Central Library at 500 W. 3rd Street in 2023 for $18 million to fund a replacement, leaving downtown without a library. District 9 Councilmember Elizabeth Beck championed a stop-gap: a library inside City Hall at 200 Texas Street, which opened March 29, 2024. The branch will remain open until the city completes a permanent downtown facility. Check the Fort Worth Public Library website for updates on the future downtown library project.
What can I do at the Downtown Express that I cannot do at other branches?
The Downtown Express is Fort Worth's most convenient library for the city's central business district — open weekdays 8am–5pm (with a lunch closure 1–2pm), inside City Hall steps from Sundance Square. Its collection is smaller (800+ items) than regional branches, and it does not have public computer terminals or mobile-printing stations. However, its self-checkout kiosk lets you place holds on any of the 18-branch system's 2 million items and pick them up downtown, saving a trip across the city.
How do I get a Fort Worth Public Library card, and does it work at all branches?
You can register for a card in person at any of the 18 Fort Worth Public Library locations — including the Downtown Express — or begin the process online at the Fort Worth Public Library website. Cards are free to Fort Worth residents and give access to the full system's collection, all digital resources (Libby, TexShare databases, LinkedIn Learning, Ancestry, and more), and the TexShare Card program for borrowing from other participating Texas libraries.
What is the history of the Fort Worth Public Library?
The Fort Worth Public Library traces its roots to April 1892, when twenty women gathered at the home of Jennie Scott Scheuber to form the Fort Worth Public Library Association. Andrew Carnegie donated $50,000, and the Carnegie Public Library of Fort Worth opened October 17, 1901, at Ninth and Throckmorton Streets. A Public Works Administration building replaced it in 1938; the current system now operates 18 branches, serves a population of nearly 700,000, and circulates about 4 million items per year. The Downtown Express opened in 2024 as the system's latest branch and its first downtown presence since the 2023 closure of the Central Library.
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