Page 25 - FY 2025 Adopted Operating Budget and Business Plan

Business Plan Return to Table of Contents

• The Arlington Public Library system has maintained membership in the Tarrant County Adult Education Literacy Consortium
(TCAELC) for several years. In FY 2024, APL received a $590,900 grant from Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County to
fully fund a wide range of adult education opportunities such as High School Equivalency, English as a Second Language
(ESL), Adult Basic Education, and Citizenship classes. In addition to the existing adult education services, there was a
focus in FY 2024 on digital literacy and resources so that students could learn and improve their skills to help them connect
to new opportunities.

• The Downtown Library, in partnership with the Department of State, continues to provide a service
to accept new passport applications for adults and children. The Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation
funded a second $10,000 annual scholarship program for students to pay for the application,
photos, and any associated fees for their first passport offered in FY 2024. The program is
dedicated to promoting fairness in travel by eliminating the initial hurdle for students eager to
explore other cultures. The Library Passport Scholarship program was awarded the 2024 Cultural
Diversity Award from the National League of Cities, recognizing excellence and originality in
fostering cultural diversity and reinforcing our commitment to welcoming and valuing all community members. The Library
couldn’t have achieved this without this continued partnership.
Library Department is present outside of the confines of the library locations and the Library team is out and about connecting
with members of our community at various virtual and in-person outreach programs and events. Some of these community
connections are the different schools, both AISD and private, various faith-based organizations, Tarrant County College, UTA,
Police Department, Water Department, senior living residents, and apartment complexes, to name a few.

The Library services offered are many and varied, and we hope that we have whatever it is you are looking for, from books,
magazines, eBooks, downloadable audio books, lendable technology, and streaming videos to programs, spaces, and
experiences for people of all ages and stages of life. Each of the library locations offers a welcoming environment for the entire
community. We hope you will explore our branches and the Downtown Library and discover all the free resources you can use
with your library card.
The Arlington Public Library is accredited through the Texas State Library and Archive Commission and is a certified member
of ProLiteracy Worldwide and the Tarrant Literacy Coalition for Adult Education.

The Arlington Municipal Court of Record serves the important functions of preserving public safety, protecting quality of
life, and deterring future criminal behavior. The Municipal Court is a state trial court that operates at the municipal level of
government. The Court’s jurisdiction includes Class C misdemeanors, city ordinances, and civil violations that occur in the City
of Arlington. The Arlington Municipal Court departmental units are comprised of the following divisions:
Administration, Data Entry, Dockets, Records, Warrants, Customer Service, Mailroom, and
Collections. Municipal court clerks have the authority to perform ministerial and administrative
duties. These duties include processing the clerical work of the court, administering daily
operations, maintaining court records and dockets, and processing fine payments and bonds.

More people come into contact with municipal courts than with all other Texas courts combined.
As such, the Arlington Municipal Court implements best practices in court management and
performance assessment in processes and procedures. Court personnel serve an important role in
promoting procedural justice, public confidence, integrity, and impartiality of the justice system in Arlington.

FY 2025 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 16 City of Arlington, Texas