How do i remove the headliner console in a 2001 dodge dakota with out breaking it?

There was a time in the good old days when a console just screwed into the top of the vehicle, remove the screws and it would fall down. But those days are about gone; many of the consoles in the auto headliners today are not attached to the metal of the automobile, they are attached to the headliner itself (could be a screw or 2 helping hold it), so the best technique for removing the console is to remove the headliner - unplug the wiring harness and remove the console after you get the headliner out of the vehicle. I think the Dodge Dakota console may be one of these types.

A standard sized truck headliner kit will fit the regular cab Dodge Dakota truck.

Dodge Dakota extended cab headliner installation proceedure.