Support

Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper To Retire Later This Year, A Photo Retrospective

I had the great pleasure of touring many of DC’s new and/or renovated libraries with Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper. We visited libraries in Shaw, Georgetown, Tenleytown, Petworth and Mt. Pleasant. Thank you Chief Librarian Cooper. You will be missed.

Ginnie_cooper_georgetown
Georgetown

ginnie_cooper_petworth
Petworth

Ginnie_cooper_shaw
Shaw

Ginnie_cooper_tenleytown
Tenleytown

mt_pleasant_library_ginnie_cooper_and_Dale_Stewart
Mt. Pleasant (with Dale Stewart)

Full press release after the jump

After nearly seven years at the helm of the DC Public Library, today Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper announced plans to retire later this year.

Cooper will remain chief librarian for the next few months until the library board names a successor. During that time, Cooper will oversee the increase in library hours and the initial phase of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library renovation, funding that is included in Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s proposed fiscal year 2014 library budget and pending approval by City Council.

“It is truly an honor to be here at this important time for the library and for the city,” said Cooper. “My departure is bittersweet. While I look forward to what the future will bring, I will miss being a part of a team that works hard every day to provide great library service to residents of the District.”

“Ginnie has had a tremendous impact on the District, and is one of the finest public servants I’ve worked with,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “She has transformed our library system while beautifying our neighborhoods with buildings that will inspire District residents for generations. We will miss her commitment and hardwork.”

“It has been an honor working with the Mayor and other elected officials. I appreciate their leadership and support of the District’s libraries,” said Cooper. “Their commitment to funding the library illustrates how important library service is to District resident’s quality of life.”

Arriving in the District in 2006 with the charge to transform the District’s library system, Cooper has led the renovation or construction of 14 neighborhood libraries and tripled the number of books checked out. In addition, the number of public access computers available increased tenfold from 100 to more than 1,000.

“Several years ago, the Mayor, City Council, library board and concerned citizens laid out a vision for the District’s public libraries,” said John Hill, president of the Board of Library Trustees. “Today, with award-winning new libraries across the city, nationally-recognized library programs and services, and a commitment to improved services and further facility improvements, we are well on our way to realizing this vision. Ginnie and her team are a key reason for this success. It has been my pleasure and that of the library board to work with her the last seven years.”

The library board has organized a search committee to do a national search for a new Chief Librarian.

“I have had the opportunity to work with an extraordinary library board, including board chair John Hill,” added Cooper. “John and his colleagues on the board hired me to transform this library, and have supported and advised me every step of the way.”

Cooper’s library career spans more than 40 years. She began her career as a librarian in Washington County (Minn). She served as library director at a host of public libraries including Alameda County (Ca.), Multnomah County in Portland, Ore, Brooklyn, NY and most recently Washington, D.C.

Recent Stories

575 7th Street, NW Fresh Baguette is on a roll!! [Pun most definitely intended.] After recently opening in Cleveland Park, they’ve already got their next spot mapped out:

photo by airbus777 You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have….

From a press release: “The Sakura Taiko Fest has grown from a small concert first held in a dance studio to a full day of free, family-friendly taiko performances among…

Sweet City Ride

Thanks to Rafael for sending this sweet Rolls. Sweet City Ride is made possible by readers like you!

Calling all bookworms, thrill-seekers, supporters of the arts, and ping-pongers at all skill levels! Sign up for Paddlestar Galactica, the ping-pong tournament supporting 826DC’s youth writing programs.

826DC is a local nonprofit that offers free writing programs, homework help, and publishing opportunities for DC students ages 6-18, in our Columbia Heights writing center and in learning spaces across the city.

Paddlestar Galactica helps keep writing education 100% free and accessible for all of our students! It’s also extremely fun.

This year’s games will be Saturday, April 27th, 1 PM to 4 PM at SPIN DC. It’ll be a chaotic afternoon of ping-pong, costumes, terrible Battlestar Galactica puns, and good cheer. We’d love to have you join us!

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Well-Paid Maids, the only certified living-wage cleaning service in the DMV, has added a new service to its online booking menu: office and building cleanings.

This includes offices, building lobbies, shared amenity spaces and more throughout D.C., Arlington, Alexandria and more.

Unlike so many other cleaning services, you can feel good booking Well-Paid Maids to clean your office or building. Cleaners get paid a starting wage of $24 an hour. Plus, all employees are offered health, dental, vision and life insurance; 24 paid days off per year; 100% employer-paid commuting costs; and more.

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Vakili Band at Pie Shop!

Three band rock n rolll lineup at DC’s Pie Shop! Vakili Band with “if you know, you know” DC rockers, Lot 18, and the many minds and songs of artist Kind of Christine.

“If you love Vakili Band like we

×

Subscribe to our mailing list