403 7th Street, SE photo by J
“Dear PoPville,
I’m writing about a challenge the Capitol Hill community is facing. This summer the Southeast Branch of the DC Library system will be closing for 2+ years for renovations.
At this time, DCPL hasn’t announced the availability of any interim services for our community.
In the past, when other libraries have closed for similar renovations, DCPL has set up temporary facilities to ensure the community still has access to all the great things the library has to offer. The closest library is nearly a mile away, which may not be accessible for families, mobility-limited residents, those without flexible work schedules or reliable transportation.
My understanding is that DCPL has not included funds in the project budget to cover services, as they have done for other libraries in the past. However, the DC Council will be holding public hearings this month and next month for the FY 2024 budget. I’m encouraging the community to reach out to the Council, their Ward member, the Mayor’s office and DCPL to ask them to appropriate funds for interim services for Southeast.“