Library

The Mount Pleasant Library will close For Renovations on March 27

By Prince Of Petworth


Rendering from DC Public Library

DC Library:

“The Mount Pleasant Library will close on March 27, at 5:30 pm, for renovation and expansion. The library will be closed for approximately 17 months. An Interim Library will open on April 19 at 3164 Mount Pleasant St., NW, one-tenth of a mile from the Mount Pleasant Library. Until the Interim opens, please visit the Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Library materials may be returned to any DC Public Library location.

View photos and site designs of Mount Pleasant Library. The DC Public Library is seeking request for proposals for construction services for the new Mt. Pleasant Library.”

Mt. Pleasant Library Rendering

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mt. P Listserv:

“On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, DC Public Library held the second community meeting since showing the public preliminary design plans on March 26, 2009 for an expansion to the rear of the current Mount Pleasant Library building. There were more than forty people in attendance.

Although the public was expecting to discuss at least four design schemes, DCPL showed the already discussed plan to renovate within the existing walls and a plan they are calling Scheme F. DCPL staff concluded that the renovation plan would just not suit their “building program” so in essence the audience was given one choice, Scheme F — there was no compromise on this.

The architect, Henry Myerberg and Associates, presented Scheme F using a slideshow of images depicting the floor layouts and only a couple slides showing the real-world renditions of the expansion. You can find these here >> http://tinyurl.com/dcpl-mtpl-june3-plans

The full-expansion would increase the size of the library more than 4,500 square feet and extend back from the current building to the library property line. This would put a three-story expansion less than twenty feet from the apartment buildings adjacent and behind the library.

Community comments ranged the spectrum. Some audience members gave the new plans enthusiastic support despite seeing these details for the very first time. Others were visibly frustrated and upset, especially about not being given much choice and the lack of meaningful discussion around fire safety concerns.

So what do you think of the plans? You can also send feedback to The District Dynamos (who sent the original email) at
[email protected]

New and Renovated Library Renderings

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader sent this renderings from a few libraries around town. I’m sorry there are so small but that was the largest size I could get. Above is what the Petworth Library is proposed to look like after extensive renovations. The project is slated to be completed in Fall 2009, though that seems highly ambitious. The libraries below are supposed to be open to the public by Spring 2010. Which one do you like best?

Here is what Shaw’s is supposed to look like:

Anacostia’s:

Tenleytown:

and Benning:

Friends of Petworth Library Meet by Christopher

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Phillip Waller

The Petworth chapter of the Friends of the Library had it’s second meeting this past Monday night. Among the things discussed were ways to raise money, secure members and resources, and work with the libraries wish list and needs. The meeting had a nice turnout, with 10+ people all full of ideas and ready to help out where needed.

The library is such a cornerstone of the community, always busy with patrons both young and old, so this will be a very important venture for us all! The next meeting will be Monday, March 930th at 6:30 at the library. We will be electing officers (Pres, VP, Sec/Treasurer), working on publicity and getting word out to the community, and a few initial fund raisers. We will have forms available there for any of you to become members of the group, or you can email me directly ([email protected]) for the word document/pdf version.

We look forward to a big group so mark your calendars and come support your local library :)

DC’s Library Hours About To Get Drastically Cut

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“Friends –

At the Board of Library Trustees meeting Wednesday night, July 23,
2008, Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper presented a grim picture of the
FY2009 Library Budget and staffing plan. While the Library Budget
will go up slightly (by $16,000), that budget includes $5.6 million
in earmarked enhancements and the elimination of 74 library
positions. This is a 14% reduction in the staffing for DC Public
Libraries. The DC Public Library needs $2 million by October 1, 2008
or the Library will be forced to drastically cut the hours of
operation of all our libraries.  Continues after the jump.  (more…)

A Historic Village – with an Equally Historic Library by Tina

By Prince Of Petworth

What better way to experience the history of our wonderful neighborhood in a single afternoon than a stroll along the Mt. Pleasant Heritage Trail, huh? Well, since it was about ten million degrees out on Saturday, I’m going to have to complete the second half of the trail on another day, but allow me to welcome you to the first of what will be a multi-part post on the stops along the way.

Before I went along my merry way, I picked up a trail booklet at Pfieffer’s Hardware. You can find out where else to get one, or download it from the web here. I spent a little time reading through and learned quite a bit of interesting information about good old Mt. P. Did you know that Mt. Pleasant originally extended as far east as 7th Street? Me neither! It wasn’t until 1903, about 40 years after Mt. Pleasant came to be, that electric street cars began running on Mt. Pleasant Street, businesses started sprouting up, developers started building houses and apartment buildings and Mt. Pleasant began to morph into the neighborhood I know and love today.

Moving along…The trail starts at 16th and Mt. Pleasant Streets and runs north along 16th to Newton, then west on Newton and down 19th Street all the way to Adams Mill Road, back east on Park Road and south on Mt. Pleasant Street, back to where you started from, all with 17 stops along the way. I had originally envisioned this as a 17 part series with a post about each stop, but as I made my way along I realized that might not be too interesting. Who knows if I’ll be able to hold your attention better this way – but I’ve decided to tackle this 3-4 stops at a time and highlight one or two of my choosing. So, here we go… Post continues after the jump with more photos. (more…)

Sneak Peek: “Library of Congress Experience”

By Prince Of Petworth


I had the opportunity today to check out the new Library of Congress Experience. And I must say, it was pretty damn cool and interactive. The press release says: “Beginning on April 12, 2008, the Library of Congress will welcome visitors to an exciting and innovative Experience in its breathtaking Thomas Jefferson Building (Ed. note: The Thomas Jefferson building is located at 10 First Street, SE and at times it did take my breath away.) Four main features and exhibitions define the Library’s new Experience: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building, Exploring the Early Americas, Creating the United States and Thomas Jefferson’s Library.”

Personally, I though Thomas Jefferson’s Library was by far the coolest. The picture above is part of his Library. There are 6,487 volumes divided between History, Philosophy and Fine Arts. I spoke with the Chief of Rare Book and Special Collections, Mark Dimunation, who explained that in 1851 there was a fire that burned 2/3 of Jefferson’s Library. The surviving third are located in this exhibit. Additionally, the 2/3 that burned have been replaced with originals when possible. Dimunation explained that the original Jefferson books are distinguished by a green ribbon. It is also interesting to note that this collection is active and can be accessed by researchers. But what is really cool about this exhibit is the interactive feature. You can see a computer screen in the above photo (lots more photos after the jump) and at the computer you can pick any book in the collection and “turn” the pages and have foreign volumes translated. It is super cool.

Sneak Peek continues after the jump with lots more photos. (more…)

Have Any Suggestions For New Programming At The Library

By Prince Of Petworth

I recieved the following email:

“My name is Shannon Lee and I am the new adult reference librarian for Petworth. Thank you for your post on the Petworth Public Library back in August of last year.

Although the library received such a generous review from you and your readers, there is much more we could do to serve the local community.

I will be putting together programs for the library and would very much like your input on potential areas to explore. If you have any ideas on programming, materials or displays you or your readers would like to see in the branch, please let me know.”

My original post on the library can be found here. So what would you like to see. I’d love to see some displays and materials on the history of Petworth, Georgia Ave. and the nearby neighborhoods. You?

A Diamond in our Midst: The Petworth Library

By Prince Of Petworth

Thank you Lisa for asking about the Petworth Library. I had been meaning to check it out for months. I have to tell you, my mind was blown. It was awesome! I got my library card today and it took all of five minutes. This is the first library card I have had in since I as 17. First of all the people who work there are absolutely fantastic. Super nice and welcoming. There is Wifi throughout the library and a number of computers for use as well. Otherwise it is a traditional library with a children’s, adult’s, reference, audio and dvd sections. And let me tell you about the dvd selection it was quite eclectic. I ended up taking out season three of the Wire (which is absolutely badass by the by). The dvds ranged from Family Guy to Alfred Hitchcock to the Simpsons to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to Bird Flu How Safe are We to Six Feet Under. Totally blew my mind. I am so embarassed that I am just discovering this gem now. The only flaw was that it was a bit spartan and they can certainly use your book donations if you have any to spare (I will remind you again next week.). But the books they did have were super, they even had the Eliot Pearlman book that I’ve been looking forward to reading. So the next time you have five minutes, head down to the library on Georgia and Upshur, get a library card and enjoy!