ANC2C02 Forum

On Saturday, Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr (above), Chair of the Council Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, held a hearing with Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander to discuss public concerns about the process for involving the public in discussions about four of the District libraries currently being rebuilt. The hearing was held on the weekend to obtain as much community response as possible.

The President of the Board of Trustees for DCPL, Mr John Hill (above, right), and his staff spoke on behalf of DCPL, Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper was not available to attend the hearing. Mr HIll's testified that DCPL was doing its best to work within budget and time lines for getting the libraries rebuilt as DCPL was charged to do by the District government.

Various spokespersons for community groups and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners concerned with these libraries gave testimony, including ANC2C01 Commissioner Alexander M Padro, who gave testimony about the process getting community input about design of the Watha T Daniel Library in his single member district. Alex spoke as the head of the Friends of Watha T Daniel Library and discussed his groups concerns about the library having fencing, prominent signage and a location for a flag pole. Other speakers representing groups concerned about library development were disappointed in the level of community engagement in the decision making process for designing the new libraries in their community Hopes and Dreams meetings. The concerns raised by Robin Diener, of the Library Renaissance Project and Samuel Jordan of the Ward 7 Development Advisory Committee seemed to echo that of the 20 people who testified.

In his testimony, Mr Jordan expressed concern about DCPL not doing due diligence and finding relevant comparables before finalizing library projects.

“I've found and visited the recently opened Orleans Street Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free LIbrary system in Baltimore, Maryland. On land owned by the City of Baltimore, less than $5.0 million was needed to build an approximately 16,000 square foot library replete with community meeting rooms, a technology training center, a quiet room, a teen section, a children's story room in addition to a well-organized and accessible collection of print and electronic informational, literary and educational resources. Even if we were to adjust by 20% the difference in construction costs in the two markets and adjust another 25% in costs, a 20,000 square foot library built under similar conditions by such a gross method of reckoning would cost about $7.5 to $8.0 million dollars at $8.0 million dollars, a 20,000 square [foot] facility would cost roughly $400 per square foot that figure would include the self-cleaning, reversible mink carpet. Comparable costs for commercial construction in Washington, DC are approximately $150 to $210 per square foot.”
— Samuel Jordan, Convener Ward 7 Development Advisory Committee [ read full testimony ]

“Chief Librarian Cooper, who has accomplished so much, seems to be on a kind of campaign to reduce our expectations by talking about incremental change. We have waited so long, let's not falter now. ... I have to mention adult literacy. I can't believe that after all the years of moaning about the low literacy rate in DC, we are to build new libraries for the 21st century without providing enough space, without planning for enough programming to ensure a substantial effort to improve adult literacy. Nothing has greater impact on children's academic outcomes than their parents' education levels.”
— Robin Diener, Library Renaissance Project [ read full testimony ]

Ms Diener's group in conjunction with the DC Library Dynamos has released a survey to solicit community input. Please download and complete the survey and return by fax or mail to:

Shaw Library Survey
c/o Library Renaissance Project
1530 P Street NW, WDC 20005
Fax: (202) 234-5176