Library Hosts Second Round of Facilities Master Plan Meetings

By Press Release On Jun 19, 2019 Last updated Jun 19, 2019

For Immediate Release:

June 19, 2019

George Williams

Library Hosts Second Round of Facilities Master Plan Meetings

(Washington, D.C.) – The DC Public Library is developing a Library Facilities Master Plan to help guide the next 10 years of planning for library services across the city.

The Library Facilities Master Plan will:

Analyze how customers currently use libraries and what services might be needed or expanded.
Explore the impact of city growth on how we deliver library services.
Engage the community in conversations to ensure future planning aligns with community needs.
Evaluate the condition of library buildings and help us plan for future maintenance needs.

In late February and early March 2019, the Library gathered input on current and future Library needs from 60 focus group participants, 75 public meeting attendees and 1,286 survey respondents representing 28 zip codes.

Community Meetings

The Library is hosting two community meetings to share results of the work to date and how the plan is taking shape.

Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 p.m. at Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE.
Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. at Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW.

Over the past decade, DC Public Library has invested or allocated a half-billion dollars in renovating and rebuilding the city’s libraries. To date, 19 projects are complete, with five more libraries in the design or construction phase. These new buildings have raised the bar for what D.C. residents expect in library service.

Every measure of use has grown tremendously. Library circulation has increased 250 percent in the past decade. The Library now welcomes nearly 4 million visitors per year.

The way libraries are used can differ by neighborhood. In some locations, meeting rooms are more in demand while public computers or books are the most used service at other locations. As such, there is potential to increase use even more by customizing building programs based on community needs. In addition, as neighborhoods in D.C. have changed and grown over the past several decades, some residents are without easy access to a neighborhood library.

Once complete, the Library Facilities Master Plan will provide a framework to ensure future investments in DC Public Library services are responsive to community needs. The Plan will also help the Library work with elected leaders to determine funding priorities.