Press Release: Library to Add Saturday Hours and Open More Locations in May

News Release — DC Public Library

For Immediate Release: April 19, 2021

Media Contact: George Williams, Media Relations Manager

(Washington, D.C.) – Starting May 3rd, the DC Public Library will open more libraries and add Saturday hours at its open locations. On May 6, the new Southwest Library in Ward 6 will open.

The Deanwood and Southeast libraries will join the already open libraries to provide limited in-person services. The following locations will be open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 p.m.:

• Anacostia (Ward 8)
• Bellevue (Ward 8)
• Benning (Ward 7)
• Capitol View (Ward 7)
• Chevy Chase (Ward 3)
• Cleveland Park (Ward 3)
• Deanwood (Ward 7)
• Francis-Gregory (Ward 7)
• Georgetown (Ward 3)
• Mount Pleasant (Ward 1)
• Northeast (Ward 6)
• Palisades (Ward 3)
• Petworth (Ward 4)
• Shaw (Ward 6)
• Shepherd Park (Ward 4)
• Southeast (Ward 6)
• Tenley-Friendship (Ward 3)
• West End (Ward 2)
• Woodridge (Ward 5)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Southwest Library to Open

The new $18 million library will blend with the mid-century modern architecture for which the neighborhood is known. The library features 20,000 square feet of public space; a variety of seating options and spaces for reading, a meeting room for at least 100 people; three conference rooms for 12 – 20 people; four study rooms for one – four people; separate areas for children, teens, and adults; an outdoor reading porch and an Innovation Lab with 3-D printers. The Southwest Library is the latest project in the District’s ongoing work to improve libraries. The Southwest Library will open with the same limited in-person services as the current open libraries.

During the District’s public health emergency, people are able to visit the library to:

• Pick up books that they have placed on hold.
• Apply for a library Card: Customers can apply for a library Card at an open branch and online via the Library’s website http://www.dclibrary.org.
• Use a computer: The Library has reduced the number of public computers to ensure six feet of social distancing. In addition, computer sessions are limited to 45-minute sessions to allow for cleaning and for more people to access the internet. While photocopying and scanning are not available, customers can send documents electronically for free printing.
• Borrow Grab & Go Materials: Curated book titles and bundles of books will be available for checkout near the circulation desk. Customers can ask for a specific item, and the staff member will retrieve it.

The following measures at libraries have been put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:

• Face masks required for staff and public.
• Hand sanitizer available at each location for staff and public.
• Regulated entry and occupancy.
• Reconfigured branches to promote social distancing.

On April 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its cleaning guidelines, indicating that the risk of catching COVID-19 from a contaminated surface is low. In keeping with the new guidelines and in consultation with DC Health and agencies managing the city’s reopening, the Library will eliminate the 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. closure for additional cleaning effective Monday, May 3. Regular cleaning throughout the day will continue as well as additional cleaning in the event there is a COVID-19 positive case at a library location. 

The Library continues to serve residents through its online digital library. Visit dclibrary.org or download the DC Public Library mobile app for reopening information and the event schedule.

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