By Odell B. Ruffin - Washington Informer Staff Writer
Thursday, 04 December 2008
The D.C. Board of Library Trustees will close five kiosks, in response to the Board’s request that the Chief Librarian and senior staff evaluate the use of facilities. Three facilities that are scheduled to close by Jan. 1, 2009 are Langston, R.L. Christian, and Sursum Corda. Deanwood has been closed for several months, and Parklands-Turner kiosk will close once an alternative library location is identified.
“The D.C. Public Library has known for some time that our kiosks are not providing adequate service to the community,” said Ginnie Cooper, chief librarian of the D.C. Public Library. “This is due in large part to the very small size of the kiosks.”
While most full service libraries are open seven days a week with extended hours at least two days a week, the kiosks are only open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The average circulation per day ranges between 15 and 20 books. Computer usage is also low. While computers at most library locations are occupied 70 to 85 percent of the time, the computers at kiosks are only used between 30 and 40 times a day, according to D.C. Public Library officials.
"It is clear to us that the community is seeking library services elsewhere," said Cooper. "In fact, the kiosks are only 25 percent as busy as the least busy neighborhood library."
The kiosks, which are plexiglass and metal booths the size of a small apartment, have a limited number of books, computers, and programs available to the public. Cooper added that the kiosks cannot accommodate many programs like story times, author talks, workshops, classes, and community meetings, programs that are essential to providing quality service in today's libraries.
"During these times of fiscal uncertainty with people scaling back on buying books and enrichment classes for their children, we especially want to be sure that the library offers the free quality services that the community needs and wants," said Cooper. "Frankly, we are not able to do that in the kiosks."
The kiosks, which were meant to last no more than five to seven years, were built in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s in underserved neighborhoods that the Board and senior staff determined were not receiving adequate library service.
“Closing any library is never easy, but we know there are better libraries no more than a few miles away and since 1970 with the development of the Metro system, library users have easier access to more libraries,” Cooper said.
The city's plans to locate various city services in multi-use facilities also contributed to the Library's decision to close the kiosks. A new 5,000 sq. ft. Sursum Corda library will be incorporated into Northwest One, which also includes a recreation center and school.
The new Deanwood Recreation Center will include a 10,000 sq. ft. library about one mile from the Deanwood Kiosk. In addition, discussions are underway that would merge the Langston and R.L. Christian kiosks in the planned Rosedale Recreation Center a half mile away from both libraries.
Under the Library's plan, the staff at these kiosks will be reassigned to other libraries. The computers, books and other equipment currently housed in the kiosks will be used throughout the library system. The Office of Property management and the Library will work together to determine the future of the kiosks.
“The D.C. Public Library has known for some time that our kiosks are not providing adequate service to the community,” said Ginnie Cooper, chief librarian of the D.C. Public Library. “This is due in large part to the very small size of the kiosks.”
While most full service libraries are open seven days a week with extended hours at least two days a week, the kiosks are only open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The average circulation per day ranges between 15 and 20 books. Computer usage is also low. While computers at most library locations are occupied 70 to 85 percent of the time, the computers at kiosks are only used between 30 and 40 times a day, according to D.C. Public Library officials.
"It is clear to us that the community is seeking library services elsewhere," said Cooper. "In fact, the kiosks are only 25 percent as busy as the least busy neighborhood library."
The kiosks, which are plexiglass and metal booths the size of a small apartment, have a limited number of books, computers, and programs available to the public. Cooper added that the kiosks cannot accommodate many programs like story times, author talks, workshops, classes, and community meetings, programs that are essential to providing quality service in today's libraries.
"During these times of fiscal uncertainty with people scaling back on buying books and enrichment classes for their children, we especially want to be sure that the library offers the free quality services that the community needs and wants," said Cooper. "Frankly, we are not able to do that in the kiosks."
The kiosks, which were meant to last no more than five to seven years, were built in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s in underserved neighborhoods that the Board and senior staff determined were not receiving adequate library service.
“Closing any library is never easy, but we know there are better libraries no more than a few miles away and since 1970 with the development of the Metro system, library users have easier access to more libraries,” Cooper said.
The city's plans to locate various city services in multi-use facilities also contributed to the Library's decision to close the kiosks. A new 5,000 sq. ft. Sursum Corda library will be incorporated into Northwest One, which also includes a recreation center and school.
The new Deanwood Recreation Center will include a 10,000 sq. ft. library about one mile from the Deanwood Kiosk. In addition, discussions are underway that would merge the Langston and R.L. Christian kiosks in the planned Rosedale Recreation Center a half mile away from both libraries.
Under the Library's plan, the staff at these kiosks will be reassigned to other libraries. The computers, books and other equipment currently housed in the kiosks will be used throughout the library system. The Office of Property management and the Library will work together to determine the future of the kiosks.
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