WAMU 88.5 -- The Kojo Show
12:30pm, Improving D.C. Libraries
For years, the problems in the D.C. libraries made for big headlines. These days, the libraries don't draw as much scrutiny from the media, but they're still one of the biggest quality-of-life issues for many District residents. Join Kojo as we get the latest on improvements being made to both the neighborhood branches and the main library in downtown D.C.
Guests.
* Ginnie Cooper, Executive Director, D.C. Public Library
Listen here.
* Listen to an interesting conclusion by Mr. Knamdi where he blames Chief Cooper's interest in community input for the slow pace of construction. Ginnie Cooper agrees with Kojo on this point. Despite these brilliant minds coming together, the logic of this conclusion fails when looking at the 2007-08 branch library transformations.
Chief Cooper and the architect did not convey any developing concept plans or narrative either in person, at the interim libraries, or on the DC Public Library website for more than six months. The community did not know how their comments from the winter 2007 design meetings were incorporated in the new designs until the summer 2008. What happened over those six months and this purported delay is strictly on Chief Cooper and the Board of Library Trustees who knew the community was clamoring for news and information but did nothing to inform us.
Listen to Kojo's comment about this at 21min 20 sec.