Designing a Library: Collaborative Community Process?

Designing a new library in the 21st Century has become an art form. To perfect this art form cities are examining and implementing ways to best facilitate collaboration between the public, the government (library leadership), and the architects. The end result should be library plans that are 21st Century-exciting, meets the community's needs, and comes in on budget.

Here in the District, the public has been plagued by inexperienced and misguided library leadership and lack of government oversight which has been demonstrated by a not so model community engagement process.The design process has left District residents feeling left out, dismissed, ignored, and deflated.

Instead of exciting the neighborhoods where new libraries are to be built, DC library leadership has engaged District residents in a way that some have said "Treats adults like children" and "Makes the public an audience and not a particpant."

The process DCPL decided to use has fostered public mistrust and antagonism with the end result being expensive libraries with fancy new exteriors but lacking many 21st Century amenities similar in service scope to the old libraries that once used to serve the community.

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• Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Regarding Benning Road Library

  This is an action for declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to Rule 65, Superior Court Civil Rules, for the purpose of determining whether the actions of the D.C. government, by and through the D.C. Library Board of Trustees, violated the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Act, D.C. Code §§ 1-309.10 et seq., the D.C. Environmental Policy Act, D.C. Public Law 8-36, D.C.M.R. Title 20, Chapter 72, D.C. Code Ann. § 6-901 et seq., D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit 20 § 7200 et seq. and D .C. Code § 10-801(b)(6)(b-1)(1)(2).

• Anacostia Neighborhood Library Demolition Signals Positive Changes to Come

  Donning a hard hat and a wide grin, DC Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper talked about her excitement surrounding the existing building’s demolition. “You wouldn’t think any librarian would celebrate that!”

• Is DC Violating its Own Laws?

  The LEAD Act may be the latest DC Law to be obfuscated by the Mayor and City Council using "Emergency legislation" measures.

• Library Transformations Frought with Bad Community Input Process Points

  Outline of points where the community-input process has gaping holes and why many residents have been left out of the library transformations in Shaw, Tenleytown, Anacostia, and Benning.

• What's Best for Benning…

  Come speak out and read-in for the Best Benning Library!

• Ward 7 Residents Dismissed by DCPL and Board of Library Trustees

  Report with notes showing why Ward 7 residents have been ignored and dismissed by the DC Public Library and Board of Library Trustees.

• Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2C Decries Poor Library Design Process

  ANC-2C, in the heart of Ward 2's Shaw neighborhood has made a public declaration decrying the poor design process for the new Watha T. Daniel / Shaw Library.

• The Evolution of a Ward 2 Library

  Seven months later and the new Watha T. Daniel / Shaw library plans seem less majestic and more like the old Shaw library?!?

• From Glass Gem To Bunker: A D.C. Library's Sad Shift

  The new Shaw library plan bears a remarkable and disturbing resemblance to the much-hated old Watha T. Daniel branch building that was demolished four years ago.

• D.C. to pay more than federal standard for library designs

  D.C. officials are preparing to pay design contractors nearly three times the federal and industry standards for redesign of four libraries.

• Adults, teens discuss wish list for library

  From a spacious teen center to more computers and an expanded literature and foreign language section, adults and teens in Silver Spring have a lot to say about what they want in their new library.

• Battle Ground, Vancouver Library Effort Gets Cash Infusion

  Confronted with ever-rising building costs, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District trustees have kicked nearly $1 million more into construction of the new Battle Ground Community Library.

• Shaw Library Design to Include Glass Exterior Again

  DC Public Libraries (DCPL) Public Information Officer George Williams has confirmed that the design plans for the new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library slated to open at Eighth Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW will once again include glass.

• Minneapolis Central Library Project

  The new Minneapolis Central Library opened in 2007 -- they have a great website.

• Seattle Public Library celebrates "Libraries For All" in neighborhoods across the city

  "Libraries For All," a $196.4 million bond measure passed in 1998, promised a face-lift for Seattle public libraries, including a new Central Library and 26 new or renovated branches. Ten years later, the city boasts a series of uniquely tailored and heavily used buildings that reflect the desires of their neighborhoods.

• Broward libraries wrap up 10-year expansion

  Almost a decade after Broward voters overwhelmingly said yes to higher taxes for more libraries, the deal is nearly done.

• Helping communities win better benefits agreements

  When communities negotiate with developers, they often lack the knowledge and experience to evaluate proposed Community Benefits Agreements -- this can change.

• What about a design charette?

  A look at what design charettes are and how they could help DCPL with their library projects.

• Neighbors speak out against SW library design

  Leaders of a far Southwest D.C. community have asked a city planning board to reject a proposed branch library design they say is bizarre and utterly out of touch with their neighborhood.

• Bold Plan for a New Library But Critics Question $85M Bill

  Critics questioned the idea of putting up an extravagant, specialized library in Brooklyn at a time when budget cuts have meant that many borough branches have limited hours.

• Rally Nov. 28 -- Don't Tear Down the Washington Highlands Library

  Save the Ward Eight's only full-service public library! Be there.

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