March 27, 2010, 2PM -- Save Our Library Rally

Save Our Ward One Library
~Emergency Rally ~
This Saturday MARCH 27th, 2:00PM
Gather in front of the Mount Pleasant Library
(16th and Lamont Street NW)

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Don't close our library;
Don't close the design plan discussion

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DC Public Library (DCPL) wants to end the discussion about their controversial design plans to shoehorn a large expansion behind the historic Mount Pleasant Library, Ward One's only library. Please sign the petition

DCPL has given the community less than 2-weeks notice of the closure and the interim library is not even move-in ready yet and won't be for a month. This is just not appropriate for the many residents who use this important civic building, especially our youth who will be home for spring break, looking for positive activities.

We want DCPL to:

1. Build a welcoming and safe accessibility ramp, not one that is 100 feet long and 7 feet high which takes users into the back of the library >> More Info Here
   
   
2. Discuss the fire safety issues for residents living around the library – the proposed expansion will block emergency fire safety access to more than 1000 residents who live around the library >> More Info Here
   
   
3. Look at just renovating our library, which currently has lots of underutilized space, and spend the remaining capital money to build a satellite library in Ward One – the Mount Pleasant Library is the only library in Ward One >> More Info Here

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Don't close our library;
Don't close the design plan discussion

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Rally Reportback:

On Saturday, March 27, 2010, at 2pm, Ward One residents gathered in front of the historic Mount Pleasant Library to protest the premature closure of our only Ward One library.

ANC Commissioners, civic group leaders, and library goers spoke out about how DC Public Library is ignoring logic and the will of the people with regards to DCPL's proposed renovation and expansion of the Mount Pleasant library.

Rally video, 14min, filmed by W. Lehman

A renovation and expansion sounds like a good thing, but the proposed plans have caused lots of controversey. DCPL has not shown any interest in meaningfully engaging the community to address the unresolved safety issues.

The proposed accessibility ramp is not safe, not welcoming, and takes users along a 100 foot, 7 foot high path into the back of the building. The proposed expansion further stifles emergency access to the residential corridor behind the library, putting the safety of about 1000 residents at risk.

DCPL announced the closing of our only Ward One library with less than two weeks notice so to quell the discussion and attempt to move forward with their controverisal plans. Paradoxically, the interim library on Mount Pleasant Street isn't anywhere close to being move-in ready and won't be for nearly a month.

Our pressure delayed the closure for one week, but concerned parents, residents, ANC's and library advocates will be back in front of the library again on Saturday April 3, 2010 at 5PM. Come join us.

 

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Sponsored by the District Dynamos to support the Ward One groups and advocates
who are opposed or expressed serious concerns about DCPL's plans. See Them Here.

/mount_pleasant/