Groundbreaking at last for New Benning Library in NE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Robin Diener
202 387-8030; 431-9254 cell

Groundbreaking at last for New Benning Library in NE

WASHINGTON, DC – December 1, 2008 –Mayor Adrian Fenty and officials of the DC Public Library are scheduled to break ground today for the long awaited new Benning Library. More than four years in the making, Benning is scheduled to be rebuilt by 2010 along with three other neighborhood libraries, closed since 2004: Anacostia, Watha T. Daniel/Shaw and Tenley.

Residents hope the new library will help address issues of special concern to Ward 7, such as low adult literacy, high drop out rates, and the deep digital divide. DC Public Library planning processes, however, left many feeling that their requests for classroom space, computers training labs, and adult literacy programming had not been adequately addressed.

Since the Board of Library Trustees canceled the original plans for rebuilding in 2004, problems have beleaguered the redesign. The community was without a promised interim library facility for more than two years. Once the interim facility in Benning opened, it proved to be the most frequently used of the four. In July 2007, the local ANC sued the Library for failure to give notice to the ANC. That suit was settled a year ago.

While the groundbreaking at last promises a 24,000 square foot library to replace the razed 13,000 square foot building, local library advocates say they will always wonder what might have been. They had hoped to be able to explore a land swap proposed by developer City Interests, owner of an adjacent shopping center planned for redevelopment. Community members and city officials were shown a proposal that consisted of an even larger freestanding library, location on a public square, and an endowment for ongoing services and expanded services. Residents continue to bemoan the closed processes that allowed the Board of Library Trustees to reject the deal this past spring without consulting them.

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This release sent from Robin Diener
Library Renaissance Project

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