Readers Rally at Demolished Library in NE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Robin Diener
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cell 202 431-9254
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Readers Rally at Demolished Library in NE
Vent Frustration, Take Away Volumes

Saturday June 28, 2008 -- Local residents gathered at noon on Saturday in front of the demolished building for a rally organized by the local Benning Library Dynamo. Library advocates decried the closed processes that allowed the Board of Library Trustees to reject a land swap that would have yielded a larger library, an endowment for expanded services, and more amenities -- without consulting the community. Citizens who participated in the design noted that current plans by DC Public Library do not incorporate oft-stated community preferences for the library to help address issues of special concern to Ward 7, such as low adult literacy, high drop put rates, and the deep digital divide.

See rally video highlights here.

Other speakers expressed frustration with the now nearly four year process that left them without an interim library for two years, and still has not resulted in a replacement facility. One is now scheduled to open in 2010, but unlike the vibrant community gathering places of the 21st Century promised in the 2006 “Blue Ribbon Task Force on Libraries” report, the new library as planned appears to be a lot like the old one: there will be vending machines, instead of a café; meeting rooms will be buried in the lower level as they were in the old library; and 80,000 volumes (two times the old library's collection) will be housed in a forest of bookcases on the main level with no dedicated computer training space.

One thing the old library had that the new building won’t is the possibility of expansion at a later date. Ironically, the building that was torn down was structurally engineered to have floors added.

LET BENNING DECIDE was the message for the day, and drivers-by honked in agreement. Ralliers could only hope public officials would hear of the clamor, since none chose to attend.

Book lovers did get something out of it: more than 200 volumes, donated by the Brian Mackenzie Infoshop, Cleveland Park Library Friends, and Ralph Nader's Center for Responsive Law, were carried away. The rally was sponsored by the District Library Dynamos, DC Library Renaissance Project, and the Ward 7 Development Advisory Committee.

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