News from Ginnie Cooper
Our Libraries Are ‘Hot’!: I am happy to announce that all branch libraries and most areas within the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library have been converted into Wi-Fi hot spots. What an accomplishment by the OCTO/ITS team! We are ready to tell the world. Already we have library users in our libraries, and in the Great Hall and Washingtoniana Division of central, taking advantage of the Wi-Fi accessibility and bringing their laptops with them to make better use of their time in our libraries. It won’t be long before we see rooms full of laptop computers.
Hi-Tech Bookmobiles: The three new hi-tech bookmobiles have arrived! Just as we planned, the white 40’ long bookmobiles rolled into Washington on Monday, August 28, and have been undergoing an intensive outfitting ever since! While parked on the site of the Old Convention Center parking lot, ITS and a host of library personnel have been installing computers, Internet/Wi-Fi access, books, shelving and signs. Combined with the Xtreme Mobile, DCPL’s mobile libraries will serve the communities whose libraries are closed for reconstruction. The three new hi-tech bookmobiles will each park in one location from 10 to 6 Monday through Thursday, and Saturday. The Xtreme Mobile will serve the Benning neighborhood at locations that have already proved successful. Along with new promotional materials, we anticipate that the consistency will help people find and use this service until the interim libraries open. You can help! Once the schedule is finalized point library users to one of these hi-tech bookmobiles:
Anacostia: United Planning Organization (UPO) - 1600 block of Good Hope Road, S.E.
Benning: Chartered Family Health Center - 3924 Minnesota Avenue, S.E. and Boys &
Girls Club #14 (Parking lot) - 4103 Benning Road, N.E.
Tenley: Tenleytown/AU Metro Station - Intersection of Albermarle & Fort Drive, N.W.
Watha T. Daniel/Shaw: Kennedy Recreation Center - 1401 7th Street, N.W.
Interim Libraries: We will meet our timelines for opening the interim libraries. Interior construction began in late August on the Tenley interim site; we anticipate this leased location will be open before the end of November. The modular buildings for Anacostia, Benning and Shaw are being constructed; these libraries will open before the end of December. Customers in all areas of the city will see the same stunning furniture, design and signage, among other things. Here’s where they’ll be located:
Anacostia – 1800 Good Hope Road, S.E.
Benning – Benning Road and 41st Street, N.E.
Tenley – 4200 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Watha T. Daniel/Shaw – Shaw Junior High School , 925 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
