Federation of Friends

Interim Libraries Coming Soon: Pepco and the Library’s building contractor are close to establishing permanent power at the Benning and Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Libraries. This has been the hold-up and recent rainstorms have made this task more difficult. While both libraries have temporary generators that allow enough light for the contractors to work, it is not enough power to fully operate the building, which is mandatory for opening to the public. When the electrical connection is established, the buildings will open to the public as soon as possible. It’s all of our hope that these interim libraries will open immediately and the communities will again have full access to what DCPL has to offer.

Procurement Legislation Passed!: At the City Council legislative session on Tuesday, July 10 the D.C. Public Library passed the final hurdle in establishing an independent procurement authority. The measure to adopt the Library’s procurement rules was passed unanimously! This is a major accomplishment and will make it easier to buy books and other library material and those that pertain to our efforts to build new libraries. Soon we will have our own procurement staff.

Community Meetings Planned: Community meetings have now been scheduled on building new Benning and Tenley neighborhood libraries. Our first such “Hopes and Dreams” meeting at Anacostia attracted an enthusiastic group of residents. We expect the same to happen here. Although the meetings will be promoted through many channels, it’s important you help get the word out, too! Here is the schedule:
• Benning – July 31, 6:30 pm (BEN Interim Library, 4101 Benning Road, NE)
• Tenley – August 1, 6:30 pm (TEN Interim Library, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW)
A meeting for the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library will be scheduled soon.

Benning Neighborhood Library: Many of you are aware that a lawsuit has been filed against the Library, Board of Trustees and Mayor to halt the demolition of the Benning Neighborhood Library and plans to build a new library in its place. Since this is ongoing litigation I cannot comment on the suit and no one in the Library should be making comments. Our General Counsel is working closely with the City’s Office of Attorney General legal staff to litigate this action. I will keep everyone aware as the case moves forward.

New Internet Policy: A change to the Library’s Internet policy is being presented to the Board of Trustees at the July 25th meeting. Before it reaches them, DCPL employees will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes so their thoughts and ideas can be incorporated into the Board’s review of the proposed policy.

The DC Council approved three separate measures yesterday that will directly impact the revitalization of DC’s Public Library System. First, the Council has approved a two-year experiment in independent procurement authority for the DC Public Library System. This will allow DCPL to hire and manage its own procurement staff and hopefully cut delays in contract negotiations for critical library services like book, DVD, and audiobook acquisitions. It should also improve the time frames for critical capital investments like construction and furniture contracts.

Second, the DC Council approved the allocation of surplus revenues to fund the replacement of the Georgetown Library. These funds will become available sometime after the end of the fiscal year (September 30), once the availability of the funds is verified by the Chief Financial Officer. This allocation will not place Georgetown ahead of the four closed branches but will ensure its rebuilding without impact on other DCPL capital projects.

Finally, the DC Council approved an emergency measure to sell the land under the West End Library to a developer. The legislation requires the developer to build a new library on the site as part of the development with specific details to be worked out later with the Board of Library Trustees. The legislation also requires the developer submit a Land Disposition Agreement for Council approval as well as a Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement. All three of these processes should require and provide for opportunities for community input.

Please plan to join me at the Board of Library Trustees meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 6:00 pm at the Benning Interim Library. While it is our understanding that the Library Board was not consulted on the disposition of the West End Library, we think the Board should definitely ask that in the future they assert their role in such decisions more aggressively.