Federation of Friends

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.