Made possible by a grant from the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C., the series is the initial offering of the new Capitol Hill Heritage Center, a project of the Friends group housed at Southeast Library.

The series is free and open to the public.

The inaugural program, “Writing and Publishing Local History: Perils and Profits,” will be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 24.

Anyone interested in researching and writing about the history of Capitol Hill and its environs is invited to bring their ideas and discuss the subject with experts, including resident historians Jack Wennersten and Steve Ackerman, and Ric Cottom, president of the Chesapeake Book Company of Baltimore.

Wennersten, a professor emeritus of history from the University of Maryland system, is author of several books about the region, including Oyster Wars of the Chesapeake Bay, 25 Bicycle Tours of the Delmarva, and The Chesapeake: An Environmental Biography. Ackerman, who has written extensively about the Hill, is author of a forthcoming book on Eastern Market.

In November, Robert Young, a well-known interpreter of African-American Civil War history, will offer a perspective on what it meant to be a black solder in the Civil War. Young, a Capitol Hill resident, heads the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, a reenactment group that memorializes the historic all-black unit commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw that inspired the award-winning movie, “Glory.”

School age youngsters are especially encouraged to attend the November 28 event. Young will be dressed in his Civil War uniform and will point out some of the places on the Hill that were crucial to the momentous participation of blacks in the nation’s bloodiest war—Duff’s Green Row, the area of the Hill where the Folger Library now stands and where the first colored troops were recruited, and the Israel Bethel AME Church, where the troops were mustered into service. The church stood at the corner of South Capitol and B Streets, now the site of the Rayburn House Office Building.

More fascinating stories will come to life in the spring when historian Lucinda Janke will speak on “History is All Around Us” and Robert Willard will talk about “Collecting Lincoln.” Willard, who formerly lived on Lincoln Park, is a well-known antiquarian with a passion for collecting and interpreting memorabilia associated with Abraham Lincoln.

Friends of Southeast Library (FoSEL), a nonprofit advocacy group that supports the Southeast Library, is amassing a collection of items about the neighborhood’s history for its new Capitol Hill Heritage Center, including, books, letters, maps, records, advertisements, memoirs and prints and photographs.

The Center will collect, preserve, and interpret material culture and documentary resources illustrative of the community of Capitol Hill. Through seminars, exhibitions, and other means, the materials at the center will be used for research and education to increase public awareness and racial and ethnic understanding and appreciation for the rich human heritage of Capitol Hill during the past two hundred years. Donations are welcome, and donations are tax-deductible.

and
FRIENDS OF SOUTHEAST LIBRARY

invite you to a neighborhood gathering

celebrating the grand reopening of
SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY

4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, June 24

Come see Capitol Hill’s magnificent new showplace—the completely refurbished building and grounds of historic Southeast Library.

In connection with the annual meeting of the American Library Association, the interior of the classic building at 7th and D Streets has been given a complete makeover by advertisers of Library Journal, who have created a “library of the future” featuring the latest designs in desks, chairs, bookshelves, carpeting and lighting.

D.C. Public Library has supplied painting and much-needed repairs and new restrooms. There are 24 new computers, a gift from the Gates Foundation.

A project by Girl Scout Troop 5083 to clean up the weed-covered grounds around the building has evolved into a glorious garden with patios for outdoor programs. Mark Holler of Gingko Gardens contributed the design and labor and neighborhood donations bought soil, mulch, trees, and plants.

The building is open for tours starting at 4 p.m.; a ceremony featuring government and library officials is set for 5:30. There will be music by Joel Bailes and the Barrelhouse Brawl. Refreshments will be served.

SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY WILL GET STAR INTERIOR MAKEOVER IN A COLLABORATION WITH THE MAGAZINE, LIBRARY JOURNAL
Library will close for six weeks for the makeover beginning May 1st

(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia Public Library announces that in a collaboration with Library Journal magazine the Southeast Neighborhood Library will receive a stunning interior makeover of its main floor this summer. The 85-year old Carnegie building was selected for the makeover by the magazine, and will be showcased to 26,000 library professionals during the American Library Association annual conference in late June. The annual project, which is the third for the magazine, is a way for vendors catering to librarians from around the country to display their products in a real library setting while adding long-term value to the ALA host city, which will be Washington, DC.

The Southeast Neighborhood Library will need to be closed from May 1 to June 23 in order to receive the coveted makeover. However, staff will continue to provide important services, books and materials, and computer access in one of the D.C. Public Library’s Hi-Tech Bookmobiles. The mobile library will be parked adjacent to the Southeast Neighborhood Library, which is located at 403 7th Street, S.E., and will be open during usual hours for the branch.

When the Southeast Neighborhood Library reopens on June 24, 2007, customers will find an open, airy new floor plan; new book shelves and furniture; new carpeting and paint color scheme; a new drywall ceiling that will replicate the original plaster ceiling; renovated public restrooms; and the historic fireplace as a focal point of the first floor. Additionally, the Library will provide updated and refreshed books and media materials, as well as 20 public access computers with four to be dedicated to children.

“Library Journal and their fine volunteer architect Henry Myerberg chose Southeast Neighborhood Library as the site of the Library Journal makeover because it is a beautiful Carnegie library. It is also easily accessible by the Metro. We hope that many of the thousands of library colleagues in town for ALA will want to come to South East Library and see the outcome of this makeover,” said Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper. She continued, “From talks I have had with community members lately, I know we are eager to see what a difference will be made through this makeover. I am thrilled Library Journal chose to continue this practice of improving a local library. And we are grateful to LJ, the architect, and the many willing vendors who have participated in this process.”

Architectural design services and furnishings for this makeover are being coordinated by Library Journal and contributed by generous library vendors. Portions of the project are being funded by the District of Columbia Public Library.

The Library Journal makeover project started in 2005 at Queensboro Public Library in New York as a showcase for the ALA annual conference attendees. At last year’s conference in New Orleans, the magazine coordinated the makeover of a branch in that city.

The street will be closed off. The mayor and other local officials are being invited. There will be music and entertainment. Look for ladies wearing fancy garden-party hats. Children’s games are planned (maybe a repeat of the cotton candy fun from the garden groundbreaking.) Delegates attending the American Library Association annual conference will be on hand, and the Library Journal is providing refreshments.

Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper shared architect’s drawings for the first floor makeover at our March 1 meeting. The good news is that the job will be finished by June 21, the start date of the ALA conference. The bad news is that nobody knows when the job will get underway. Since a new ceiling and new bookshelves are part of the project, all books will be moved to the basement floor at some point during the coming weeks. The building will be closed, but service will continue, with a bookmobile parked at the curb.

Because of all this uncertainty, the FoSEL Spring Book sale, originally scheduled for April 24, has been rescheduled. It is now set for Saturday, June 30. Meanwhile, when the weather improves, we will have impromptu sidewalk sales on Saturdays.

Also, because of uncertainty about building accessibility, our participation in the citywide “Big Read” event is shifting to the Northeast Library. FoSEL will cosponsor the program, “The Richness of Zora Neale Hurston’s Imagination and Language,” featuring Pontheola Mack Abernathy reading from “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Capitol Hill reading groups and persons interested in starting a book club are invited to attend on Wednesday April 25, at 6:30 p.m.

Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper will be with us to share plans she has received from the architect engaged by the Library Journal for the makeover at Southeast Library.

Other items of the agenda include ideas for promoting the ESL classes and the Big Read event.

FoSEL’s Spring Used Book Sale is scheduled for Saturday, April 21. We may want to discuss setting an earlier date and/or the possibility of scheduling an additional sale (possibly a specialized sale as we did last year with cookbooks).

There is a group of 50 people scheduled for a meeting in the basement on Thursday night. We will meet in the fireplace alcove on the first floor.

We will start promptly at 5:30. Come early or stay late to sort books. Ironically, the snow inspired a lot of people to clean out their basements and attics. We have a pile of new donations.

See you there!