Federation of Friends

Website (For Now!): By now many of you have had a chance to see our much improved website. I hope you like it, as do I. While this isn’t the website we will be getting as a result of our contract with OCTO, it is Marketing and ITS’s way of putting a much brighter, more attractive face on DCPL’s online image as we wait. And, expect the new website to arrive soon.

Welcome Eric Coard: A new face to DCPL but not to District Government has joined our team. Eric Coard is the Library’s new Interim Chief Business Officer. Prior to coming to DCPL Eric formerly served the Metropolitan Police Department. There he was Senior Executive Director and before that Chief Financial Officer. One of his direct reports will be the Office of Public Safety; he will work with MPD to perform an evaluation of our current structure and to make recommendations about making improvements to security at DCPL. Capital Construction, Finance, Facilities, Human Resources and the new Procurement department will also be reporting to him. Please join me in welcoming Eric Coard to this important position.

Welcome Archie Williams: We welcome Archie Williams to DCPL as a new staff member and in a new position for the Library: Intergovernmental Relations Specialist. Archie Williams will help to represent DCPL’s interests to the Mayor’s office, City Council and the communities we operate in. To that end, Archie has had a wealth of experience. In the role of Director of Constituent Services for former Council Chairman Linda Cropp, Archie served as contact for residents, ANC’s, civic associations, and other community and business stakeholders to facilitate access to the Chairman’s office and other DC government entities. Also, he represented Chairman Cropp at community meetings, forums, and business groups. Prior to that, he was Executive Director for CHANGE Inc., a community action program serving Wards 1 – 4 in the District. Archie is a native Washingtonian with “a deep abiding love for our city and a passion to contribute to DC living up to its potential.” Please welcome Archie Williams and know that he will be helping DCPL win friends and influence others as we move forward!

In a unanimous vote last week the D.C. City Council gave initial approval to Mayor Fenty’s $5.7 billion Fiscal Year 2008 budget, which includes a 12-percent increase in the Library’s budget to $47,634,898. The Council will take a final vote on the budget June 5. Let’s all stay hopeful that the dollars allocated in the budget remain so. In separate actions, the Council is expected to approve around $16 million to rebuild the Georgetown Library that was closed due to a fire on April 30, 2007.

There will be a public hearing on the proposed FY2008 operating budget for the District of Columbia Public Library System on Thursday, April 26, 2007. To sign up to provide testimony, contact Angel Hicks at 724-8107 or e-mail ahicks@dccouncil.us. The meeting is being held in the Council Chamber (Room 500) of the John A. Wilson Building at 1400 Pennsylvania Ave. NW and will be Chaired by the Committee on Libraries, Parks, and Recreation Chairperson, Harry Thomas, Jr. If you cannot attend but would like to submit written testimony, you can also address that correspondence to Mrs. Hicks.

This hearing will focus on mayor’s proposed 12% increase in funding for DC Public Libraries beginning October 1, 2007. Your testimony is needed to support this increase and to advocate for continued support and oversight of our Public Library Services. For more information about the Mayor’s Proposed Budget, go to http://www.dc.gov/mayor/budget_2008/budget_fy2008.shtm