There is still some debate in the Ward 8 community to not have a brand new library and instead renovate the old Washington Highland Library. Several Ward 8 ANC Commissioners have been very vocal about voicing their desire to keep the old library and just renovate while there is growing number of Ward 8 residents who like the new library design and are very much in favor of a brand new library.
The Washington City Paper just posted an article highlighting points of the debate. You can read the article by going HERE. *Please note the City Paper article has a photo of the old rendering.
The Advoc8te thinks that considering that Ward 8 has the highest illiteracy rates in the city (somewhere around 47%) that we are in desperate need of a first rate library. We need a library that will not only look good but will engage the community, especially it's young people, and in my opinion the old library hasn't been able to accomplish. Even with an aggressive renovation I am doubtful that the old library could really accomplish not only today's needs but tomorrow's. To be honest I am a little baffled by the opposition to a new library when historically Ward 8 has been last on the list when it comes to dolling out dollars for new infrastructure. I would think that a new library would be welcomed and would hopefully inspire the investment of more government dollars in the community. The Advoc8te would love to hear from a Ward 8 resident who is in favor of keeping the old library as opposed to the new library.
WASHINGTON HIGHLANDS LIBRARY
PROPOSED NEW LIBRARY DESIGN
For more Congress Heights and River East news visit The Congress Heights Examiner website, http://www.examiner.com/x-13507-Congress-Heights-Community-Examiner
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4 Comments:
the old library looks just like the woodridge library in ward 5. if it's the same in other ways, the problem isn't the physical plant, it's operating dollars.
you can build a nice, fancy new library (which these libraries were at one point), but if you don't have sufficient continuing funds for buying new books every year, or paying for staffing, the whole thing doesn't amount to more than a pile of beans.
I suppose my response to that would be that we need to make sure we get a nice new library AND funds to run it. Personally I think that for far to long Ward 8 has been allowed to be the Ward that could "go without" for the benefit of the rest of the city. We only have one full service library in Ward 8 and it should be great. If we don't advocate for the best for ourselves who will?
It's my opinion that a new library would be a waste of money (assuming it's currently functional -- i.e. no caving ceilings). The old library should be kept and the funds should be used to, perhaps, introduce new programs that would entice Ward 8 residents (particularly children/students) to visit the library as it is. A library doesn't need a garden and an amphitheater; it needs books and librarians. The $9.5M would better serve the community if it were used to teach that 47% of our resident how to read.
The arguments I heard against the new library were that the original designs were too futuristic looking. I agreed with that. Also it is scheduled to be closed for 18 months which really means 4 years. Can we afford to not have a full service library for that long?
The major beef folks had was that the community was not involved in the planning. So no matter what they plans were people would be upset. This is so common when people want to give you something. you are supposed to just take because they gave it to you, be happy and heap praise on them. They never ask you want you need or want and how you want it.
I use the library quite often and the facilities are not that great. The women's restroom is one of the worst I've ever visited. We often have scheduling issues as well. I don't think there is any real way to just renovate the place if we want the library to come into the future.
MCP-Even if they introduced new programs it wouldn't matter because they don't have the space. A library is not longer just about books. If any more people try to use the space, it would be noisy and crowded. Also they don't have enough shelf space to have enough books to deal with increased circulation. I often have to get things sent from other libraries.
There are issues that need to be solved and I'm not sure if renovations will meet the goals. But I'm willing to see the ideas that people have for renovation.
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