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Wikipedia

District of Columbia Public Library

February 16, 2024

The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) is the public library system for Washington, D.C. The system includes 26 individual libraries including Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, DCPL's central library.[3]

District of Columbia Public Library
LocationWashington, D.C.
Established1896; 128 years ago (1896)
Branches26
Access and use
Population served700,000
Other information
Budget$58 Million [1]
DirectorRichard Reyes-Gavilan[2]
Websitewww.dclibrary.org

History edit

 
Carnegie Library of Washington D.C. formerly served as the DCPL's Central Public Library.

The library was founded in 1896 by an act of Congress after a lobbying effort by Theodore W. Noyes, editor of the Washington Evening Star newspaper. Noyes served on the library's board of trustees for 50 years.[4]

The first library branch was located in a home at 1326 New York Avenue NW, with a collection of 15,000 donated books and an appropriation of $6,720 for its maintenance.[5]

This was replaced by a main library, donated by Andrew Carnegie, built at Mount Vernon Square, which now houses the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and an Apple Store. President Theodore Roosevelt attended the dedication of this building in 1903.[4][6] Several of the branch libraries still in use were also built with funds donated by Carnegie.

In 1972, the main library was replaced by a Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed building dedicated as a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr.

Governance edit

 
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, the DCPL's central library

DCPL is an independent agency of the District of Columbia government,[7] managed by a Chief Librarian that is selected and reviewed by a Board of Library Trustees. The Board of Library Trustees are appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia, subject to review and approval by the Council of the District of Columbia.[8] The budget is also determined by the Council of the District of Columbia based on a request submitted by the Mayor as part of the annual budget process for the entire government. The United States Congress also has to approve of the District's budget as a part of their oversight of the District of Columbia as the nation's capital.

The Chief Librarian is often invited to attend the Mayor's Cabinet meetings and works closely with the District Administrator on how to execute the DCPL budget. The District's Chief Financial Officer provides a fiscal officer from that office to ensure that financial practices within DCPL meet with District requirements. DCPL also has independent procurement authority, allowing them to execute contracts for books, electronic resources, furniture, equipment, and construction services.

In addition to the Board of Library Trustees, the Council of the District of Columbia provides oversight for DCPL via a Council Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs.[9] Previously, libraries were managed by the Committee on Education.[10] The DC Council routinely has Performance Oversight and Budget hearings for the D.C. libraries annually.

The DCPL has its own small police force, the District of Columbia Public Library Police. The Library Police's duties and mission is similar to District of Columbia Protective Services Division: to protect government property, staff, and the public. The types of incidents that occur are thefts, assaults, destruction of property, and so on.[11]

Branches edit

Books from Birth edit

The D.C. Public Library runs a program called Books from Birth.[12] The program is for children aged newborn to 5. All enrolled children receive a book in the mail every month. All children who live in the District are eligible. The program runs in partnership with Imagination Library, a nonprofit run by singer Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation. The D.C. program launched in 2016, and as of November 2017, 57 percent of eligible children are enrolled (27,000 children).[12]

Non-resident privileges edit

The District of Columbia Public library issues library cards without charge to non-residents who work in, pay property taxes to, or go to school in the District of Columbia. It also will issue them to residents of jurisdictions that will reciprocate for District of Columbia residents, this includes residents of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, as well as residents of the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church, and Arlington, Fairfax, Frederick, Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia. Residents of other areas not otherwise qualifying may obtain a card for $20 a year.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "What's in the Proposed FY 2017 Budget for Education?" (PDF). DC Fiscal Policy Institute. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Staff". 27 July 2015.
  3. ^ "About the DC Public Library". District of Columbia Public Library. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  4. ^ a b "Mission & History". District of Columbia Public Library. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  5. ^ Latimer, Louise Payson (1924). Your Washington and Mine. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 312.
  6. ^ . Events DC. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ "DC Government Web site". District of Columbia. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  8. ^ "DCPL Web site". District of Columbia. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  9. ^ "Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs • Council of the District of Columbia". Council of the District of Columbia. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  10. ^ . Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. "District of Columbia Public Library system" agency under committee
  11. ^ "The DC Library has a police force". www.popville.com. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Baby's Got Mail: Free Books Boost Early Literacy". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  13. ^ http://dclibrary.org/getacard Get A Library Card, DC Public Library (Retrieved May 20, 2016)

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to District of Columbia Public Library.
  • Official website  
  • DCPL Foundation
  • Federation of Friends of the DC Public Library

February 16, 2024
district, columbia, public, library, dcpl, public, library, system, washington, system, includes, individual, libraries, including, martin, luther, king, memorial, library, dcpl, central, library, locationwashington, established1896, years, 1896, branches26acc. The District of Columbia Public Library DCPL is the public library system for Washington D C The system includes 26 individual libraries including Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library DCPL s central library 3 District of Columbia Public LibraryLocationWashington D C Established1896 128 years ago 1896 Branches26Access and usePopulation served700 000Other informationBudget 58 Million 1 DirectorRichard Reyes Gavilan 2 Websitewww wbr dclibrary wbr org Contents 1 History 2 Governance 3 Branches 4 Books from Birth 5 Non resident privileges 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp Carnegie Library of Washington D C formerly served as the DCPL s Central Public Library The library was founded in 1896 by an act of Congress after a lobbying effort by Theodore W Noyes editor of the Washington Evening Star newspaper Noyes served on the library s board of trustees for 50 years 4 The first library branch was located in a home at 1326 New York Avenue NW with a collection of 15 000 donated books and an appropriation of 6 720 for its maintenance 5 This was replaced by a main library donated by Andrew Carnegie built at Mount Vernon Square which now houses the Historical Society of Washington D C and an Apple Store President Theodore Roosevelt attended the dedication of this building in 1903 4 6 Several of the branch libraries still in use were also built with funds donated by Carnegie In 1972 the main library was replaced by a Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed building dedicated as a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr Governance edit nbsp Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library the DCPL s central libraryDCPL is an independent agency of the District of Columbia government 7 managed by a Chief Librarian that is selected and reviewed by a Board of Library Trustees The Board of Library Trustees are appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia subject to review and approval by the Council of the District of Columbia 8 The budget is also determined by the Council of the District of Columbia based on a request submitted by the Mayor as part of the annual budget process for the entire government The United States Congress also has to approve of the District s budget as a part of their oversight of the District of Columbia as the nation s capital The Chief Librarian is often invited to attend the Mayor s Cabinet meetings and works closely with the District Administrator on how to execute the DCPL budget The District s Chief Financial Officer provides a fiscal officer from that office to ensure that financial practices within DCPL meet with District requirements DCPL also has independent procurement authority allowing them to execute contracts for books electronic resources furniture equipment and construction services In addition to the Board of Library Trustees the Council of the District of Columbia provides oversight for DCPL via a Council Committee on Recreation Libraries and Youth Affairs 9 Previously libraries were managed by the Committee on Education 10 The DC Council routinely has Performance Oversight and Budget hearings for the D C libraries annually The DCPL has its own small police force the District of Columbia Public Library Police The Library Police s duties and mission is similar to District of Columbia Protective Services Division to protect government property staff and the public The types of incidents that occur are thefts assaults destruction of property and so on 11 Branches editSelection of DCPL branch libraries nbsp Mount Pleasant Library nbsp Georgetown Library nbsp Southwest Library nbsp Southeast Library nbsp Tenley Friendship Library nbsp Takoma Park Library nbsp Shaw Library nbsp Francis A Gregory Library nbsp Petworth Library nbsp Parklands Turner Library nbsp Bellevue William O Lockridge Library nbsp Cleveland Park LibraryAnacostia Neighborhood Library Bellevue William O Lockridge Library Benning Dorothy I Height Neighborhood Library Capitol View Neighborhood Library Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library Deanwood Neighborhood Library Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library Georgetown Neighborhood Library Juanita E Thornton Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library Lamond Riggs Neighborhood Library Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library DCPL s central library Mount Pleasant Library Northeast Neighborhood Library Northwest One Library Palisades Neighborhood Library Parklands Turner Neighborhood Library Petworth Neighborhood Library Rosedale Neighborhood Library Southeast Neighborhood Library Southwest Neighborhood Library Takoma Park Neighborhood Library Tenley Friendship Neighborhood Library Watha T Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library West End Neighborhood Library Woodridge Neighborhood LibraryBooks from Birth editThe D C Public Library runs a program called Books from Birth 12 The program is for children aged newborn to 5 All enrolled children receive a book in the mail every month All children who live in the District are eligible The program runs in partnership with Imagination Library a nonprofit run by singer Dolly Parton s Dollywood Foundation The D C program launched in 2016 and as of November 2017 57 percent of eligible children are enrolled 27 000 children 12 Non resident privileges editThe District of Columbia Public library issues library cards without charge to non residents who work in pay property taxes to or go to school in the District of Columbia It also will issue them to residents of jurisdictions that will reciprocate for District of Columbia residents this includes residents of Montgomery and Prince George s Counties in Maryland as well as residents of the cities of Alexandria Fairfax and Falls Church and Arlington Fairfax Frederick Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia Residents of other areas not otherwise qualifying may obtain a card for 20 a year 13 See also edit nbsp United States portalCulture of Washington D C Library of Congress Public libraries in Washington D C List of Carnegie libraries in Washington D C District of Columbia Public Library PoliceReferences edit What s in the Proposed FY 2017 Budget for Education PDF DC Fiscal Policy Institute Retrieved 26 April 2016 Staff 27 July 2015 About the DC Public Library District of Columbia Public Library Retrieved 2011 07 22 a b Mission amp History District of Columbia Public Library Retrieved 2009 11 28 Latimer Louise Payson 1924 Your Washington and Mine Charles Scribner s Sons p 312 Our History Events DC Archived from the original on 9 May 2016 Retrieved 26 April 2016 DC Government Web site District of Columbia Retrieved 2011 07 22 DCPL Web site District of Columbia 12 November 2009 Retrieved 2011 07 22 Committee on Recreation Libraries and Youth Affairs Council of the District of Columbia Council of the District of Columbia Retrieved 2023 11 27 Committee on Education Archived from the original on 2013 01 24 District of Columbia Public Library system agency under committee The DC Library has a police force www popville com 30 March 2016 Retrieved 6 March 2022 a b Baby s Got Mail Free Books Boost Early Literacy NPR org Retrieved 2017 11 22 http dclibrary org getacard Get A Library Card DC Public Library Retrieved May 20 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to District of Columbia Public Library Official website nbsp DCPL Foundation Federation of Friends of the DC Public Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title District of Columbia Public Library amp oldid 1204770736, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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