Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
“Bad libraries build collections,
good libraries build services,
great libraries build communities.”
– R. David Lankes (Director of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina)
If you’ve been to one of DC Public Library’s neighborhood locations or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, then you know it’s no mystery why DC Public Library (DCPL) was a recipient of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor celebrating institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The District also ranks as having the second highest public library visits per capita in the U.S. Truly, DC Public Library is one of the District’s most vibrant agenices, helping us build healthy communities through outstanding programming, vital community services, and equitable access to resources. Most recently, DCPL demonstrated this at their Art All Night Block Party where thousands of neighbors came together to celebrate DC culture.
In my new role as Chair of the Subcommittee on Libraries and Youth Affairs, part of my week was spent getting more deeply acquainted with the agencies the subcommitee oversees, including DC Public Library. I met with Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan, and we discussed a number of issues that are top-of-mind, including:
- public safety at library locations;
- recent policy changes impacting homeless neighbors;
- staffing challenges; and,
- recovery from pandemic-era impacts.
