SE Library Prepares to Close – The Final Community Meeting

DC Public Library Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan addresses residents at the final community meeting before closure of SE Library last Thursday night. 

Council Member Charles Allen told the audience that “the project is better because of the advocacy of some members of the community and the ANC. We’re on the cusp of getting this going….this is one of the aging facilities that are phenomenal spaces we have to upgrade” and noted that “we’re rebuilding the Rumsey Aquatic Center next year.” 

SE Library Prepares to Close – The Final Community Meeting

by Larry Janezich

Posted December 16, 2023

Thursday night, DC Public Library held the final community meeting prior to the closure of SE Library on January 4, and the beginning of the modernization of the library.  The Library will not reopen until early 2026.  At the meeting, the Southeast Library construction team – Whiting-Turner – updated the community about logistics and on what can be expected during the construction period.  About 60 community members attended. 

DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan addressed the issues of the interim Library and interim library services which have been the foci of ANC6B and its SE Library Taskforce.  He said that the interim Library during the construction period will be NE Library at 330 7th Street, NE.

Regarding interim services for the SE Library, he announced that he expects the SE Library interim services the “TechExpress” at the Arthur Capper Community Center, 1000 5th Street, SE, to open on Monday, February 5.  ANC6B had pressed for an opening immediately after closing of SE Library, but Reyes-Gavilan said that installation of equipment at Arthur Capper couldn’t begin until January 8, and that the efforts of all available staff would be required to move out of SE Library.  He said that opening by February 5 was the best the Library could do. 

The following services will be available at this location:

• Holds Pick-Up
• Item Return
• Wi-Fi Access
• Public Computers for Children, Teens and Adults (Desktops and Laptops)
• Printing and Copying

There will be no browse-able collections housed at this location.

The hours for this location will be as follows:

• Monday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Wednesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday – Closed
• Sunday – Closed

The provision of interim services at Arthur Capper came only after the SE Library Taskforce, Chaired by Commissioner David Sobelsohn, lobbied the DC Public Library and Councilmember Charles Allen.  Allen acknowledged those efforts saying “Not everyone is entirely satisfied w every aspect of it but thanked Sobelsohn for his advocacy and for making sure “we got out there and fought for additional funding for interim services.” 

Sobelsohn raised several other issues regarding signage, limited hours, and weekend closures for the Tech Express, wringing from Reyes-Gavilon concessions for better signage announcing the closure and directing patrons to the TechExpress Center and possible reconsideration of expanded hours there if the demand justifies it.  Closure on weekends Reyes-Gavilon said was a budget constraint. 

Asked during the Q&A why DC Public Library was not providing a closer interim library, Reyes-Gavilon said it was because that expenditure would have come at the expense of funding for modernization of the SE Library (as opposed to the separate funding acquired by CM Allen for the Arthur Capper site.)  He said he wanted “every dime” of the funding to go to the modernization.

ANC6B Commissioners hold press conference prior to the DCPL Community Meeting. From left, Commissioner Frank D’Andrea, Commissioner David Sobelsohn, and ANC6B Chair Edward Ryder. At far left is SE Library Task Force member Wendy Blair. 

Prior to the community meeting, Sobelsohn along with ANC6B Commissioner D’Andrea and ANC6B Chair Edward Ryder and several member of the SE Library Task Force, held a press conference on the SE Library steps.  Sobelsohn, as spokesperson on this issue, listed several demands the ANC supported regarding the modernization project, including a two week delay in closing the library, better signage, and for Capper, a prompt opening, weekend services, longer hours and minimal reference materials.  

As above, Reyes-Gavilan conceded to better signage and possible longer hours at Arthur Capper and cited budgetary reasons why the other demands could not be met. 

The ANC6B Task Force will continue to meet during the construction period to represent the concerns of residents and library neighbors to DCPL.  The Task Force with meet on Sunday, December 17, at 3:00pm, in Southeast Library, lower level.  The meeting will be hybrid – both in-person and virtual.  A link to join the meeting virtually will be posted on the ANC6B website, here:  https://anc6b.org/

To watch the entire Thursday night community meeting as it was live-streamed on YouTube, go here: https://bit.ly/474QiC1   

For more information of the SE Library Modernization go here:  https://bit.ly/47YgK1f