The Last Photos of Southeast Library

by Larry Janezich

Posted January 7, 2024

CHC went to South East Library on Thursday, January 4^th, to record its last day before closing for a two years of renovation. 

The day seemed unremarkable when the library opened at noon – library patrons trickled in to use the computers. 

The most striking feature of the reading room is the fireplace on the rear wall.  Fireplaces were unusual in the Carnegie Libraries; they took up wall space which could be used for bookshelves.  The dark wood of the surround on this fireplace reflects the federal style of government buildings. Ten brown glazed tiles on the header over the firebox depict five of the storytellers in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The five characters on the SE Library’s fireplace are:  The Knight, The Wife of Bath, The Doctor, The Merchant, and The Prioress.

Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14^th Century masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales is comprised of 24 stories – moral lessons told by members of a cohort of London travelers on a pilgrimage to Saint Thomas Becket’s Shrine at Canterbury Cathedral. 

• The Knight.  Holding the most prestigious position of all the characters he has a common touch in demeanor and dress. Though a veteran of 15 crusades his motives are betrayed as suspect when the reader learns he has fought for one non-Christian leader against another.  His tale is one of courtly love played out as two knights pursue the same woman. 
• The Wife of Bath.  A seamstress from the town of Bath who has survived five marriages and many affairs as she travelled broadly in Europe and thrice to the Holy Land.  Her tale presents an early progressive view of feminism and answers the question, “What do women really want?”
• The Doctor.  Highly accomplished and professional, an expert diagnostician who assiduously minds his own health and well- being although apparently not so much his spiritual dimension.  His character is blemished with a fondness for acquisition.  His tale concerns the downfall of a corrupt and lecherous judge. 

• The Merchant.   A wealthy trader in furs and textiles.  A member of the upper class.  His tale is a satire about the pitfalls of marriage. 
• The Prioress.  Head of her convent, she is modest, quiet, well-mannered and dressed, kind, thoughtful, charitable and considerate – perhaps a little too concerned about the impression she is making.  Her tale relates the martyrdom of a child at the hands of the perceived enemies of Christianity.   

The fireplace and all of the interior woodwork will be preserved and incorporated into the new library.  This includes the two grand wooden pillars with ornately carved Corinthian capitals encountered after passing the librarian’s stations just inside the entrance.  

CHC went to the lower lever and photographed the “We’ll Miss You” sign on the wall created by children (with the help of library staff) from the Thursday afternoon “Out of the Box Playtime.”

Southeast Library, circa 5:00pm, Thursday, January 4, 2024.

Library officials expect the SE Library’s limited interim services “TechExpress” at the Arthur Capper Community Center, 1000 5th Street, SE, to open on Monday, February 5. Services at this location will include access to computers, a copier, and tech assistance, as well as return of borrowed books and pick-up of books ordered through the library. Patrons will have to use NE Library for most library staff services as well as physical access to shelved books and magazines. 

Library patrons may borrow eBooks, Audiobooks, and digital magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app, by OverDrive. Borrowed eBooks can be sent to your Kindle eReader.  For more info, go here:  https://www.dclibrary.org/research-and-learn/overdrive-libby