Tenley Library Friends To Host Book Talk and Discussion: The Orange Tree

On Wednesday April 10 at 7 PM

The Friends of Tenley-Friendship Library will host an evening with Martin Ganzglass as he talks about his book, The Orange Tree, Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Tenley Library.

Set in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area, The Orange Tree is the story of the unlikely friendship between an elderly Jewish woman and a young Somali Muslim woman who cares for her in a Bethesda nursing home. Both women are haunted by the prejudice and violence in their lives. The book will be on sale after the discussion for $15. Cash and checks accepted. Tenley-Friendship Library is on Wisconsin Avenue at Albemarle Street, NW Take the red line to Tenleytown.

Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library
4450 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
[email protected]
202-727-1488

Friends Contact:  Mary Alice Levine, [email protected]

Film Screening & Talk by documentary filmmaker Michelle Jones at MLK

On Monday March 18 at 7 PM

Michelle Jones’ film “Master Builders” showcases the life and projects of pioneering African American architects in Washington DC at the end of the 19th century. Many years in the making, this documentary brings to light an overlooked contribution to architecture in the nation’s capital.  The DC Preservation League website proclaims it  “… truly a history worthy to be shared.”

Executive Producer Michelle Jones, a former archivist at the American Institute of Architects, will be on hand to discuss the film.

Black Studies Center, Room 316
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library
901 G Street, NW

Mt. Pleasant Library Friends to hold first book sale in new library

 

On Saturday April 6, from 10 AM to 3 PM

Volunteers needed for set up Friday afternoon and for the sale itself on Saturday. Even a couple hours would be appreciated.

Book donations accepted through Friday April 5. Drop them off at the front desk of the Mt Pleasant branch when library is open. Please do not put them in the outside book drop.

Join the Friends of Mt. Pleasant Library. Registration forms available at the Library or online http://www.dclibraryfriends.org/mtpleasant/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheMountPleasantLibrary
Twitter https://twitter.com/FriendsofMTPlib.

Author Talk by Rebecca Gale March 6 at Tenley Library

Author Rebecca Gale will discuss her new book, Trying, on Wednesday, March 6th at 7 PM at the Tenley Library.

Gale works at CQ Roll Call, where she writes a new weekly advice column called Hill Navigator. She has worked as a press secretary and communications director for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa). Trying is her first novel.

Support the Friends of Tenley Library on Facebook.

Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library
4450 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
[email protected]
202-727-1488

Author John Muller on his book: Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC

The Friends of the Woodridge Library invites the public to a talk by author John Muller about his new book Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: The Lion of Anacostia.

Muller is a local journalist and playwright who grew up in the DC area. His play “The 70”  was performed to great acclaim at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library in 2006. It was about the experience of riding the number 70 bus route that ran between the waterfront in Southwest Washington and the plaza in downtown Silver Spring.  In the Washington Post, the playwright compared the experience to Mark Twain’s traveling the Mississippi and writing “Huckleberry Finn.”

Frederick Douglass is Muller’s first book. He is working on a second about Mark Twain.

John Muller a former reporter for The Washington Times and current contributor to Capital Community News. He is a library lover and also blogs for Greater Greater Washington.

This event is free and open to the public.

Monday February 25, 2013 at 6 pm                                                                Woodridge Neighborhood Library                                                                                 1801 Hamlin Street, NE                                                                                              (corner of Rhode Island Avenue and 18th Street, NE)

http://www.dclibrary.org/woodridge

 

 

 

Library Trustees March Meeting

Wednesday March 28, 2012 at 6 PM
Chevy Chase Library

Six of eight trustees present. Donald Richardson and Brenda Richardson absent. List of Trustees

Agenda and other meeting documents

Call to Order

Introductions: New DCPL Security Chief Mark Polk — a lawyer and 25 year law enforcement professional, who also serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System.

Summary of Actions: Two votes taken
1) Resolution to request $1 million for another study of MLK central library
2) Resolution to name the meeting room of the new Francis Gregory Library in honor of Elizabeth Holden “for significant contributions” to the library. Holden bequeathed approximately $1 million to the Francis Gregory and Woodridge branches specifically to “enhance, increase and enrich the use of these libraries.”

Public Comment  Rosedale ANC Commissioner Gladys Mack and President of the Rosedale Grassroots Coalition Sondra Phillips-Gilbert brought forward a request from their community — to preserve in legacy the names R. L. Christian and Langston at the soon-to-open Rosedale Library and Recreation Center.  Until August 2009, the Rosedale neighborhood was served by library kiosks named for the two men.

President’s Report  John Hill reminded attendees about tomorrow’s Budget Hearing by City Council’s Library Committee. Hill reiterated his view that DCPL has always adhered to its allotted budget regardless of financial pressures, unlike other agencies that seem to overspend with impunity. He noted also that cuts to DCPL’s operating budget, made under previous Mayors, have not yet been made up in the Gray administration. Mayor Gray proposed an increase of $6 million over last year, falling short of the Trustees’ request for $10 million to restore DCPL to its highwater mark of $44 million in 2008. The Trustees had also asked for $210 million in capital funds over five years to complete the transformation of the library system, but the Mayor proposed only $55 million.

DC Reads  A committee of librarians has selected 3 books to consider for the annual DC Reads program:  Enique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario; The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu;  Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi.

The Trustees were asked to vote by email for their choice. Trustee Cohen observed that last year’s book The Other Wes Moore was particularly readable. For more information  http://www.dclibrary.org/dcreads

Library Performance Measures Data from this report included an 11% increase in use of Tutor.com — an on-line homework service available to students. The report also gives circulation numbers by branch.

Finance Cmte Chair Bonnie Cohen expressed disappointment that more library users do not attend Trustees meetings.  She urged Chevy Chase and Cleveland Park residents to support the Trustees capital budget request because it would include the rebuilding of their neighborhood libraries. Agency CFO Eric Coard reported that the Mayor’s budget allotment for books was the same as last year:  $1.7 million.  Chief Librarian Cooper expressed her worries that new library users will not return if they do not find what they want on the shelves.  It was noted, however, that the Mayor has specifically prioritized (among the top 25) an additional $1 million for DCPL collections if additional revenues are found.

Facilities Cmte Chair Richard Levy commended Facilities Director Ed Hampton for outstanding maintenance work.  “We inherited a system in deplorable condition,” but now all buildings are fully operational. Levy moved forward the request for $1 million to consider the Urban Land Institute recommendations for MLK “more globally.”

Director of Capital Projects Jeff Bonvechio reported:

  • that a design for the Woodridge Library rebuild had been selected,
  • plans for the NE Library would go before Historic Preservation Board soon,
  • the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development will pay for the “fit out” and rental of space for the interim West End Library (and Firehouse)
  • a storefront space on M Street has been identified by DCPL for the WE interim library,
  • developer Eastbanc has set November as the date for DCPL to vacate the WE Library.

DCPL Foundation  Library Foundation President Linnea Haggerty reported that the Foundation was in the process of expanding its board. Two new members have been named: Susan Haight, President of the West End Library Friends and of the Federation of Friends of DCPL; and Neil Albert, former Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development under Mayor Williams and engineer of the West End redevelopment deal that included the West End library.

Adjourn

Tommy Wells Announces Book Discussion Group

Councilmember Tommy Wells, Chair of the Libraries, Parks, Recreation and Planning Committee has chosen Triumph of the City, by Edward Glaeser as the first selection for his Tommy’s Traveling Book Club. The inaugural session is scheduled for Monday December 5th at 6:30 PM at the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library. Joining him in leading the discussion will be Harriet Tregoning, Director of the DC Office of Planning. The book club is a joint partnership with the Federation of Friends of the Library and will meet quarterly at different libraries around the city.

The public is invited to participate.

Click on the below link for information and to sign up for the initial meeting
http://www.tommywells.org/events/TommyBookClub2011Dec

Triumph of the City is nonfiction, intended for the general reader.  Edward Glaeser is an economist based at Harvard.  The book argues that cities attract dense concentrations of educated people who collaboratively innovate, create jobs, drive investment, keep rents low, and expend less energy per capita.  Marshaling history, anecdote, and economics, the author creates what has been called a “paean to the city.”