Library Response to Hopes and Dreams Session, August 1, 2007

A community meeting was conducted early in the planning stages for the new library with the purpose of listening to the attendees’ “hopes and dreams” for the new Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library.

Sixty-two (62) community members added their names to the sign-in sheet at the meeting. Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper and other staff representing the library were there to listen.

After a presentation about the new library project, the meeting participants were given the opportunity to discuss and identify their top service priorities using the Public Library Association’s (PLA) Public Library Service Responses (18 categories to choose from) as a guide. Since the meeting, the DC Public Library (DCPL) has worked with the architects to ensure the top six identified priorities will be addressed in the design of the new building.

1) Create Young Readers: Early Literacy
The Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library will have space devoted to children’s services, which will include online access, a large collection of print and non-print resources (CD books, DVDs, mixed-media kits, etc.) for children from birth to age 12. Children’s librarians will provide regular story programs in which they model early literacy behaviors and will offer reader’s advisory services to children and their caregivers to encourage reading and early literacy.

2) Visit a Comfortable Place: Physical and Virtual Places
The plan is to create a welcoming civic building in which area residents can take pride. The new facility will feature a variety of spaces to meet a wide range of community needs, including a large public meeting room (for approximately 100 people), two smaller meeting rooms, a children’s program room, as well as smaller rooms for group study and for tutoring. There will be stack areas for print and non-print materials for users of all ages. The library will have a minimum of 38 PCs located throughout the library, and wireless access will be available for people with laptops and other electronic devices. The children’s area will have spaces (including collection and seating) dedicated to various age groups (five and under, beginning readers and elementary age). There will be a distinctive area for young adults to meet and to learn. Adults will have their own reading areas, online access area and a large collection of materials.

3) Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong Learning
A diverse, robust collection and online resources will be available to users of all ages. A variety of spaces will be available for individuals and for groups to use that includes study tables and chairs, lounge seating, group study and tutor rooms, and three public meeting rooms to accommodate groups of different sizes. Branch librarians will work with the community to develop appropriate adult programming such as computer learning classes, book discussions, and other cultural and educational events.

4) Stimulate Imagination: Reading, Viewing, and Listening for Pleasure
Near the entrance there will be face-out displays—for print and non-print materials—to immediately engage and stimulate the interest of people with a wide variety of subjects.

Nearby will be the New Books collection and the Sights and Sounds section where customers can browse. A catalog for people interested in exploring the collection further will be readily available. Librarians will continue to provide reader's advisory services for users.

5) Connect to the Online World: Public Internet Access
Library users will have ample access to the online world via the public PCs available at the branch, as well as wireless access throughout for those who bring in a laptop. Online access to databases for children, teens and adults will provide additional connections to the world of information. Well-trained staff will be available to help users with electronic resources.

6) Succeed in School: Homework Help
Using both the print collection and electronic resources (including the online service Live Homework Help), librarians will work with students to help ensure their success. Students will have access to the library PCs, as well as wireless access for students with laptop computers and other electronic devises. In addition, there will be spaces for individual study, tutoring and group study to facilitate student learning.