Benning Library History

The Benning Interim Library opened its doors to the public Friday, July 20, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. Plans and designs for the Construction of the new Benning Neighborhood Library are underway.

The Benning Branch of the D.C. Public Library was erected at 3935 Benning Road N.E. as the sixth in a series of branch libraries funded under the D.C. Public Works Program. The building was designed by architect Clark T. Harmon in cooperation with the District's Office of the Supervising Architect, and constructed by Rogers & McGrath, Incorporated of Washington, D.C., at a cost of approximately $500,000. The Benning Branch opened May 17, 1962, in a one-story, brick and concrete building.

The Benning Branch is located in the neighborhood east of the Anacostia River in the vicinity of Benning Road. Known in the 19th century as Pleasant Grove, the area was settled by blacks following the Civil War. It eventually came to be known as Benning Heights after an early area landowner William Benning, who helped finance the wooden bridge spanning the Anacostia River. The neighborhood consisted primarily of modest single-family dwellings. After World War II, the area began to grow, becoming a densely populated suburb by 1960.

The Benning Neighborhood Library was first mentioned as part of the D.C. Public Works Program in 1956. Yet a drawing located at the National Archives indicates that the office of the Municipal Architect completed preliminary designs for a Neighborhood Library in Benning as early as November 1949.

Several other branch projects took precedence over Benning, delaying its construction. In 1961, Congress finally appropriated funds for the construction. During the planning period, progress was impeded by the Commission of Fine Arts, which objected to the proposed design. David E. Finley, Chairman of the Commission, in a letter to General Frederick J. Clark, the D.C. Engineering Commissioner, explained that the Commission felt "the designs of the building...are not regarded as adequate nor are they in accord with the architectural standards held appropriate to this city." Another critic of the design exclaimed upon seeing the drawings, "It looks like an industrial building!" In defense, Director of Buildings and Ground J.A. Blaser said D.C. policy required "the strictest economy and simplicity in construction." Although the department attempted to alter the plans in accordance with the Commission's wishes, they were in fact "unable to change the design," and proceeded without the Commission's approval.

The final design for the Benning Neighborhood Library, which bears resemblance to the preliminary 1949 sketch from the Municipal Architect’s Office, was prepared by architect Clark T. Harmon. Little is known about Harmon, but we know that he practiced in Washington in the 1950s and 1960s. Harmon's design followed the same general architectural program as the five previous branch libraries erected under the D.C. Public Works Program, each of which had similar design features. While the building program of these libraries was determined by the D.C. Public Library's staff, which developed its own set of guidelines, the visual similarity of the Public Works libraries implies that the Office of the Supervising Architect also influenced their architecture. The buildings all follow a similar architectural program that prescribes construction materials, decorative elements and the organization of the facade.

The Benning Branch building consisted of a one-story, reinforced concrete structure faced with red brick and embellished with cast stone trim. The facade centered on a large display window and a pair of tempered glass doors. The library building incorporated 18,000 square feet and could accommodate more than 50,000 books. The first floor contained a lobby, children's room, adult reference-reading room, the public book stacks, a circulation desk and a soundproof listening booth. The ground floor contained book storage space, the heating plant, and a community meeting room. The interior was lit by fluorescent lighting, and the walls consisted of painted cinder block. The open interior spaces were designed to allow for maximum flexibility with moveable double-faced bookcases providing the only partitions. The building's structure allowed for the future addition of a second story over a portion of the original building.

The new Benning Neighborhood Library opened on May 18, 1962, the day after its dedication. More than 750 people attended the dedication, where the principal speaker was D.C. Commissioner John Duncan. The library's first librarian, Edward James Talbert, was supported by a children's librarian and an assistant.

Over the years, the Benning Neighborhood Library has played an important role in the community. Some programs undertaken by the library during its operation include a film series, a Black History Contest, and a Book Bag Giveaway. The Friends of the Benning Neighborhood Library, a volunteer library support group established in 1983, offers aid to the library in equipping the branch, holding fundraising events, and advocating use of the library. A regular event sponsored by the Friends over the years is the Benning Library Festival.

Today, the Benning Neighborhood Library offers special collections, including the AV Howard Black Reference Collection, materials focused on adult basic education, a career corner, and a Consumer Information Center. The library now offers expanded services that include special events and programs such as the Umoja Reading Club, preschool films, and computer classes. The library also offers help in tax preparation for seniors, a meeting room for community groups and small rooms for tutors.