Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

The MLK Jr. Memorial Library closed on Saturday, March 4, 2017 for modernization: learn more at dclibrary.org/mlkfuture. Interim services for the MLK Library (including the Library Express location, Special Collections, and the Memory Lab) began on Monday, May 8, 2017. Please visit dclibrary.org/mlkinterim for more information on interim services.
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Silent Mission Shiloh Baptist Church 1910

Dr. Andrew Jackson Foster and the African-American Deaf Mission in Washington, DC

Oldest African-American Deaf Mission in the United States

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Week (January 17 – 23, 2016)   The DC Public Library Presents   Dr. Andrew Jackson Foster and the African-American Deaf Mission in Washington, DC   Dr. Isaac O. Agboola Interim Dean, School of Education, Business, and Human Services, Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.   Judy C. Williams Historian, Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington, D. C.     Tuesday, January 19, 2016   6:00 – 8:30 PM  

Photo of Kevin Powell

An Evening with Kevin Powell

Join us as Kevin Powell, activist, writer, and public speaker discusses his new book, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood.

Cover of This Place Has No Atmosphere shows a girl wearing '80s fashion looking at the Earth from the moon.

Books for '80s Kids to Share With the Kids in Their Lives

Ah, the 1980s--era of Rainbow Brite, the Electric Company, and the after-school special. Ronald Reagan was our president, the Cold War was still on, and computers were just beginning to be more than a curiosity to the average person.  In children's literature, the '80s sometimes get a bad rap for being the era of the "problem novel"; basically, an after-school special in book form.  Still, some pretty great books were published during that decade.

Jack Anime eyes.

October Is a Gamer's Holiday All Month Long

Celebrate Halloween on weekends in October!

We're celebrating Halloween (and gamers) at your favorite downtown library all month long: Make Your Own Cosplay Costume! Get ready for Halloween or your next Comic Con with something fresh and original.Film Showing: The Dark Knight Returns, Parts 1 & 2

Thomasena and Aman

Teens Visit National Portrait Gallery

Summary of Art Attack on August 20

On Thursday, Aug. 20, teens met at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in the Teen Space to walk over to the National Portrait Gallery and sketch portraits. Ms. Blair Kirkbaumer, teen programs coordinator at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, introduced the teens to the concepts of portraiture. One teen sketched the bronze sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. by Joseph Stein in The Struggle for Justice exhibit on the second floor, and the other sketched the sculpture of George Bush by Patrick Oliphant in the America's Presidents exhibit on the second floor.

tent

Camping in the Library

On September 27, as part of the fun programs we offer every Sunday in the Children's Department, we got to go on a camping adventure in the library. It's important to be prepared, so we started our adventure by gearing up. Each child wore a backpack full of the essentials - water, a snack, bug spray, matches and a flashlight. Then we were ready for a hike around the library. After our hike, we rested by our campsite and started building a "fire". We lit our matches and had a nice roaring fire in no time. Then came out the marshmallows.

Martin Luther King Jr. Library Closes Early Oct. 7

Library to Close at 8 p.m.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will close at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for extermination. The library will re-open at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8.   

DCLM photo

DC Legendary Musicians Ceremony and Jam Session

Celebrate DC's legendary R & B musicians with an official proclamation and live music

On October 31 from 2 to 5 pm, the DCLM (DC Legendary Musicians) band returns to the Great Hall at the MLK Memorial Library to celebrate and honor DC's professional musicians and performers, past and present, with an official reading of a letter from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. A scroll of professional musicians will be presented to DCPL's Special Collections, followed by a live jam session!

Cryptonomicon book cover

Information Antics

A Reading List

Banned Books Week is drawing to a close, but the Information Antics exhibit will be on display at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library through October 22. Here's a reading list to accompany the show, featuring fiction and nonfiction dealing with the ways in which information and data can shape the world. Fiction:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!

Happy Banned Books Week!   DC Public Library invites you to celebrate the freedom to read with us during Banned Books Week (9/27-10/3).  

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