Library to Add Saturday Hours and Open More Locations, Including New Southwest Library, in May

Monday, April 19, 2021, 12:40 p.m.News Releases

Library to Add Saturday Hours and Open More Locations, Including New Southwest Library, in May

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Starting May 3, the DC Public Library will open more libraries and add Saturday hours at its open locations. On May 6, the new Southwest Library in Ward 6 will open.

The Deanwood and Southeast libraries will join the already open libraries to provide limited in-person services. The following locations will be open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:
  • Anacostia (Ward 8)
  • Bellevue (Ward 8)
  • Benning (Ward 7)
  • Capitol View (Ward 7)
  • Chevy Chase (Ward 3)
  • Cleveland Park (Ward 3)
  • Deanwood (Ward 7)
  • Francis-Gregory (Ward 7)
  • Georgetown (Ward 3)
  • Mount Pleasant (Ward 1)
  • Northeast (Ward 6)
  • Palisades (Ward 3)
  • Petworth (Ward 4)
  • Shaw (Ward 6)
  • Shepherd Park (Ward 4)
  • Southeast (Ward 6)
  • Tenley-Friendship (Ward 3)
  • West End (Ward 2)
  • Woodridge (Ward 5)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Southwest Library to Open

The new $18 million library will blend with the mid-century modern architecture for which the neighborhood is known. The library features 20,000 square feet of public space; a variety of seating options and spaces for reading, a meeting room for at least 100 people; three conference rooms for 12 - 20 people; four study rooms for one - four people; separate areas for children, teens, and adults; an outdoor reading porch and an Innovation Lab with 3-D printers. The Southwest Library is the latest project in the District’s ongoing work to improve libraries. The Southwest Library will open with the same limited in-person services as the current open libraries.

During the District's public health emergency, people are able to visit the library to:
  • Pick up books that they have placed on hold.
  • Apply for a library Card: Customers can apply for a library Card at an open branch and online via the Library's website http://www.dclibrary.org.
  • Use a computer: The Library has reduced the number of public computers to ensure six feet of social distancing. In addition, computer sessions are limited to 45-minute sessions to allow for cleaning and for more people to access the internet. While photocopying and scanning are not available, customers can send documents electronically for free printing.
  • Borrow Grab & Go Materials: Curated book titles and bundles of books will be available for checkout near the circulation desk. Customers can ask for a specific item, and the staff member will retrieve it. 
The following measures at libraries have been put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:
  • Face masks required for staff and public.
  • Hand sanitizer available at each location for staff and public.
  • Regulated entry and occupancy.
  • Reconfigured branches to promote social distancing.
On April 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its cleaning guidelines, indicating that the risk of catching COVID-19 from a contaminated surface is low. In keeping with the new guidelines and in consultation with DC Health and agencies managing the city’s reopening, the Library will eliminate the 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. closure for additional cleaning effective Monday, May 3. Regular cleaning throughout the day will continue as well as additional cleaning in the event there is a COVID-19 positive case at a library location.

The Library continues to serve residents through its online digital library. Visit dclibrary.org or download the DC Public Library mobile app for reopening information and the event schedule.