Petworth
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DC Writes! A Petworth Writers Workshop

Wednesday, October 30, 2019, 7:00 pm

The Petworth Library's writers workshops are made up of people from a variety of backgrounds and writing levels: beginners, veteran wordsmiths and emeriti. We write creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and scripts.

#selfie: A Memoir Workshop

Thursday, October 31, 2019, 9:45 am

#Selfie: A New Thursday Night Memoir Group at Petworth Library The Petworth Library is offering a new memoir workshop called #Selfie, a 12-week workshop. Selfies are often brief glimpses into the soul, in this 12-week memoir writing workshop we’ll explore what soul looks like etched out in prose. The workshop will facilitate a space to recreate moments of your life through crucial elements of personal writing-craft, authenticity, and voice– via writing assignments, example, practice, and feedback.

Frightening Film Night

Thursday, October 31, 2019, 6:30 pm

Celebrate the season with a screening of Let the Right One In.

Family Story Time

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 10:30 am

Story Time fun for the entire family. These 30-40 minute story times are packed full of books and activities designed to be enjoyed by all ages. Promoting language and literacy skills, these story times are a great way to further your child’s lifelong love of reading and learning. Children and their grownups are encouraged to actively engage and participate with the stories and activities during the program.

Senior Care Monthly Series

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 1:00 pm

The Petworth Neighborhood Library is pleased to host Timothy Howard, advisor to Senior Advisors Plus, for a free monthly series on providing care to aging seniors. Mr. Howard will present the following information over a six month period. At-home care Configuring the home Companion care Home care Home health Other at-home services Community care Independent living or active adult

This is My Story: Memoir Writing at the Petworth Writers' Workshops

Monday, November 4, 2019, 9:30 am

Come join us at Petworth Library for our new writing program, This is My Story. Have you ever wanted to write a memoir? Is there something you've always wanted to say, but are afraid to say it? Join us as we explore the craft of writing memoirs and learn from other memoir writers the best way to take from our own memories—our own stories—and put them to paper.

Baby and Toddler Story Time

Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 10:00 am

These 20-to-30-minute story times are full of books, songs, rhymes and finger plays for children birth to 2 years old. Our Baby and Toddler Story Time is a great way to introduce your child to language skills in a positive and fun environment. With slightly more activity and movement than our lap times, children and their grownups are encouraged to engage with the books and songs, and to actively participate in the program.

Let's Communicate in American Sign Language

Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 6:30 pm

Join us for a weekly program that covers both beginners and advanced beginners American Sign Language. A beginners class will feature 100+ ASL vocabulary words and helpful rules of grammar. A second class for advanced beginners will present opportunities to review what you know, learn new signs, and practice conversation. Anyone can join one or both classes despite experience level. This is a FREE community program spanning 10 weeks. Tuesdays, Oct. 15 – Dec. 17, 2019

Writers Working: A Petworth Library Writers Workshop

Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 7:00 pm

The Petworth Library holds the writers workshop, Writers Working, on alternating Tuesdays. The Petworth Library's writers workshops are made up of people from a variety of backgrounds and writing levels: beginners, veteran wordsmiths and emeriti. We write creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and scripts.

Preschool Story Time

Wednesday, November 6, 2019, 10:30 am

Share the fun of reading with your children ages 3-5 years. Children and their grownups will explore stories and activities to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning. These 30-to-40-minute programs are designed to promote language and listening skills, expand children’s imaginations and arouse their curiosity about the world around them. Please call 202-243-1188 to schedule a story time for preschool, school or daycare groups.

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Bird Box Read-a-Like Challenge

Adult Fiction with Thrills and Chills

Pop culture has been abuzz over the latest book to film adaptation: Netflix's Bird Box. The overnight sensation walks the line of a post-apocalyptic, psychological thriller featuring Sandra Bullock and her two children evading a mysterious presence to reach safety. The film has generated much curiosity toward the source material and DC Public Library has everything you need for your movie to book comparison needs.

Image of silhouettes holding protest signs

Teen Activism and Advocacy

In 2018, teens used their voices to demand change. They advocated for themselves, for their families and for each other by attending protests, participating in campaigns, and contacting representatives in their local and federal governments. The advocacy of teens has often been overlooked and their power is minimized. These books highlight the issues teens face today, how you can affect change in your community, and introduce the voices of teen activists.

Is This Really Controversial?

Books about teens that have been challenged by parents, schools or libraries.

Banned Books Week is a very popular time for readers everywhere.

Dialogue With Neighbors

A Community Conversation Series

Please join us across the city for a three-part structured community dialogue in June 2018. Each dialogue will build on the previous one. And while some may not be able to attend all three dialogues, we are hoping for a core group to be part of all three dialogues so the conversation can deepen over the three weeks. Refreshments will be served at all dialogue sessions.

Adults

Weird Summer

Stories to Read at O-Dark-Thirty

I love October for its Halloween creepiness, but I'm most in the mood to read weird fiction once the weather turns warm. Maybe it's some early childhood influences at work: my grade-school summers were filled with trips to the library, where I could check out whatever I wanted, and for a long time that was solely stories of UFOs, Bigfoot, ghosts and telekinesis.

Lesbians...in...SPAAAAACE!

The future of sci-fi is queer.

One of the frustrating things about reading books with queer characters is that, until fairly recently, the publications that seemed to get the most attention were realistic plots that often involved grim coming-out stories. If you wanted to read about lesbian or genderfluid characters who just happened to be wizards, adventuring space pirates or awkward AIs, you were mostly out of luck.

Photography Classes

Spring and Summer 2018

All workshops will last 90 minutes and will be taught by photography teacher Amanda Archibald. We will meet in the lower level meeting room. Register via Eventbrite or e-mail us to help us plan ahead. Click the links below for more information.

What to Read After Seeing "The Shape of Water"

Books for those who can't get enough of Guillermo del Toro's weird and atmospheric movies

Guillermo del Toro's movie The Shape of Water was released this past December, and people immediately began arguing as to whether it was a romance or a horror film. It definitely has elements of both, being about a mute janitress who realizes a disturbingly humanoid fish monster is being subjected to cruel experiments in the secret government facility where she works.

Date with a Book? How About a Movie for Dessert?

Where has summer gone – no, really? Soon enough the weather will get nippy again and school buses will be rattling down the street. If you have been too busy this summer to read, here are some great book and movie combinations to get you caught up. These selections are fantastic for books clubs or for those of us who just plan to skip ahead and watch the movie!

Petworth Reads

"The Expendable Man"

After learning about this book from a review of Get Out, I knew that it was a must read. Set in 1963 Maricopa County, this mystery deals with racism, police brutality and reproductive rights in a strikingly relevant way. Author Dorothy B. Hughes’ precognition was clearly on point and this book proves that the past is truly prologue.

Adults