Heritage Wall | Ribbon Cutting | Library Naming Request | Community Engagement | Community Meetings | Focus Groups and Surveys

Heritage Wall

Artist Michelle Lisa Herman [4] is asking Lamond-Riggs area residents and fellow neighbors to contribute fabric “swatches” and/or family photographs that will be scanned and used to create a digital collage for the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library “Heritage Wall.” The piece takes inspiration from the concept of a quilt which is stitched together from a variety of different fabrics. By scanning the fabrics and photos of residents in the neighborhood, the artist hopes to collaborate with area residents in creating this digital tapestry.

What Materials Can I Contribute?

• Fabric “Swatches” | Heirloom fabric patterns, textiles or quilts that were made by you/family members, clothing handed down that has special significance and meaning, or other fabrics and patterns that remind you of something meaningful.
• Photographs | Photos that have connections to the neighborhood, historical family photos of Lamond-Riggs residents, family gatherings in the Lamond-Riggs area, celebrations, picnics, or loved ones that have a connection to the neighborhood are welcome. To be respectful of privacy, please make sure anyone pictured in the photograph is also comfortable having their likeness be part of the final, permanent, artwork.

How Can I Participate?

1. Bring Your Materials to an In-Person Scanning Session at the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library (the materials will be scanned and returned to you at the session)
   1. Saturday, July 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. [5]
   2. Wednesday, Aug. 3, 6 – 7:45 p.m. [6]
2. OR Submit Materials Online. Click here [7] to upload your images [7].

Ribbon Cutting

The new Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library opened on Monday, June 27 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Muriel Bowser. The new 23,500 square foot Lamond-Riggs Library replaces the old 17,930 square-foot library. The building houses a wide range of flexible spaces including:

• Expanded space for adults, teens and children;
• A variety of collaboration spaces including a living room-style seating area;
• A large meeting room with a capacity for 100 people, dividable into separate smaller rooms;
• 7 additional reservable meeting spaces, one for up to 12 people, two for up to six people each, and four study spaces designed for two people; and
• Outdoor spaces on each floor with comfortable seating.

The project was funded at $20 million. The Library hired the design-build team of HGA Architects and Consigli Construction to complete the project to meet the latest U.S. Green Building Council LEED v.4 Silver Certification.

Watch the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony below.

Library Naming Request

At its May 2022 meeting, the Board of Library Trustees voted to rename the Library the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library, honoring the longtime activist and Ward 5 resident. 

A former President of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association and a former Democratic National Committee member, Huff was instrumental in securing the funding from Congress to build the original Lamond-Riggs Library. Huff served as the first President of the Friends of the Lamond-Riggs Library. She was also Vice President of the Federation of Friends of the DC Public Library. Huff was the elected leader of the District's Delegation to the White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services in 1978. President Jimmy Carter appointed her Vice-Chairperson of the Pre-White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is a vital aspect of the design process for a new library. DC Library continues to seek community input through a variety of formats. 

• Three members of the community served on the design team selection panel.
• Two surveys have been conducted by DC Library and the Friends of Lamond-Riggs Library conducted a third survey.  
• The Library hosted 10 focus groups with adults, parents of young children, seniors, teachers, students and library staff.
• Three community meetings have been held with additional meetings to he held as the design takes shape.

Community Meetings

Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The Library hosted a final community meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The design team shared the final design and provided an overview of the project timeline. The library closed permanently for construction in 2020, and construction began in summer 2020. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with the new library opening in early 2022.

Interim library services will be provided in a storefront location at 395 Ingraham St. NE (Art Place at Fort Totten). An opening date for the interim location has not been determined. The Library will be taking the need for social distancing measures into account in determining when to open the interim location. More information about opening of the interim location will be provided soon.

• Read the questions and answers [8] from the final community meeting.

• View the Final Design [9]

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019
The Library hosted a community meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 for the design team to share the draft design and to gather community feedback.

• View the presentation [10].
• View the community comments [11].

Wednesday, June 12, 2019
The Library hosted a community meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 for the design team to share initial concepts for placement of spaces and services and to gather community feedback.

• View the presentation. [12]
• View the community comments. [13]

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2019
The Library hosted a community meeting on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 to share the draft Library Building Program.

• View the presentation. [14]
• View the community comments. [15]

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018
The Library hosted a community meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 to introduce the design team and gather initial input.

View the presentation [16].
View the community comments. [17]

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2017
The Library hosted a community meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2017 to outline the project process and timeline and to share examples of buildings around the city that the Library has completed to date. View the presentation. [18]

Focus Groups and Surveys

View the results of the surveys

• 2018 Fall community survey [19]

• 2018 Spring community survey [20]

View the results of the focus groups

• 2018 Fall DCPS focus groups [21]
• 2018 Fall staff focus groups [22]
• 2018 Fall community meeting focus groups [23]
• 2018 Spring adult library patrons focus groups [24]
• 2018 Spring staff focus groups [25]

In 2017, the Friends of Lamond-Riggs Library conducted a survey.

• View the survey results here [26].

If you have questions about the project, you may contact Martha Saccocio, martha.saccocio@dc.gov or 202-727-1188.