Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Meeting Purpose: Community listening meeting and discussion of hopes and dreams
for the renovation of the Georgetown Neighborhood Library.
Georgetown Community Library Hopes and Dreams Meeting – March 12, 2008
Summary of Public Comments
Page 1
Following introductions, Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian for the District of Columbia Public
Library (DCPL), introduced the renovation project and purpose of the meeting, discussed
the constraints and opportunities facing the project, and provided context for the 18
library service responses and how they were developed. The public was then given the
opportunity to discuss and identify their top service priorities using the 18 existing service
responses as a guide. The priorities represent a tally of all responses. The following were
identified as the top 3 priorities (1 is the most important):
The remaining service responses are listed in order of importance as indicated by the
participants:
Make Informed Decisions: Health, Wealth, and Other Life Choices (8)
Learn to Read and Write: Adult, Teen, and Family Literacy (9)
The following service response was not identified as a priority by meeting participants:
Georgetown Community Library Hopes and Dreams Meeting – March 12, 2008
Summary of Public Comments
Page 2
Compilation of Additional Comments & Questions
• Is there enough funding to expand the library during renovation?
• Would like the renovated library to provide excellent services, resources, and
attractive space for pre-schoolers, school-aged children, and young adults.
• Need a sufficient number of computers in the library.
• Classics and newly released books should be maintained and readily available to
patrons.
• Would like to request that the Friends of the Georgetown Library be given a room
in the rebuilt library. The room would be used to process donated books used to
raise funds for the Georgetown Library.
• Would like to receive earlier notice of subsequent public meetings.
• Were most or all of the books in the library destroyed in last year’s fire?
• How many books were in the Peabody Room collection?
• Is DCPL pursuing a lawsuit against the contractor responsible for last year’s fire?
• How will DCPL use information from tonight’s meeting in renovating the library?
• Rebuilt rooms within the library should be flexible and serve several purposes.
• What is the timetable for re-opening the Georgetown Library?
• Will there be an interim library during reconstruction of the old library?
• Strongly consider turning a vacant building in the area into an interim library for
the community.
• Would like meeting notices to be sent to personal email addresses.
• Fantastic meeting. It was helpful to meet many of the DCPL staff who will be
involved with the reconstruction of the library.
• Who is the head of the budget committee concerning the renovation of the
Georgetown Library?
The Georgetown Neighborhood Library is scheduled to re-open in late 2010. The next
public meeting date is TBD.
Georgetown Community Library Hopes and Dreams Meeting – March 12, 2008
Summary of Public Comments
Page 3