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The MLK Library is now closed for a three-year, $208 million renovation. Washingtoniana is to partially reopen on May 8 in three interim spaces–the Historical Society of Washington (HSW) (in the Carnegie Library building), the Library of Congress and the Georgetown Neighborhood Library (D.C.\u2019s central library to close for 3 yrs<\/a>)<\/p>\n On March 2, 2017, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh wrote to Events DC, the operator of the Carnegie building, asking them to \u201cwork with DCPL and [HSW] to ensure that access to the Washingtoniana Collection is not reduced\u201d during the renovation (CM Cheh’s Letter to Events DC about Washingtoniana<\/a>).<\/p>\n To follow-up, Mary Alice Levine (Ward 3 Dems, Tenley Library Friends), Robin Diener (MLK Library Friends) and Bill Rice met last Friday (3\/24) with Samuel Thomas, Sr. VP, Events DC and John Suau, Ex. Dir., HSW. While not answering the Cheh letter directly, they agreed to consider additional access, with the understanding this could\/would require \u201cmore resources.\u201d<\/p>\n On February 22, 2017, the Council\u2019s Education Committee, chaired by At-large CM David Grosso, along with CM Trayon White from Ward 8, heard strong testimony for full Washingtoniana access, including from Nelson Rimensnyder, Michael Wentworth, Chris Otten, (DC for Reasonable Development), Jesse Lovell (Ward 3 Dems) Mary Alice Levine (Tenley-Friendship Library) and Pat Tyson (Military Road Preservation Trust). In response, Chair Grosso said the planned access is cost-effective and he was deferring to DCPL on this matter. The budget hearing will be on Monday, May 1, in Room 412, 11 a<\/em>.m.<\/p>\nCM Cheh Asks Convention Center for More Access at HSW<\/em><\/h5>\n
Council Hears from Washingtoniana Users<\/em><\/h5>\n