The Petworth library at Georgia Avenue, Iowa Avenue and Upshur Street.

by Cesse Ip

DC Public Libraries released a new master plan on November 19th that proposes changes to the libraries in our area, including refreshing the existing Petworth Library and replacing the existing Shepherd Park library with a new library in Brightwood Park. The plan, titled Next Libris, Latin for “from the books,” lays out its research over DC demographics, library usage trends, and its goals in the coming years.

The plan outlines the results of a study of usage per square feet that determined the Shepherd Park Library was the most underutilized per square foot in the entire city. According to the study, the Shepherd Park library is less than 0.75 miles from the Takoma Park library, and only one mile away from the 63,000 square foot library in Silver Spring, Maryland. The overlap in walkable area and general proximity between libraries with Shepherd Park library’s low square foot per capita usage is considered the reason for the lower attendance.

The study identifies six general geographic areas where DC residents do not have the same level of service as in other areas, including Brightwood Park/Manor Park. According to the study, while this area is located between four libraries, Shepherd Park, Takoma Park, Lamond Riggs and Petworth, the area is also at least a mile away from each library.

The areas of overlap of local libraries.

The study also cites that there are a lot of individuals living in the area who do not currently use the library and have the potential to become customers. Expanding library services to this area may relieve pressure on the services of the Petworth library, which has a low square feet per capital score due to population density.

No location has been proposed for the new Brightwood Park library, and the plan cites that further site exploration and community engagement will be required to identify the ideal new location. The new replacement library in Brightwood Park, along with two other new proposed libraries in DC, is estimated to cost $60-70 million.

In fiscal year 2019, the Petworth Library had more than 181,000 visits, making it one of the busiest libraries in a rapidly growing neighborhood, according to the study. The proposed refresh of the library would welcome tens of thousands of additional visitors annually.

Additionally, the plan proposes that the library refresh include an update so that it can better cater to local teens, due to its proximity to Roosevelt high and McFarland middle schools.

The plan claims that the existing layout compels teens and adults to share the same space, creating unsatisfactory experiences for both groups, and proposes relocating teen areas to the second floor. Lastly the plan proposes to improve sound attenuation of the worn-out finishes and flooring. The refresh of Petworth library, along with 10 other libraries, is estimated to cost $24 million.