60962508 document 8 -- chief librarian's report

8/6/2019 60962508 Document 8 -- Chief Librarian's Report

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The Chief Librarian’s r eporT

Library News Highlights

July 27, 2011

heLp for Job seekers: a CiTy-Wide CoLLaboraTion1.DC Public Library convened a high-level strategy session on the

mosaic of services that support job seekers in the city, and how to

utilize this information to improve our efforts within the Library.

Twenty-ve representatives from six public agencies and non-prot

service providers—the Executive Ofce of the Mayor, Department

of Employment Services, Community College of the District of

Columbia, Byte Back, United Planning Organization, and ProjectCompass—participated. Participants learned about what the

others are doing and want to do to help local job seekers. As this

effort proceeds, the goal is to coordinate tasks, with each group

capitalizing on what they do best.

sisTer souLJah WoWs an audienCe of 2002.Sister Souljah’s latest book, Midnight and the Meaning of Love,

is set largely in the unlikely pairing of New York City and Japan, but

Sister Souljah made clear to her 200 listeners at MLK, Jr. Memorial

Library, that she sees no reason to restrict herself or her ctional

characters to the boundaries set by a single country’s borders. Her

appearance at MLK came through DCPL’s partnership with Howard

University’s Bookstore. Sister Souljah said she was born in the

Bronx and raised in the projects, but early on knew how to go to

the library—over and over again. Library books opened the world

to her. She earned a degree from Rutgers University in American

History and African Studies, and then followed her heart abroad,

where she became active in several human rights efforts.

inTernaTionaL GaminG niGhT Comes To norTheasT3.

Library

School’s out! In a rst-time partnership, Northeast Library invited

Labyrinth Games, a gaming shop in Southeast DC, to bring board

games from around the world to the Library’s teens and children.

A core group of teens led marathon games of Parcheesi, which

originated in India, and Yote, an African game that is similar to



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9. Library ConsTruCTion + ChiLdren = GreaT quesTions!Lisa Deanes, Project Manager of the Washington Highlands

Neighborhood Library, has met with many community groups as

new libraries were being planned and built around the city. But this

time the questions about the plans and construction process came

her way from an unusual group: The Sunshine Early Learning

Center invited Lisa for a show-and-tell about the coming new

Washington Highlands Library, which they are excited about, and

the Q&A was lively. The audience included about 50 pre-K and 10

elementary-age children.

10.Life pieCes To masTerpieCes

aT Takoma park Library

Takoma Park Library hosted an art show by student artists

enrolled in programs offered by The Life Pieces to Masterpieces

organization. More than 30 people met and talked with the artists,

who range in age from 3 to 21, and viewed their works. Founded

in 1996, Life Pieces serves more than 200 boys and young

men each year in neighborhoods that are east of the river. The

organization’s mission is to help their “apprentices” discover and

apply their creative abilities to change the challenges they face into

possibilities. The artists’ comments: “I get to use my ideas in art,”

“I let my imagination and creativity run free!” and “I love painting

because it’s MESSY!”

11. aCCessinG heaLTh informaTion aT deanWood Library

DCPL and Howard University are collaborating to promote and

provide health information to residents who live east of the river.

Deanwood Community Center and Library has been the locus of

this effort so far. The program’s purpose is to educate residents on

how to nd and evaluate health information. The rst stage targetsthe senior population. Two health information sessions were held

for seniors in June in the computer lab at Deanwood Library.

The NIHSSeniorHealth and MedlinePlus databases were

highlighted. Deanwood Library staff is also participating in

community health fairs.



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12. The sheiLa r oberTson prize Winners honored

aT Chevy Chase

Six children, ages 6 to 13, won the Sheila Robertson Prize and

seven were given Honorable Mention for book reviews they had

written. During the award ceremony, held at Chevy Chase Library,

each winner read his or her book review to the audience of 63

people. There were over 125 entries for this year’s city-wide

contest, which is sponsored by the Friends of Chevy Chase to

honor Ms. Robertson, Friends president for many years. This was

a special year, for Ms. Robertson passed away last December.

The program was dedicated to her, and her daughter and son-in-law

were present and accepted a donation of books in her namefor Chevy Chase Library.

anaCosTia Library r eCoGnized by 13.

T he L ibrary J ournaL

The Anacostia Neighborhood Library was awarded Honorable

Mention in the inaugural list of New Landmark Libraries issued

by The Library Journal. The library was one of 20 libraries

nationwide that was ofcially recognized by The Library Journal .

The Landmark Libraries project’s stated purpose is to highlight

groundbreaking public library buildings and establish a set of

standards to strengthen the capacity of communities to design and

build excellent public libraries. Anacostia Library was recognized

for its open oor plan and “green” features, as well as for its use of

natural materials and color in its design.

60962508 document 8 -- chief librarian's report

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