In August, District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) approached Argos group, a consulting firm, about developing cost estimates to renovate or rebuild Ward 5’s two libraries.

As of press time, no contract had been signed.

DCPL spokesperson George Williams cautioned that the enquiry was a “planning exercise,” not a sign that DCPL intended to make any improvements to Ward 5’s aging libraries.

DCPL contacted Argos Group days after publication of Brookland Heartbeat’s July/August issue. An article in the issue revealed that DCPL had scrapped plans to rebuild both Woodridge and Lamond-Riggs libraries in Ward 5.

Lamond-Riggs library had been scheduled for replacement in 2010 and Woodridge library in 2011, but these plans were eliminated from DCPL’s 2010 budget.

Brookland Heartbeat obtained records of DCPL’s correspondence with Argos Group through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The documents revealed that DCPL has no plans underway to renovate or rebuild the libraries in Ward 5.

DCPL construction manager Jeff Bonvechio said plans to rebuild many of the District’s branch libraries, including Woodridge and Lamond-Riggs, were scrapped because there was insufficient justification.

“There was no real plan as to why the money was going to those libraries,” he explained.

Mr. Bonvechio said DCPL would create a new plan in 2010 to decide how to spend its funds.

Because DCPL is creating an entirely new plan, wards that have already received a major library renovation are eligible for new spending.

For example, Mt. Pleasant library in Ward 1 just received a $15 million state-of-the-art overhaul. As recently as last year, DCPL had no plans for further spending in Ward 1. However, the Northwest Current newspaper reported in June that DCPL’s new plan, “could possibly include a new facility in Ward 1.”

Politically weak wards, like Ward 5, are unlikely to benefit from DCPL’s new planning process.

Over the past several years, DCPL has spent or committed approximately $150 million to overhaul or replace almost a dozen libraries around the District—in every Ward except Ward 5.

DCPL policy is overseen by a group of nine DC residents, called the Board of Library Trustees. The majority of the Trustees live in Wards 1 and 2; none of the Trustees live in Ward 5.

After DCPL’s actions were reported in the July/August issue of Brookland Heartbeat, the agency issued a denial. In a July 30th letter to the editor, DCPL spokesperson George Williams said it was untrue that DCPL had terminated plans to rebuild Woodridge and Lamond-Riggs libraries. [See letter below]

However, DCPL Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper was unable to produce any budget documents or plans supporting her agency’s claims. A search for documents conducted by Brookland Heartbeat under the Freedom of Information Act confirmed that no plans exist.

Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. is chairperson of the DC Council Committee that oversees libraries, parks and recreation and has significant influence over DCPL spending decisions.

In a September mailing to Ward 5 residents, Mr. Thomas stated: “Since January 2007, I have fully funded new libraries for Woodridge and Lamond-Riggs.” In fact, on May 1st, Mr. Thomas approved DCPL’s 2010 budget, which eliminated plans to rebuild both Woodridge and Lamond-Riggs libraries. Mr. Thomas did not respond to questions for this article.

To the Editor:

     The DC Public Library takes issue with several statements in the “District Scraps Plans for New Libraries in Ward 5” story in the July/August issue of the Brookland Heartbeat. The article has several inaccuracies that we feel warrant correcting.
    The reporter falsely asserts that because funding for capital projects at neighborhood libraries is now all in a neighborhood libraries fund, plans for Woodridge, Lamond-Riggs and other libraries have been scrapped. This is not true. In fact, as part of the Library Services and Facilities strategic plan, the Library Board will look at all libraries including Woodridge and Lamond-Riggs and determine how current library buildings and locations are meeting the needs of DC residents now and in the future. To make this clear, we believe in the FY2010 budget that the neighborhood libraries fund will again be designated for specific library locations.
    The reporter inaccurately states that the Services and Facilities strategic plan will replicate the work of the Blue Ribbon task force several years ago. In fact, the task force report recommended that the Library Board look at branch locations, as the reporter points out. The Library Board will do so with the services and facilities strategic plan.