150th Anniversary of Emancipation in DC Event at Tenley Library, April 25

Two Lectures in Honor of the 150th Anniversary of Emancipation in DC: Program Co-sponsored by the DC Archives and Tenleytown Historical Society

When: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 7 pm
Where: Tenley Friendship Library, 2nd floor
Metro: Red line to Tenleytown, exit west side of Wisconsin Avenue

"The Triumph of Freedom: The Story of D.C. Emancipation"

 by C. R. Gibbs

C.R. Gibbs is an author, lecturer, and historian of the African diaspora. A native Washingtonian, he grew up on Capitol Hill. Mr. Gibbs is the author of Black, Copper, and Bright: The District of Columbia's Black Civil War Regiment, and a co-author of Black Georgetown Remembered: A History of Its Black Community from the Founding of the "Town of George" in 1751 to the Present Day.

"Lafayette, We Are Here: A Story of a Family of Free Blacks in the City of Washington"
 by Donet D. Graves, Esq.

Donet D. Graves, a lawyer, is partner-in-charge at Buckley King LPA in Cleveland, OH. Mr. Graves is a descendant of the renowned nineteenth-century Washington, DC hotelier James Wormley. He has spent decades researching his family's historical presence in Washington, and is able to present an untold narrative of the role the Wormley family played in the civic, political, cultural, and economic life of the City.

Used Book Sale at Tenley Library This Saturday

The Friends of Tenley-Friendship Library are having a mini used book sale on Saturday, January 21 from 10:30 to 1:30 at Tenley Library.

You will find a great deal of fiction, mystery, children's books, cookbooks, history books and more. More books are coming in every day. Only good quality used books will be sold.

Great bargains are offered, especially on art and architecture books. Science fiction and romance books are two for one on Saturday only. Most other books are $3.00 and under. Cash or checks only.

The sale is on 10:30am and 1:30pm on Saturday.

It's not too late to donate books. You can bring them to the Tenley Library during the hours when the library is open, but please, do not push them through the book return slots, which are intended for circulating library books only.

The Tenley-Friendship DC Public Library
4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016
202-727-1488

Author Judith Viorst at Tenley-Friendship Library, September 24

This Saturday, September 24, the Tenley-Friendship Library presents a talk by Judith Viorst, author of fiction and nonfiction for children and adults.  Her children's books include The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, The Alphabet from Z to A, and the Alexander series, which is based on the experiences of your youngest son. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, published in 1972, is her most famous book, and has sold over two million copies. Her adult book, Necessary Losses, published in 1986, appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly two years. Viorst lives in Washington, D.C.

What: Author Judith Viorst
When: Saturday, September 24 at 3pm
Where: The children's programming room at the Tenley-Friendship Library.

Book sale and signing to follow the event. Sponsored by the Friends of the Tenley-Friendship Library

New Tenleytown Library Reviewed: Thumbs Down

by Warren Gorlick

My family came away disappointed after using the new Tenleytown branch for the first time. This new library allocates relatively little space to books and other media, in favor of a large atrium area, locked conference rooms and 40 (mostly unused) computers. In general, the library had the feel of a crowded bus station, with people literally sitting on concrete floors, and a noise level that is comparably loud. If this is the model for the eventual re-construction of the Cleveland Park branch, I say "no thanks."

I began my tour of the library by proceeding up to the adult level (one enters the library at the children's level). The amount of book space is remarkably small, not much more than the Cleveland Park library, notwithstanding that this library is significantly larger. Instead, the second floor devotes nearly half of its space to three large conference rooms, with further space taken up by various private offices for library employees. All of these conference rooms and offices were locked and unoccupied. Only a handful of the 30 computers were being used. (I understand that in poor areas computers are a critical library amenity, but should computers have the same priority in an area such as Tenleytown, where a larger number of residents have a computer and internet in their home?) There are only a handful of tables and chairs available for people to sit on the second level.

Tenley Library Ribbon Cutting on Monday, Jan 24

Photo of the Tenley library under construction

The Tenleytown Library ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Monday, January 24, 2011, 10:30 am. The library is located at 4450 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

The new two-story library features separate reading areas for adults, teens and children; a children's program room; space for 80,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other library materials; 32 Mac computers; free wifi; comfortable seating for 200 visitors; a large program room for 100 people; two 12-person conference rooms, 4 quiet study rooms, and more.

The grand opening party will be on Saturday, February 5 from 10 am. to 4 pm.

The building's design includes a number of environmentally sustainable features including a vegetative green roof; countertops, carpeting and other materials with recycled content; low-flow faucets; dual flush toilets; and more. Tours of the library will be offered. For more information, contact Martha Saccocio at Martha.Saccocio at dc.gov.

The New Tenley-Friendship Library Opening on Jan 24, Party on Feb 5

Today, Thursday, December 30, 2010 is the last day the Tenley Interim Library will be open.

The new Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library will open Monday, January 24, 2011 at 4450 Wisconsin Avenue, NW.  And be sure to mark your calendars for the grand opening party on Saturday, February 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In between now and then, books on hold may be picked up at the Cleveland Park Library.  For more information, visit the DC Public Library's website.