Shaw Library - Will We Ever Get A Say?

The Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library has been closed for years now, with a temporary facility opening up only a year or so ago. In the meantime, the DC Public Library have been bandying about plans for a new library. Unfortunately, the plans have been changing for the worse, and despite outcry from the community, it is unclear that things are getting better.

For example, check out the changes made to the plans, made over the course of six months, with virtually no community input. Gone is the modern library building to serve the fast-growing Shaw/Logan community, and in its place is another concrete bunker - exactly what the community has said the do not want.

On Saturday, the Library Dynamos held a Speak-Out/Read-In to educate the community and build grassroots support for a better library. ANC 2C02 commissioner David Chapple has a good round-up of the event at his blog.

In the meantime, the DCPL has scheduled the final public meeting for the discussion of the new library. Given the importance of this issue, and the controversy surrounding the current design, let's hope we can convince them to work a little harder on it. Please show up and lend your voice!

Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library Public Meeting
Thursday, September 4, 2008 from 6:30-8:30 pm
Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Interim Library
945 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Shot Spotter Mostly Avoids Logan

The City Desk blog has posted the following image of the boundaries of the areas covered by the long-in-coming-but-finally-here Shot Spotter. Originally billed as the "Shaw Shot Spotter", as you can see, it actually covers a much, much larger area.

On the one hand, it speaks volumes as to the overall crime picture here in Logan Circle that our neighborhood is almost entirely - and, it almost seems, intentionally - left out of the coverage area. On the other hand, with everyone buzzing about the recent murder in the alley behind Vermont Avenue, I have to admit it would have been nice to have coverage there.

(Thanks City Desk for the map!)

Library Survey

The story of our neighborhood's public Library, the Watha T. Daniel Library, is a tragedy. Though there has been some movement on it in recent years, it hasn't amounted to much. Fortunately, the Library Dynamos group is looking to change that.

They have an online survey that they'll be using to help drive the plans for the new, permanent library. Please take a moment and fill it out.

Seeking Input on Shaw Library

The DC Public Library is looking for input on the new Watha T. Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library, and they're holding a meeting tomorrow night.

Join the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) to discuss the design of your neighborhood library. With construction scheduled to begin soon, your input and feedback are encouraged.

Where: Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library
945 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

When: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
6:30-8:30 PM

Getting There: The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library is located on Rhode Island Avenue, NW between 9th Street, NW and 10th Street, NW and is accessible by the G8 bus.

This is a long time in coming!