Hill Rag

Groundbreaking Set for Spectacular New Garden at Southeast Library

by: Anonymous

Friends of Southeast Library will break ground this month for a spectacular new garden being built around the historic neighborhood library adjacent to the Eastern Market Metro station.

Set for 1 pm on Saturday, May 6, the ceremonial groundbreaking will spotlight the efforts of members of Brownie Troop 5083, who—with the support of their mothers—launched the idea of rejuvenating the unkempt, eroding, weed-strewn library grounds.

The D.C. Public Library provides no funding for maintenance and landscaping at its neighborhood branch libraries.

In recent months, almost two-thirds of the projected cost of $25,000 for the garden at Southeast Library, located at Seventh and D Streets, SE, has been raised. The Friends group is also setting aside a fund for perpetual maintenance of the garden. Grants have been received from Capitol Hill Community Foundation and from GROW, Garden Resources of Washington. A recent fundraiser at the home of Hill residents Alan and Becky Dye netted more than $13,000. Mark Holler of Gingko Gardens is generously donating his time and expertise in designing and overseeing the project and is providing plants and other materials at cost.

The new garden will incorporate new trees, annuals and perennials, shrubs and plants, mulch and new soil—plus an irrigation system and security lighting, as well as stone patios and benches that will extend spaces for reading and other library activities outside the building. Wireless capability, coming soon to the library, will also extend outside, permitting patrons with laptops to access the Internet while sitting in the garden.

The garden groundbreaking will coincide with the annual spring book sale by the Friends group, with proceeds earmarked to support programs and equipment for Southeast Library. Thousands of “gently read” books—donated by Capitol Hill residents—will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale includes fiction and nonfiction, hardback and paperback, in all categories. Many of the books are review copies; some are still on best-seller lists. Most of the books are priced at one dollar.

In recent weeks, Friends of Southeast Library has purchased new books and supplies and installed four new computers in the library’s main reading room. The organization also repaired the walls and ceiling of a third-floor room, with donation of labor and materials provided by Hill resident Craig Collin. The room, unusable for the past three years because of a collapsed ceiling resulting from a leaky roof, now offers quiet space for such activities as small group meetings and tutoring sessions.

A grant to the Friends from Capitol Hill Community Foundation supports a new children’s Spanish-language story hour on Saturday mornings. A program of literacy enhancement will begin soon, funded by a grant from the DC Public Library Foundation.

Opened on December 8, 1922, the Southeast branch was the second neighborhood library to be erected by the District of Columbia’s public library system and proved to be one of the busiest during its early years. Located at 403 7th St., S.E., just off Pennsylvania Avenue near Eastern Market, Southeast Library occupies an irregularly shaped site bounded by Seventh Street, D Street and South Carolina Avenue. The land was purchased with a congressional appropriation of $8,360. Funding was provided by the Carnegie Corporation, which donated $67,000 for construction. The facility is one of four remaining Carnegie libraries in the city.

In recent years, the dramatic, columned building has deteriorated through neglect and lack of repairs and maintenance. Sustained protests by the Friends group and other Hill residents are now showing results: In addition to its new garden, the historic structure is getting new restrooms and is set for a major interior facelift.

The current city appropriation includes $110,000 in capital funds to repair the elevator and fire alarms and to provide new restrooms that will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bids on the restroom construction are being received this month.

In addition, the Southeast Library is one of three branches in the city system that is scheduled for major renovations starting next year. The Mayor’s 2007 budget proposes $2.2 million for re-design and substantial renovations for the historic Capitol Hill structure.

Friends of Southeast Library meets at 5:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month at the library. For information on becoming a member or to volunteer, contact Neal Gregory at (202)544-8177 or nealgregory@yahoo.com.


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Groundbreaking Set for Spectacular New Garden at Southeast Library

by: Anonymous
Friends of Southeast Library will break ground this month for a spectacular new garden being built around the historic neighborhood library adjacent to the Eastern Market Metro station. Set for 1 pm on Saturday, May 6, the ceremonial groundbreaking will spotlight the efforts of members of Brownie Troop 5083, who—with the support of their mothers—launched the idea of rejuvenating the unkempt, eroding, weed-strewn library grounds. The D.C. Public Library provides no funding for maintenance and landscaping at its neighborhood branch libraries. In recent months, almost two-thirds of the projected cost of $25,000 for the garden at Southeast Library, located at Seventh and D Streets, SE, has been raised. The Friends group is also setting aside a fund for perpetual maintenance of the garden. Grants have been received from Capitol Hill Community Foundation and from GROW, Garden Resources of Washington. A recent fundraiser at the home of Hill residents Alan and Becky Dye netted more than $13,000. Mark Holler of Gingko Gardens is generously donating his time and expertise in designing and overseeing the project and is providing plants and other materials at cost. The new garden will incorporate new trees, annuals and perennials, shrubs and plants, mulch and new soil—plus an irrigation system and security lighting, as well as stone patios and benches that will extend spaces for reading and other library activities outside the building. Wireless capability, coming soon to the library, will also extend outside, permitting patrons with laptops to access the Internet while sitting in the garden. The garden groundbreaking will coincide with the annual spring book sale by the Friends group, with proceeds earmarked to support programs and equipment for Southeast Library. Thousands of “gently read” books—donated by Capitol Hill residents—will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale includes fiction and nonfiction, hardback and paperback, in all categories. Many of the books are review copies; some are still on best-seller lists. Most of the books are priced at one dollar. In recent weeks, Friends of Southeast Library has purchased new books and supplies and installed four new computers in the library’s main reading room. The organization also repaired the walls and ceiling of a third-floor room, with donation of labor and materials provided by Hill resident Craig Collin. The room, unusable for the past three years because of a collapsed ceiling resulting from a leaky roof, now offers quiet space for such activities as small group meetings and tutoring sessions. A grant to the Friends from Capitol Hill Community Foundation supports a new children’s Spanish-language story hour on Saturday mornings. A program of literacy enhancement will begin soon, funded by a grant from the DC Public Library Foundation. Opened on December 8, 1922, the Southeast branch was the second neighborhood library to be erected by the District of Columbia’s public library system and proved to be one of the busiest during its early years. Located at 403 7th St., S.E., just off Pennsylvania Avenue near Eastern Market, Southeast Library occupies an irregularly shaped site bounded by Seventh Street, D Street and South Carolina Avenue. The land was purchased with a congressional appropriation of $8,360. Funding was provided by the Carnegie Corporation, which donated $67,000 for construction. The facility is one of four remaining Carnegie libraries in the city. In recent years, the dramatic, columned building has deteriorated through neglect and lack of repairs and maintenance. Sustained protests by the Friends group and other Hill residents are now showing results: In addition to its new garden, the historic structure is getting new restrooms and is set for a major interior facelift. The current city appropriation includes $110,000 in capital funds to repair the elevator and fire alarms and to provide new restrooms that will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bids on the restroom construction are being received this month. In addition, the Southeast Library is one of three branches in the city system that is scheduled for major renovations starting next year. The Mayor’s 2007 budget proposes $2.2 million for re-design and substantial renovations for the historic Capitol Hill structure. Friends of Southeast Library meets at 5:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month at the library. For information on becoming a member or to volunteer, contact Neal Gregory at (202)544-8177 or nealgregory@yahoo.com.