The Capitol View Neighborhood Library is part of the
District of Columbia Public Library
The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) is the public library system for Washington, D.C. The system includes 26 individual libraries including Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, DCPL's central library.
History
In October 1895, ...
(DCPL) System. It was opened to the public on January 23, 1965, after 10 years of advocacy by the
Capitol View community. A 2018 renovation introduced a new facade, an updated plaza, and the new sculpture "Freedom to Read."
History
The Reverend Sister Patsy Allen, President of the
Marshall Heights Civic Association, petitioned the
Senate Appropriations Committee
The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is the largest committ ...
in 1963 to provide funds for a public library. Her request stated that "every moment delayed serves to undermine the educational structure of our children and adults as well.
Originally opened in 1965, the Capitol View Library was modernized beginning in 2017 to support more library services.
Improvements began with the renovation of the library’s interior in 2017. That phase of work increased the public spaces in the library by expanding the spaces for children and teens; adding more meeting rooms; replacing the furniture; and creating a new computer-training lab. The building’s
HVAC
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC ) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. ...
and lighting were also replaced, improving the efficiency of the library, helping the building achieve
LEED Gold certification.
The exterior renovations began in 2018. During this phase, a new facade was installed, new windows were expanded to provide more natural light, new fencing was added to the rear, and the plaza in front of the library was upgraded. The renovations included a sculpture, "Freedom to Read," designed by
Davide Prete, which joined other public art already on display at the library. His work was selected after the
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is an agency of the District of Columbia government. , the Interim Executive Director is David Markey. CAH was created as an outgrowth of the U.S. Congress Act that established the National Fo ...
and the Library solicited professional proposals from local artists or artist teams. This opportunity was only open to resident artists and artist teams residing in the District of Columbia.
See also
*
District of Columbia Public Library
The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) is the public library system for Washington, D.C. The system includes 26 individual libraries including Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, DCPL's central library.
History
In October 1895, ...
*
Marshall Heights, Washington, D.C.
References
External links
DC Public Library" Capitol View Neighborhood Library page{{Authority control
Library buildings completed in 1990
Public libraries in Washington, D.C.